Totals Betting Explained: Understanding Over/Under Markets
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Martin Green
- February 13, 2026
Totals betting — often called over/under betting — focuses on the combined scoring output of a game rather than which team wins. Bettors choose whether the total number of points, goals, or runs will be over or under a projected number.
Totals are widely used across sports, including football, basketball, baseball, hockey, and soccer.
This guide explains how totals are set by online sportsbooks, what influences scoring projections, and how different sports create distinct total market behaviors.
How Totals Are Set
Oddsmakers determine totals using:
- Offensive and defensive efficiency
- Pace of play
- Weather conditions
- Historical matchup data
- Injury reports
For example, in football, weather and quarterback availability may heavily influence totals.
In basketball, pace and three-point shooting rate play larger roles.
Totals by Sport
Football
In NFL games, totals reflect possession count and red-zone efficiency.
Basketball
In the NBA, high scoring means totals often exceed 220 points.
Baseball
In MLB, totals depend heavily on starting pitching and ballpark dimensions.
Soccer
Soccer totals often center around 2.5 goals, reflecting lower scoring frequency.
Live Totals Betting
- Fast starts raise totals
- Defensive contests lower projections
For more on in-play mechanics, see our live betting guide.
Correlation and Totals
Totals often correlate with spreads:
- Large favorites may create higher totals in high-scoring sports
- Underdogs may correlate with lower totals in defensive matchups
Understanding game script helps evaluate totals markets.
Totals vs. Spread Betting
For more on spread mechanics, see our point spread guide.
FAQs - Totals Betting
What is totals betting?
A wager on whether combined scoring exceeds or falls below a projected number.
Do weather conditions affect totals?
Yes, especially in outdoor sports.
Are live totals available?
Yes — totals update continuously during games.
Why do NBA totals look high?
Because basketball features high scoring and fast pace.
Can totals be parlayed?
Yes — totals can be combined with spreads or moneylines.
What happens if the total lands exactly on the number?
The wager results in a push and is refunded.
