{"id":1977,"date":"2026-06-10T17:31:03","date_gmt":"2026-06-10T16:31:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/ca\/?page_id=1977"},"modified":"2026-06-12T13:30:11","modified_gmt":"2026-06-12T17:30:11","slug":"over-under-betting","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/ca\/betting-guides\/over-under-betting\/","title":{"rendered":"Over\/Under Betting Explained: How Totals Work"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2321\" src=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/sites\/15\/2026\/06\/11114913\/over-under-betting.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/sites\/15\/2026\/06\/11114913\/over-under-betting.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/sites\/15\/2026\/06\/11114913\/over-under-betting-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/sites\/15\/2026\/06\/11114913\/over-under-betting-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/sites\/15\/2026\/06\/11114913\/over-under-betting-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/sites\/15\/2026\/06\/11114913\/over-under-betting-400x225.jpg 400w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/sites\/15\/2026\/06\/11114913\/over-under-betting-356x200.jpg 356w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/sites\/15\/2026\/06\/11114913\/over-under-betting-107x60.jpg 107w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/sites\/15\/2026\/06\/11114913\/over-under-betting-150x84.jpg 150w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/sites\/15\/2026\/06\/11114913\/over-under-betting-132x74.jpg 132w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Over\/under betting is one of the simplest bets to learn. You are not picking a winner. You are predicting whether the combined score of both teams finishes <strong>over<\/strong> or <strong>under<\/strong> a number the sportsbook sets. That number is called the total.<\/p>\n\n<p>This guide explains how totals work, how the odds and juice are priced, why half-points matter, and how the total changes across the NHL, NBA, NFL and soccer. It is part of our wider <a href=\"\/ca\/betting-guides\/\">betting guides<\/a> hub for Canadian bettors.<\/p>\n\n<p>Totals are a staple at every book. Compare the <a href=\"\/ca\/bet\/betting-sites\/\">best sportsbooks in Canada<\/a> for over\/under markets, or see the <a href=\"\/ca\/bet\/betting-sites\/new\/\">new betting sites Canada<\/a> bettors are joining.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2>What is a total in over\/under betting?<\/h2>\n<p>A total is a single number that represents the sportsbook&#8217;s projection for the combined final score of both teams. You then bet one of two ways:<\/p><ul><li><strong>Over<\/strong> &#8211; you think the two teams will combine for more than the total.<\/li><li><strong>Under<\/strong> &#8211; you think they will combine for fewer than the total.<\/li><\/ul><p>Say an NBA game has a total of 224.5. If the final score adds up to 225 or more, the Over wins. If it adds up to 224 or fewer, the Under wins. The result of the game itself does not matter. A 130-95 blowout and a 113-112 thriller both land on the same side here, because both combine for 225.<\/p><p>This is why the total appeals to bettors who have a read on pace and scoring but no strong opinion on who wins. If you would rather pick a side outright, see our <a href=\"\/ca\/betting-guides\/moneyline-betting\/\">moneyline betting<\/a> guide.<\/p>\n\n<h2>How the line and the juice work<\/h2>\n<p>Every total comes with a price attached, shown in American odds. The standard price is <strong>-110<\/strong> on both the Over and the Under. That -110 is the juice (also called the vig) &#8211; the sportsbook&#8217;s built-in margin.<\/p><p>At -110, you risk $110 to win $100, or any amount at that ratio. A $50 bet at -110 returns a $45.45 profit if it wins, plus your $50 stake back. The book charges that small premium on both sides so it profits regardless of which way the total lands.<\/p><p>Private sportsbooks in Canada quote totals in American odds by default. Provincial lottery products such as PROLINE+ (OLG), Sport Select (WCLC) and Mise-o-jeu (Loto-Quebec) usually show decimal odds, where -110 is roughly <strong>1.91<\/strong>. The maths is identical &#8211; only the format changes. For a full breakdown, read <a href=\"\/ca\/betting-guides\/betting-odds-explained\/\">betting odds explained<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n<h2>Worked example: an NHL total of 6.5<\/h2>\n<p>Here is a concrete NHL example. The sportsbook posts a total of <strong>6.5 goals<\/strong>, priced at -110 on each side. You stake $50.<\/p><table><thead><tr><th>Your bet<\/th><th>Combined goals<\/th><th>Result<\/th><th>Return on $50 at -110<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Over 6.5<\/td><td>7 or more (e.g. 4-3)<\/td><td>Win<\/td><td>$95.45 (stake plus $45.45 profit)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Over 6.5<\/td><td>6 or fewer (e.g. 3-2)<\/td><td>Loss<\/td><td>$0<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Under 6.5<\/td><td>6 or fewer (e.g. 2-1)<\/td><td>Win<\/td><td>$95.45 (stake plus $45.45 profit)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Under 6.5<\/td><td>7 or more (e.g. 5-3)<\/td><td>Loss<\/td><td>$0<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><p>So if you backed the Over 6.5 and the game ended 4-3 (seven goals), you collect $45.45 in profit on top of your $50. If it ended 3-2 (five goals), you lose the $50. Note the profit is below your stake because of the -110 juice &#8211; this is normal, and is the price of the bet, not a guarantee of what any game will do.<\/p>\n\n<h2>Half-points and the push<\/h2>\n<p>You will notice most totals end in .5 &#8211; like 6.5, 47.5 or 224.5. That half-point exists to remove ties. A combined score can never land exactly on 6.5, so there is always a clear winner and loser.