You may be familiar with over/under betting, the wagering on which quarterback will score the most points in a given game. Thanks to the internet, sports gambling has become a multibillion-dollar industry.
Although there are still legal prohibitions against gambling on sports in some places, you can now wager on just about any sport event, including the NFL. As a result, the over/under betting format has been embraced by fans, sportsbooks, and even some professional gamblers who want to keep the fun of betting while also making sure they don’t put themselves in financial jeopardy.
Wagering on Teams Rather Than Players
One of the things that has made over/under betting so popular is that it’s an easy way for fans to wager on their favorite team. After all, if you’re backing the right horse, the payoff is usually good. Just make sure you’re not getting carried away and risking your money on a long shot.
Understanding How Over/Under Works
As noted, over/under betting is a type of parlay and is based on the outcome of two or more events. For example, you can wager on the game’s total points scored and also on the halftime score. If you’re betting on the total points scored, you’re essentially ‘taking sides’ against the other team. You want the other team to lose, so you’re effectively ‘buying’ a loss.
On the other hand, if you’re betting on the halftime score, then you’re effectively ‘taking a side’ against the other team. You want them to win, so you’re effectively ‘selling’ a win.
Why Would You Want To Bet On Halftime?
The problem with over/under betting in terms of understanding the dynamics is that, at least in theory, the outcomes of the two or more events are independent of one another. So, even though you might want the other team to lose, you can’t control whether or not they’ll score any points at all. Or, if they do, then whether or not that will be enough to earn them a win.
How To Make The Most Of Over/Under Betting
Even if you’re playing against the spread in terms of points scored by the quarterbacks, you can still benefit from the over/under format. For instance, if you’re betting on the under, then you’re essentially agreeing to pay another team if your quarterback scores more points than theirs. Thus, whether or not he puts the ball into the end zone is irrelevant to your financial loss or gain.
However, as noted, there is a hitch: you can’t control how the game will play out. So, although you may want to take advantage of over/under betting, you have to be ready for the unexpected. Sometimes, your team will play better than expected, resulting in more points than the official score indicates. And, sometimes, the opposite will occur, resulting in you taking a loss that you might not have expected to take.
As a rule of thumb, when playing against the spread, you should consider taking a position based on what you know about the upcoming game. If you have reason to believe that a team is likely to score more points than the spread indicates, then you may want to take a side in the hopes of making some money back. Or, conversely, if you have reason to believe that a team is likely to score less points than the spread indicates, then you may want to take the opposite side in the hopes of making some money back. Sure, no one can say for certain how a game will play out, but with a bit of research it’s usually possible to at least get a good idea of which way a game is probably going to go.
To put it simply, over/under betting is one of the simpler forms of parlay betting and can be a useful tool for recreational bettors who are looking for a way to make some extra money. Just make sure you’re not getting overly carried away and risking your entire bankroll on a single wager. When in doubt, it’s always a good idea to consult with a professional who knows how to place winning bets and how to avoid getting burned by betting on the wrong horse.