Generally speaking, sports betting is dominated by the result of any particular fixture or match with allegiances towards one particular team or player often having a big impact on the way in which punters place their bets.

The Totals (or Over/Under) market however offers punters the opportunity to detach themselves from the result and bet solely on how many points or goals will be scored in any particular match – democratising the whole betting process.

How Totals Betting works:-
The basic principle of Totals betting is very simple – the bookmaker will present a line at which a punter can bet over or under a total number of points or goals to be scored in any specific sporting fixture. Whilst simplistic in its purest from, there are a wealth of factors that heavily impact how the Totals market is governed and being able to bet on an accumulative score line rather than a specific match result, is an appealing proposition for many punters.

Here is our guide on how to place Totals (Over/Under Bets) intelligently:-

• Sporting Knowledge and Pre-Match Research
With the Totals market being operated on a score basis rather than a specific result, it’s crucial that punters are aware of the context any specific fixture is being played in – in order to get a successful betting result. Research on team/player form, past meetings, head to head record as well as tactical intentions from managers and coaches are all key considerations in the Totals market. Ultimately the result in any fixture has a limited bearing on any bet in the Totals market – meaning it is essential that punters are aware of the circumstances surrounding the specified match. For example, if a high-scoring, Championship contender is playing at home, against a mid-table team that score goals but concede too many to achieve a higher league position – a high scoring game looks guaranteed. If the same team, go away from home against a relegation bound outfit, fighting for their lives – goals may not be the order of the day – it could be a more attritional battle meaning the Under market could be the best bet in this scenario.

• Embrace the Live Betting Market (Carefully!)
One of the huge appeals of Totals betting is that it keeps the punter in play for the duration of the game – as it is not a result based market. A punter could need 2 points to hit their target with seconds of a fixture to go and for as long as the match is still in play – the punter could be in business. Betting in-play or live, is a huge draw in the Over/Under betting market as players can stay engaged throughout a particular fixture, giving them even more winning opportunities. Punters must bet with caution however as the live betting market offers many chances to win but also many chances to lose – so if things aren’t going well in a match, chasing winnings to balance the books can be a very dangerous tactic.

• Focus on the Detail and Stay Level Headed
Detail is key in the Totals betting market as it is what allows players to win big. For example, in a football match betting over or under 2.5 goals to be scored (by either side) is one of the most common markets. Intelligent punters can add or subtract one goal (over or under 1.5 or 3.5 scored) to heavily impact their odds and maximise their winnings. Punters with no particular allegiance to one of the teams/players in the Totals market tend to fare better as betting with a cool head is always the best policy when punting on the amount of points/goals to be scored in a specific match-up.