In sports betting, the total is a popular wager type where sportsbooks set a predicted total score for a game. Bettors can place a wager on whether they believe the combined points scored by both teams will exceed (over) or fall short (under) of this line. For instance, if a basketball game has a total set at 210 points, a bettor can choose to bet on whether the final score will be more than 210 (over) or less than 210 (under). This type of bet focuses solely on the score outcome rather than which team wins.
Total Example
For example, in an NBA game where Team A plays against Team B, the total is set at 220 points. If Team A scores 115 points and Team B scores 105 points, the total score is 220. A bet on the “over” would be a loss, while a bet on the “under” would also be a loss, as the combined score neither exceeded nor fell short of the line.