Meaning Of Over And Under In Betting
One of the most popular modern day betting markets is the number of goals in a game – usually the Over/Under 2.5 goals line.
This sometimes confuses people who are new to football betting as there is obviously no such thing as half a goal!
So what exactly are you betting on when it comes to Over or Under 2.5 goals?
Allow me to explain.
Understanding key numbers when betting NFL over/unders is an important strategy that most recreational bettors ignore. Similar to margins of victory, the total points scored by NFL teams per game have changed since the league moved PAT attempts to the 15-yard line following the 2014 season.
- In Over Under Betting the oddsmakers will set a number of points in which they think both teams will score in total throughout the whole game (including overtime if necessary). Bettors will then be able to bet on the total number of points scored by both teams combined to be over or under that set game total number.
- When betting totals, you aren’t betting on just one team. You are wagering on the combined points scored in the game. For example, if the over/under in the Green Bay-Chicago game is 42.5 and you bet on the over, you need at least 43 points scored in the game to win. Conversely, if you bet the under, and the score exceeds 42 points, you lose.
What Does 2.5 Goals Mean?
The term 2.5 goals is used because you are betting on one of the following:
- 2 goals or less being scored (The Under 2.5 goals market)
- 3 goals or more being scored (The Over 2.5 goals market)
The number 2.5 is used because it falls in the middle of both markets.
You either think a game will be a low scoring one with 2 goals or less OR you think there will be goals a-plenty, with 3 goals or more.
If you bet on less than 2.5 goals and the game finishes 0-0, 1-0, 0-1 or 1-1 then your bet is a winner.
Yet if bet on less than 2.5 goals and the game finishes 2-1 or higher, then your bet is a loser.
And as the number of goals on average in a football game hovers around the 2.5 marker (although this varies based on trends, leagues and time of year) then its the usual market on offer.
Over/Under 1.5, 2.5, 3.5 and More!
The Over/Under 2.5 goals market isn’t the only option available to you though. If we look at the odds for this sample game, we can see a whole range of Over/Under goal lines:
The majority of bookmakers (43) are pricing up the Over/Under 2.5 goals line, but there are also a number at Over/Under +0.5, +1.5, +3.5, and so on.
Although they sound confusing, some of these these lines are actually relatively easy to understand as follows:
- Over/ Under 0.5 goals means you want either 1 goal (over) or more or no goals (under).
- Over/ Under 1.5 goals means you want either 2 goals (over) or more or 1 goal or less (under).
- Over/ Under 3.5 goals means you want either 4 goals (over) or more or 3 goal or less (under).
Other Common Over/Under Goal Lines
The Over/Under lines don’t stop there, as you can often regularly bet on a whole range of other similar markets.
Many bookmakers for example will offer an Over/Under 2 goals betting market. The difference between this and the Over/Under 2.5 goals line is that you get your money back if the game has exactly 2 goals.
Finally to make this just a little more complex, you can also split your stakes by using the Over/Under 2.25 goals market. One half of your stake will go on the 2.5 goals line and the other half on the 2 goals line.
I appreciate this might sound complex so to help explain more, here is a quick summary guide to the different Over/Under lines and what it all means!
Learn More With A Smart Betting Club Membership
If you enjoyed this article, you can find more like this in the in-depth Pro Gambler Blueprint supplied to all new Smart Betting Club members, which provides everything you need to set up your betting properly.
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Meaning Of Over And Under In Betting College Football
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Meaning Of Over And Under In Betting Terms
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Peter Ling
Smart Betting Club Editor