When people think of betting in sports, the first thing that comes to their mind is spread betting or betting on the moneyline. However, over and under is also a popular way to bet.

Betting on over/under is as easy as it sounds. All you have to do is choose whether you think there will be more (over) or less (under) goals during the game than the number put up by the bookie.

What is Over/Under in Football Betting?

Over/under in football betting gives bettors the chance to go closer to the action. The bookie will set the total number of goals during a game. You need to decide whether there will be more or less than that number and place the bet.

You may think that there will be a tight score at the end of a match, making it hard to pick a winner. But after doing your research about both teams’ offensive and defensive records, you’re sure the goal numbers will rocket.

If a bookie sets a total of 1.5 goals and you think 2 goals scored is possible, you bet the over. If you think there will be fewer goals, then bet the under.

Let’s get straight into the example for over/under bets

How to Place an Over/Under bet on Football

It’s easy to get the hand for over/under bets on football. All you need to do is look at the number given by the bookie for the total goals in a match, which is usually 2.5.

The total for over/under bet almost always ends in .5 to guarantee a result, and a half goal does not exist in football.

The market will look like this:

Total Goals 2.5

Over

Under

2.0

2.0

Based on the odds you see here, if you like the game will be high-scoring, you should bet on “over,” and if you’ve staked $100, you’ll make a profit of $100 based on the odds given.

If you think that more than 2 goals are less likely, then bet the “under”, and again, you’ll win $100 by placing a $100 stake.

Note that $100 is a standard indicator; you can bet on any amount you want as long as you’re aware of the risk and the size of your bankroll.

3 Tips for Mastering Over/Under Bets

The best thing about this market is that it’s completely separated from traditional match-winner betting. The over/under bets let you bet on matches without having to pick a team. So, you’ll be betting on the game’s overall flow and specific in-game occurrences that affect the match.

However, you’ll still need to assess and look at past matches on both teams, their track records, starting rosters, etc.

To master the over/under bets, you’ll need to do a lot of hard work and look at all the essential stats. In addition, you’ll need to know about their injuries, fatigue levels and team morale. Here’s a list of the critical factors you should be looking at.

Defensive and Offensive Records

The first thing you should look at for total goals is both teams’ defensive and offensive records. Find out the median number of goals for both teams within their last five to ten matches and work your magic from here.

Another thing to look out for is the roster changes. Even though this is more of an issue in sports with smaller numbers of players, it still works in football. Besides that, check the injury list, the schedules as back-to-back matches can cause severe fatigue and other player-related factors that may influence the overall score.

Match Importance

Match importance is a big factor that influences teams’ approaches. You need to recognize the contests and adapt your bets to match the competition’s tensions. In this case, the league competitions won’t have all the attention unless it’s the final fixtures that decide European championships or titles.

High-profile matches that feature title contestants are usually underwhelming regarding the number of goals scored.

Indeed, this doesn’t happen in every game, but its chances are still relatively high. In these contests, teams take a more defensive approach. In other words, we don’t recommend betting “over” on high-profile matches.

When you want to bet on over/under goals, make sure every stat shows the potential for a high-scoring game. Otherwise, you’re better off betting with “under” or not betting the game at all.

Weather Conditions

The last factor we want to mention is the weather conditions and their effects on matches. Bettors generally believe that hotter days mean more goals than rainy or colder weather. However, recent stats from the Premier League show no correlation between sunny and rainy days with the total number of goals scored.

Indeed, too much rain can affect the total goal numbers. For example, excessive rain can influence teams who practice a quick passing style. So, when the field gets waterlogged, the ball will move significantly slower than usual, which dramatically affects the teams’ ability to control the passage of play.

On the other hand, overly hot weather may cause players to get fatigued faster than usual. This applies to both defenders and attackers. A game that plays in excessive heat typically results in less energetic matches.

Winning Over/Under Bet Conclusion

The over/under market is the perfect place to start your betting journey as it only requires you to bet whether there will be more (over) or less (under) goals during a match. This betting market lets you get closer to the action as you need to decide if there will be more or fewer goals than what the bookie has set during the match. Our guide has explained the basics of getting started in this betting market to ensure you'll have a great experience and hopefully win your first few over/under bets.

Mastering over/under bet is a simple market but still requires hard work and research. If you want to be successful in sports betting for the long run, our tips are a great place to start, and all you need next is a proper strategy and some look at some of the advanced tricks. Then, you’re all set for your future success in over/under betting!