Markets
Totals (over/under) betting explained
A totals bet (or over/under) asks whether the combined points scored by both teams will be more or less than a number set by the bookmaker. You don't pick a winner — you pick the size of the game.
Totals are the third standard market on most major sports, alongside head-to-head and line. The bookmaker sets a number — the "total" or "line" — and quotes two prices: one for the combined score going over that number, one for it going under. Both sides usually run near $1.91 in a sharp market.
Totals get set with the same half-point convention as line betting (e.g. 168.5, 47.5) so there is no push. AFL totals are typically in the 160-180 region, NRL totals in the 35-50 region, and cricket totals vary wildly by format — first-innings runs in a Test, total team runs in a T20, and so on.
Totals are particularly sensitive to weather, ground choice and team news (e.g. a missing forward in NRL, missing key bowlers in cricket). Watching how the total moves between opening and closing — and which operators move first — is one of the more useful price-movement signals you can track.
Worked example
A BBL T20 between the Stars and the Strikers has total runs at 324.5. Over $1.91, under $1.91. If the combined score finishes at 325 or higher, the over wins. If it finishes at 324 or lower, the under wins.
Late team news (a star opener ruled out in the warm-up) sees the line drop to 318.5 across most operators within minutes. A punter who already had Under 324.5 has effectively backed a worse version of the same line.
Related glossary entries
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