Over/Under Betting: A Beginner’s Guide
Craig Jones 
Over/Under Betting is a real friend of the experienced punter. It’s the ideal way to boost your odds on a Match Result market and can often be a sound wager in its own right.
It’s a simple bet to understand and is well worth exploring if you’re looking to expand your betting knowledge. Below you’ll find all you need to know about Over/Under betting
What Is Over/Under Betting?
Over/Under betting is a market in which punters bet on a certain outcome in a game being over or under a specific number.
It can vary in what you’re betting on, with bookmakers offering many different markets across a range of sports. Most commonly this will be the number of goals/points scored in a game.
This will come in the form of a decimal number, for example, 3.5.
Over/Under Betting Example:
So, let’s say you wanted to place a bet on Manchester City v Sheffield Wednesday and you wanted to place a bet on over 3.5 goals to be scored. To win therefore, there must be four goals or more scored within the game.
Scorelines such as 2-2, 4-0, 3-1, 3-2, 4-2 etc. would give you a payout, however, anything under 3-0 would mean you lose. If you wanted to bet on Under 3.5 goals, the scoreline would be required to finish at 3-0 or below.
What Sports Can I Play Over/Under Betting?
You can find some form of Over/Under market in most sports from football to basketball.
It’s a staple in sports betting and is often added to Match Result markets to boost odds. Using the example above, you may bet on Manchester City to win and Over 3.5 goals.
Sports you can bet on the Over/Under market include:
- Football
- Rugby Union
- Rugby League
- Cricket
- Golf
- Boxing
- NFL
- NBA
- Snooker
- MLB
- NHL
- Tennis
And many more. The type of markets you’ll be able to bet on range, with the following among the most popular:
- Over/Under X goals/points/runs
- Over/Under X sets
- Team to win league by Over/Under X points
- Over/Under X corners
- Over/Under X throw ins
- Over/Under X bookings
- Over/Under X wickets
The list goes on, but you get the idea. You’ll find most bookmakers the standard markets, although there is no reason you can’t also request-a-bet through a respective service.
Which Bookmakers Offer Over/Under Markets
Almost every online bookmaker will offer Over/Under markets across multiple sports.
The likes of William Hill, Ladbrokes and bet365 have particularly expansive markets, the latter even pushing them out via social media.
You can find all our favourite bookmakers to play with on our Bookmakers Page, with reviews and free bets for each and every one.
Over/Under Betting Top Tips
There are many things you should think about when placing Over/Under bets. They can be risky if you don’t know what you’re doing, so it’s well worth taking into account the following:
Form
Of course, studying form and betting go hand in hand. There’s no point betting on Over a certain number of goals if both teams have enjoyed sturdy defences in recent weeks. Additionally, if a main striker is in a goal drought, again it could harm your chances.
By analysing these circumstances, you can make a much more educated decision on the Over/Under market.
Consider Team Selection
By considering the team selection you can gain insight into a number of Over/Under markets. For example, if there are a couple of midfield enforcers on the pitch or tough centre-halves, you might want to bet in Over X cards in a game.
Should a side have wingers playing who like to get to the byline and make crosses, you may be tempted by the Over X corners market. Equally, injuries and suspensions can play a part in how you bet on the Over/Under market.
