Eli5 the over /under in betting or on the NFL and what it means I’ve thought about those sports betting apps but I don’t understand betting and would lose my shirt.

Question

I looked it up but it’s not clicking. Thx.

In: 0

Answer 1

Over/Under bets (O/U) are the simplest wager to make in sports betting.

The bookie sets an O/U line for the total points to be scored by both teams in a given match. You place a wager based on whether you think the total will be “over” or “under” that set total.

To use your NFL example, lets say the Buffalo Bills are playing the Miami Dolphins, as they did recently. Two high powered offences, so the O/U was set at 53. Betting the “over” means you win if the point total = 54 or higher, and lose if it is 52 or lower. If the point total landed EXACTLY on 53, you would have gotten your wager back, as this would have been a “push” (a tie).

To avoid a “push” result, O/U lines will often use a “half point” (eg O/U = 47.5) to guarantee a betting result.