User Review
( votes)Using the Over/Under
Tired of betting on the usual match odds? Then the over/under market could be the untapped source you have been searching for. And if you are not sure where to begin, then here is a quick Betadvisor.com guide to following this incredibly popular and lucrative betting market.
What are Over/Unders?
Sometimes when you are looking down a list of possible match ups to bet on, it seems the only options you have are favourites with unappealingly short odds or games that are too close to call. Whereas the latter can be fine for a ‘draw’ bet (if available) the former can seem like a waste of time, especially as the risk is barely worth the win. That’s where the over/under market comes into its own as it can create some kind of interest in almost any event. Instead of betting on a result, you simply bet on a cumulative score or points, goals, runs or even games and sets if you apply it to tennis. The bookmaker will offer a cumulative total, always advertised as .5 (to ensure the exact total cannot be reached), and a bet can be placed on either the total being over that number (an ‘over’) or under that number (an ‘under’).
2-Way and 3-Way
2-way over/unders are standard and are simply the possibility of a total being over or under a selected cumulative total. In a 3-way scenario, an extra possibility is added. In tennis, 3-ways are often offered on Total Games. For example, the options may be Under 20, 20-22 and Over 22 games. The odds on the middle selection are often the highest as you are selecting within smaller confines.
Why you might be tempted to use an over/under?
Here are prime examples from the sports of football and tennis. Football matches of course offer punters the opportunity of the 1X2, but in certain matches there is not much to shout about. Real Madrid games are a prime example as the current Champions League holders are very often short odds favourites, and for good reason. Yet despite all their success, Real have often been vulnerable at the back, so in a game against a side with an attacking threat, the over +2.5 goals market (or even over +3.5) can be tempting. In tennis, over/unders are often desirable when a top seed is playing an opponent with a formidable serve. The USA’s John Isner is a prime example. The American has clocked the third fastest serve in history (at 253 km/h this year in the Davis Cup) and is often therefore an attractive proposition when considering over games or over sets, even if you wouldn’t back him to beat Novak Djokovic or Andy Murray in a match odds scenario.
Typical Over/Under Options
Football – the most typical over/under cumulative score is +2.5 goals, although this can also be extended to +3.5, +4.5 and so on (particularly in-play).
Tennis – over/unders are usually offered by most bookmakers on cumulative games and cumulative sets. In a typical non-grand slam event, +2.5 sets is of course standard.
Basketball, American Football, Rugby – 2-way over/unders are usually offered on the cumulative total score of both teams. 3-ways are also possible on bigger games.
Baseball – Baseball offers a multitude of over/under options, including runs or hits in an innings, and cumulative runs totals.
By: Steve Paget