What is the over/under in betting?
Written by Short answer
You're betting on combined points, not the winner.Over 44.5 needs 45+. Under 44.5 needs 44 or fewer.A whole-number total can push.Overtime counts in most sports.
The over/under is a bet on how many total points get scored. Who wins doesn't matter at all. Add both teams' scores together and compare it to the number.
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Over vs under
▸Over 44.5: you win if the final combined score is 45 or more.
▸Under 44.5: you win if it's 44 or less.
▸A 24-21 game totals 45, so the over cashes.
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Does overtime count?
In most sports, yes. Overtime and extra innings count toward the total. Check your book's rules for anything unusual, like soccer, where totals usually cover only regular time plus stoppage time.
First-half and team totals
You can also bet totals for just the first half, a single quarter or one team's score. They work the exact same way, just on a smaller slice of the game.
My take
Don't bet an over because you want to root for points. Weather, pace and injuries move totals. If you don't know why the number is where it is, you don't have an edge yet.