What is a total in sports betting?
A bet on the combined score of both teams, over or under a number.
At a glance
- Category
- Bet types
Run the numbers
How totals work
The book posts a number, and you bet whether the combined final score finishes above it or below it. A total of 47 with a final of 27 to 24 goes over at 51. Landing exactly on the number is a push.
Totals have key numbers too
Football totals cluster just as spreads do, around common combinations like 41, 44, 47 and 51. Buying a total off one of those numbers has real value, and buying it off an uncommon number mostly does not.
Related terms
Frequently asked questions
What is a total in sports betting?+
A total, also called the over/under, is a bet on the combined score of both teams finishing above or below a posted number.
What happens if the total lands exactly on the number?+
It pushes and your stake is refunded, which is why totals are often posted with a half point attached.
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