A total bet in sports betting is bet made on the total number of points scored by the teams combined. So you can add up the final score to get the total for that game. This is often times referred to as the “Over / Under” bet as well. Odds makers set an expected total just as they would set an expected spread for the game. Likewise, bettors can bet on the “Over” or the “Under” when betting on these “total bets”. If you select the Over, you are wagering that the final score will go above the total line. If you bet on the Under, you are wagering that the final score will stay below the total line. A tie would be a push and you would receive your money back.

 

Total bets are a fun yet challenging way to bet on sports. Typically, betting on the over total brings some “fun” into sports betting because who doesn’t like to cheer for more points. Betting on the under total isn’t quite as fun but at times can prove to be profitable. The challenge of total betting is due to all the factors that make up how many points are scored in any given game. The weather, referee’s, pitchers, quarterbacks, matchups and more can play such a big role in how many points are scored. Many find that betting on the total in sports is like a random tossup sometimes.

 

Let’s show you a quick example of what a Total Bet would look like. The Atlanta Falcons are traveling to the Miami Dolphins for a Sunday Night football game. The weather is supposed to be nice and these teams are moderate scoring teams. The lines makers have predicted that the falcons will score 24 points and the Dolphins will score 21 points. Therefore, the Over/Under or “total” for this game has been set at 45. Now, as a bettor, you look at that total and can decide whether to bet the over 45, or the under 45. You tend to like Atlanta’s offense and think they will score way more than the expected total, so you bet on the over 45. The final score is 28 – 24 in favor of the Falcons, which made the total 52. You have won your total bet because the 52 points went over the 45 line. See how easy it is? Sometimes sports bettors prefer this because it doesn’t matter which teams score the points!

 

That’s a quick breakdown and example of what a total bet is. It’s a pretty simple concept to understand but picking a total bet to wager on is not quite as simple. We recommend starting out slow and betting very small when betting on totals. They can be tricky and they vary from sport to sport. Learn what an expected result should be for the sport you are betting on. When preparing to bet on a total, do some research on past matchups and the current players. From there, you can make an informed total bet and hopefully cash in with a win.