Total in Sports Betting: How Do "Over/Under" Work in Sports Betting?

Forum 7 months ago

Total in Sports Betting: How Do "Over/Under" Work in Sports Betting?

Over/under bets consist of betting on whether or not the total number of games, sets or points will exceed a threshold set by the bookmaker. It is not a question of determining which player will win the match. If the threshold is crossed, you should bet on an over. On the other hand, if you predict that the threshold will not be crossed, you should bet on an under. Here's how these slightly unusual but highly lucrative bets work.

To be successful with this strategy on the best betting sites in South Africa, punters base their analysis on two key elements: statistical data since the start of the season and a team's form. Logically, for overbets, you should favour a match in which both teams will likely score many goals. The opposite is true of underbets.

The over/under bet should enable you to obtain a positive return on your investment. So, how do you win your sports bets with the over/under technique?

Detect Trends by League

Some leagues, such as the Bundesliga, have a reputation for being prolific regarding goals, while others, such as Ligue 2, are considered more defensive. Don't hesitate to check the statistics for yourself and decide.

• Last season in La Liga, an average of 2.20 goals was scored per game. 40% of games ended with more than 2.5 goals, meaning that most games ended with less than 2.5 goals. Taking note of this trend, you should have favoured the underbet on the Spanish Championship.

• Serie A was rich in spectacle last season, with almost 3.06 goals scored per game. 57% of the games ended with an over of 2.5 goals. Here in the Italian Championship, the trend was more towards overbetting.

Detect Trends by Team

You can see that Lyon, Montpellier, Monaco and Brest were the four most prolific teams, with an average of more than 3 goals per game. Knowing this, you should opt for the overbet in a confrontation between these teams. Be careful, though, as this is a general trend, and anything can happen in an isolated match.

On the contrary, Lille and Metz were the two teams with the lowest average goals per game. It's safe to assume that if the two play each other, there's a high probability of fewer than 2.5 goals being scored.

What to Avoid when Betting on Totals

Some punters overlook specific games, especially at the start of a new season. Stats from last season can be misleading due to (frequent) team changes in the off-season. It's easier to count recent games as more valuable than those played at the season's start. For example, you can count the number of previous matches as having double the significance of recent matches.

Placing a bet at a higher limit than the average the online bookmaker offers could be tempting as the odds increase. For example, betting on more than 4.5 goals could have odds as high as 5.00 or even higher, whereas the 'ordinary' on 2.5 goals is offered on even odds. Concentrating on the 'even/over' lines (close to 2.00) will make your results more consistent.