<\/p><p>When a total is a whole number, a tie becomes possible. If the total is 6 and the game finishes with exactly 6 goals, that is a <strong>push<\/strong>. A push is a tie with the sportsbook &#8211; your stake is returned in full and no one wins or loses. It is treated as a no-action result.<\/p><p>Pushes matter most inside multi-leg bets. In a <a href=\"\/ca\/betting-guides\/parlay-betting\/\">parlay<\/a>, a pushed leg simply drops out and the parlay recalculates on the remaining legs. The same push logic applies to the <a href=\"\/ca\/betting-guides\/point-spread-betting\/\">point spread<\/a>, where a whole-number spread can also land exactly on the line.<\/p>\n\n<h2>How totals change across sports<\/h2>\n<p>The total is always the combined score, but the typical number is wildly different by sport. Knowing the usual range helps you spot an unusual line.<\/p><ul><li><strong>NHL (hockey):<\/strong> low-scoring, so totals sit around <strong>5.5 to 6.5 goals<\/strong>. This is often called the puck total.<\/li><li><strong>NBA (basketball):<\/strong> high-scoring, with totals commonly in the <strong>215 to 235 points<\/strong> range.<\/li><li><strong>NFL (gridiron):<\/strong> totals usually run from the low <strong>40s to high 40s<\/strong> in combined points, occasionally into the 50s.<\/li><li><strong>MLB (baseball):<\/strong> typically <strong>7 to 9 runs<\/strong>.<\/li><li><strong>Soccer:<\/strong> very low totals, almost always <strong>2.5 goals<\/strong>, sometimes 1.5 or 3.5. An Over 2.5 means three or more goals across both teams.<\/li><\/ul><p>Weather, injuries, pace and pitching all move these lines. A windy outdoor NFL game or a backup goalie can shift the total before you ever place a bet.<\/p>\n\n<h2>Team totals and live over\/under<\/h2>\n<p>A standard over\/under covers both teams combined. A <strong>team total<\/strong> narrows it to a single side. For example, you might bet the home team Over 3.5 goals on its own, ignoring what the opponent does. Team totals let you back a strong attack or fade a struggling offence without committing to the full-game number.<\/p><p>You can also bet over\/under <strong>live<\/strong>, in-play, while the game is running. The total constantly re-prices as the clock ticks and the score changes. A scoreless first period in hockey, for instance, will push the live Under price up and may drop the line itself. Live totals reward bettors who can read game flow, but the numbers move fast.<\/p><p>Once you are comfortable reading a total, look at whether the line offers genuine <a href=\"\/ca\/betting-guides\/value-betting\/\">value<\/a> before you bet. A number that looks too high or too low is only worth backing if your own estimate disagrees with the book by a meaningful margin.<\/p>\n\n<h2>Is over\/under betting legal in Canada?<\/h2>\n<p>Yes. Single-event betting &#8211; including totals on a single game &#8211; has been legal across Canada since August 2021, when Bill C-218 removed the old parlay-only restriction. Before that, provincial lottery products could only offer multi-game tickets.<\/p><p>The legal betting age is <strong>19+<\/strong> in most provinces, and <strong>18+<\/strong> in Alberta, Manitoba and Quebec. Regulated options include provincial platforms such as PROLINE+ (Ontario, via OLG), Sport Select (Western Canada, via WCLC), PlayNow (BCLC) and Mise-o-jeu (Loto-Quebec), alongside the private operators licensed in Ontario through AGCO and iGaming Ontario. For more detail, see our overview of whether <a href=\"\/ca\/bet\/betting-sites\/is-sports-betting-legal-in-canada\/\">sports betting is legal in Canada<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n<!-- sqgap:table -->\n<h2>Typical totals by sport<\/h2>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">Sport<\/th><th class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">Typical total<\/th><th class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">Standard price<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>NFL football<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">around 43 to 47 points<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">-110 each side<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>CFL football<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">around 48 to 53 points<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">-110 each side<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>NBA basketball<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">around 220 to 235 points<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">-110 each side<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>NHL hockey<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">around 6 to 6.5 goals<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">-110 each side<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>MLB baseball<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">around 8 to 9 runs<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">-110 each side<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n<p>Typical ranges only. The exact total is set for each matchup.<\/p>\n\n<!-- sqgap:sections -->\n<h2>How the total is set, and why it moves<\/h2>\n<p>Oddsmakers build a total from how many points or goals two teams are likely to combine for. The big inputs are pace, recent scoring and defensive form, key injuries, and, in outdoor sports, the weather. A starting goalie sitting out or a strong wind can shift a total before a single bet is placed.<\/p>\n<p>Once the number is posted, it moves with the money. Heavy action on the Over, sharp bets, or fresh news such as a late scratch can nudge the line up or down. If you like an Over, betting it early often beats waiting, because public money tends to push totals upward as game time nears.