Totals — Over/Under Betting
A totals bet — often called the over/under — is a wager on the combined score of both teams, with no concern for who wins.
The Basics
Sportsbooks post a number. You decide if the actual combined score will go over or under it.
Like the spread, totals usually carry -110 juice on both sides.
What Moves a Total
- Weather. Wind and heavy snow drop NFL and MLB totals fast.
- Pace. NBA teams playing high tempo blow past totals; defensive matchups crater them.
- Pitching. Two ace starters in MLB will pull a total below 7. Two bullpen games push it past 10.
- Injuries. A backup quarterback or shorthanded NBA roster shifts totals as much as spreads.
First-Half & Quarter Totals
Both Caesars and DraftKings post totals for each half and quarter (or period in hockey). These are useful when your read is concentrated in one phase of the game — e.g. a strong first-half team facing slow starters.
Team Totals
Team totals isolate one side: "Patriots over 23.5 points." This is essentially a "will they score enough?" market and is often less efficient than the full-game total.
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