NBA Over Under Bets
Sometimes bettors want a little more substance to their basketball bet than just picking the winner of a game. For that, we offer over/under bets, also known as NBA totals betting. This bet asks if you think a game will exceed the total number of points posted in a sportsbook. It’s the perfect way to parlay a little something to your typical bet on the NBA odds board, while sticking within the boundaries of the game.
The total has two options: the over and under. Simply choose if you think the actual total will be less than or more than the proposed one—and get paid if you choose right.
Single Game Score Totals
The most popular total is the single game score one. This is the third of the straight bets (spreads, moneylines and totals) and is available for every game. Handicappers come up with a number that represents the total number of points scored between both teams in a game and post it under the NBA game lines in the sportsbook. They look like this:
Total
Portland Trail Blazers O 212.5 (-105)
Charlotte Hornets U 212.5 (-115)
In this case, the NBA over under is 212.5 points for the Trail Blazer-Hornets game. The over is always on top, and the under is always on the bottom; in our sportsbook, we further clarify by marking each betting option with O for over and U for under.
The payout is displayed in brackets beside the total. In our example, the over is the cheaper option at -105, and the under is the more expensive option at -115. With these American odds, you can easily see that the -105 over pays $100 for every $105 bet, and -115 under pays $100 for every $115 bet. You can switch American odds to fractional or decimal by using the toggle on screen.
Season Win Totals
Another popular way to bet on NBA totals is with the season win totals posted before every new season begins. Based on teams’ projected performances for the upcoming season, win totals are assigned to every NBA team in our sportsbook. The total could look like this:
Regular Season Win Total
Atlanta Hawks 42.5 (O -115)
42.5 (U -105)
The 42.5 refers to the number of wins the Hawks may finish out the season with. Select the O for -115 if you think that they’ll finish with 43 wins or more; select the U for -105 if you think that they’ll finish with 42 wins or fewer. At the end of the season, wins are tallied and payouts are issued based on the odds secured at the time of the bet. In this example, the over would pay $100 on a $115 bet, and the under would pay $100 on a $105 bet.
Vig/Juice on Over/Unders
All sportsbooks charge a fraction of the bets they process in what’s known as vigorish, or juice. When you have to bet $110 to win $100, the $10 is the vigorish. Most over/under bets begin with the standard -110 vig and adjust to maybe -105 or -115 based on the incoming action. Sportsbooks are always trying to balance bets between both sides and can encourage more or less betting with these little adjustments.
Total
Indiana Pacers O 230.5 (-105)
Brooklyn Nets U 230.5 (-115)
In this example, the sportsbook is trying to encourage more betting on the over by lowering the vig for the over and increasing it for the under.
NBA Over Under Betting Strategies
Over under betting has unique betting strategies, since you’re not picking a game winner. We’ll explain what to focus on as you decide between both options. If you’re parlaying the total with another straight bet, it’s especially important to put in sufficient research time to get your total right.
Trends on NBA games
Teams go through bouts of high and low offensive production. You can look up a team’s schedule to see how they’ve performed of late with totals betting. For example, the Los Angeles Lakers had seven straight games in January 2024 where they went over the total that included a 145-144 double overtime victory over the Golden State Warriors; bettors who took the over during that stretch enjoyed a nice string of payouts that carried on until February.
Research About Referees
Referees are especially relevant when it comes to totals betting in the NBA. There’s often a big difference between referees in regards to the point totals of the games they officiate, and this information is available to the public. Referee stats for over/unders, points-per-game and totals can be checked once the game’s referee is announced on the official NBA page. For example, if Kevin Cutler is listed as a game’s officiator, you could check to see if his games typically finish over or under the total.
Check Injuries
Being aware of a team’s top point scorers and knowing if they’re injured is a necessary step in any bettor’s preliminary research. Teams are required to announce any injured, sick or resting players by 5 PM local time the day before a game, unless it’s the second of back-to-back games. Be sure to check it out and factor it in to whether the team will be able to produce as much offence as they typically do.
Defense vs Offense Strategies
Since the total is all about how much (or little) offensive production happens in a game, awareness of team’s tendency to value defence or offence is significant. Fortunately, you can easily find data that rates teams in both categories through the defensive rating and offensive rating stat categories. Look this up before placing your bet because two defensively-minded teams facing off will have a very different outcome than two offensively-minded teams, like the Boston Celtics and Indiana Pacers.
Bet on NBA Totals at Bodog Sportsbook
Now that you know how totals work in the world of NBA betting, it’s time to get in the action. Check out the game lines on our NBA Betting page and see what’s available for the game you’re interested in. Boost a spread or moneyline bet by adding a total for the same game; turn it into a parlay and you’ll get paid exponentially if both bets come through. It’s the best way to turn a simple bet into a powerful one.
NBA Over Under FAQ
What is an Over Under Bet on NBA?
Also known as totals betting, the over under refers to a straight bet where you try to predict if the total points scored in a game (between both teams) will be more or less than the number posted by the oddsmaker.
Is There a Difference Between Over/Under and Total Bets on NBA?
Over/under betting and total bets are the same thing. You’ll find it under “TOTAL” on the NBA game lines.
Is it Better to Bet Over or Under?
Many bettors prefer to take the over since we all love to see offensive production on the court. Often, that leads to good value with the under.
What Happens if the Result of a Game is a Tie?
Game outcomes don’t impact over/under betting. The total score will still be tallied to determine if it went over or under the oddsmaker’s prediction.