<\/p>\n<p>On PROLINE+ and the other provincial products, totals are offered at fixed odds rather than the standard -110 you see at private sportsbooks, so the price you take is the price you get.<\/p>\n<h2>Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"schema-faq wp-block-yoast-faq-block\"><div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-over-under-betting-1\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">What does over\/under mean in betting?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Over\/under, also called the total, is a bet on the combined final score of both teams. You bet the Over if you think the teams will combine for more than the posted number, and the Under if you think they will combine for fewer. The winner of the game does not matter.<\/p><\/div><div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-over-under-betting-2\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">How does over\/under betting work with a -110 line?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Most totals are priced at -110 on both the Over and the Under. At -110 you risk $110 to win $100, or any amount at that ratio. A $50 bet returns $45.45 in profit plus your stake if it wins. The -110 is the sportsbook&#8217;s margin, known as the juice or vig.<\/p><\/div><div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-over-under-betting-3\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">What is a push in over\/under betting?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">A push happens when the combined score lands exactly on a whole-number total, for example a total of 6 in a game that finishes with exactly 6 goals. A push is a tie with the sportsbook, so your stake is returned and no one wins or loses. Half-point totals like 6.5 cannot push.<\/p><\/div><div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-over-under-betting-4\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">Why are NBA over\/under totals so much higher than NHL totals?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">The total reflects the combined score the sportsbook expects, and scoring differs by sport. NBA basketball games often combine for 215 to 235 points, so totals are high. NHL hockey is low-scoring, so puck totals usually sit around 5.5 to 6.5 goals. Soccer totals are lower still, typically 2.5 goals.<\/p><\/div><div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-over-under-betting-5\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">What is a team total?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">A team total is an over\/under on just one team&#8217;s score rather than both teams combined. For example, betting the home side Over 3.5 goals depends only on what that team scores. It lets you back a single strong or weak offence without betting the full-game number.<\/p><\/div><div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-over-under-betting-6\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">Is over\/under betting legal in Canada?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Yes. Single-event betting on a single game&#8217;s total has been legal across Canada since August 2021 under Bill C-218. The legal age is 19+ in most provinces and 18+ in Alberta, Manitoba and Quebec. Regulated options include PROLINE+, Sport Select, PlayNow, Mise-o-jeu and operators licensed in Ontario.<\/p><\/div><div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-over-under-betting-7\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">How are over\/under totals set?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Oddsmakers weigh pace, scoring and defensive form, injuries and, outdoors, the weather, then adjust the number as money and news come in.<\/p><\/div><div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-over-under-betting-8\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">What does it mean if a total moves?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">A shifting total reflects new information or heavy betting on one side. Overs often drift up as public money arrives near game time.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Betting should be entertainment, not a way to make money. Set limits before you start, take breaks, and never bet to recover losses. If gambling stops being fun, free, confidential help is available: <strong>ConnexOntario 1-866-531-2600<\/strong> (Ontario), <strong>BC Responsible Gambling 1-888-795-6111<\/strong>, or your province&#8217;s helpline.<\/p>\n<p><em>19+ (18+ in AB\/MB\/QC) | Please play responsibly | Odds approximate at time of writing | ConnexOntario: 1-866-531-2600 (ON) &#8211; see your province&#8217;s helpline for resources elsewhere.<\/em><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Over\/under betting is one of the simplest bets to learn. You are not picking a winner. You are predicting whether the combined score of both teams finishes over or under a number the sportsbook sets. That number is called the total. This guide explains how totals work, how the odds and juice are priced, why&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3591,"featured_media":2321,"parent":1915,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_focuskw":"over under betting","_yoast_wpseo_title":"Over Under Betting Explained: How Totals Work | Squawka","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Over under betting explained for Canadian bettors: what a total is, betting the Over or Under, the -110 juice, half-points and a clear worked example.","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1977","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":{"external_featured_image_url":"","hide_featured_image_pattern":false},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.1 (Yoast SEO v27.1.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Over Under Betting Explained: How Totals Work | Squawka<\/title>\n<meta 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