Master NFL Over/Under Betting With Winning Strategies
What Is NFL Over/Under Betting?
NFL over/unders, also known as totals, are a type of wager where bettors try to predict whether the combined score of both teams will go over or under a set number. The sportsbook determines the number, referred to as the game’s “total.”
Like moneylines, football over/unders are a simple type of bet, making them an accessible choice for new bettors. In the next section, we’ll cover how to bet the over and under in football.
How To Read NFL Over/Under Odds
Two key aspects of learning how to read football over/under odds are the total and the price. The total is the number the sportsbook has set for the game, while the price is how much you must risk to win a certain amount.
NFL Over/Under Totals
For example, let’s look at a matchup between the Baltimore Ravens and the Kansas City Chiefs. The total on this matchup is set at 46.5 points, which means bettors have two over/under betting options:
- OVER 46.5 Points
- UNDER 46.5 Points
If the final score is 24-20 in favor of the Chiefs, the combined score would be 44 (24 + 20 = 44). In that case, bets on the UNDER 46.5 points would win, since 44 is less than 46.5.
NFL Over/Under Price
The price on NFL over/under bets works the same way as moneylines. A “-” before a number represents how much you must bet to win $100.
In most cases, the “Over” and “Under” in NFL betting are both priced at –110, meaning you must bet $110 to win $100. This ratio works the same, no matter how much you bet. A $55 bet yields a potential win of $50, while an $11 bet stands to win $10.
If the price of an “Over” or “Under” has an “+” in front of it, it means the number represents how much you’ll win if you bet $100. So, if an “Under” is listed at +105, you can bet $100 to win $105.
NFL Over/Under NFL Bet Examples
When most people talk about what an NFL over/under is, they usually mean betting on the total number of points for the entire game. However, there are other over/under bets you can make in football.
Full-Game NFL Over/Under Betting
NFL full-game totals betting is the most common type of over/under wager. This total covers the entire game, including overtime.

NFL Halves Over/Under Betting
Bettors can place bets on the score for the first half or the second half of an NFL game. Bets on the second half typically include overtime, unless otherwise stated by the sportsbook.

NFL Quarters Over/Under Betting
Betting on the total score of a football game can also be done on individual quarters. These bets are available before the game starts at some sportsbooks, and during the game at any NFL betting site that offers live betting.

Live Betting on Over/Unders in the NFL
NFL live betting offers bettors the opportunity to bet on moneylines, spreads, and over/unders as the game is being played. Lines and totals are constantly being changed throughout the game based on how the action on the field is progressing.

NFL Season Win Totals
Betting on NFL season-long win totals requires you to wager on if you think a selected team will finish with more or less wins than the total set by the oddsmakers. For example, if the Chiefs have a win total of 11.5 for the 2025 season, and Over bet requires them to win 12 or more games, while an Under bet is predicting them to have 11 or fewer. Looks for these wagers in your sportsbook’s NFL futures markets.

How To Win an NFL Over/Under Bet
When grading over/under betting in the NFL, the only thing that matters is the combined score of both teams. It doesn’t matter who wins or what their margin of victory is, only whether you correctly predicted if the combined score more or less than the posted total.
For example, here are some hypothetical scores for a game between the Las Vegas Raiders and Los Angeles Chargers, with the total set at 42 points.
- Los Angeles wins 31-10. The total combined score is 31 + 10 = 41. The UNDER 42 wins.
- Las Vegas wins 28-24. The total combined score is 28 + 24 = 52. The OVER 42 wins.
- Los Angeles wins 24-18. The total combined score is 24 + 18 = 42. The OVER 42 and UNDER 42 are both graded a push (or tie), which means the sportsbook will return all bets to the players.
Where You Can Bet on the NFL Over/Under
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Basic NFL Over/Under Betting Strategies
Now that you know what an over/under means in football, let’s review some tips for building an effective NFL totals betting strategy.
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In order to minimize losses and place multiple over/under bets during each week of NFL games, having a strong bankroll management is needed. You should know that betting is not an exact science, so it is good to have a plan when predicting the NFL game totals. This football betting strategy will get you closer to a profitable margin. Splitting your bankroll allows you to bet on multiple over/under lines, minimize losses by not focusing all of your bankroll on a few bets, and it allows you to adapt to changing NFL over/under odds and lines.
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Staying up-to-date on the latest NFL stats is crucial when forming your football totals strategy. Are Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs on a red-hot streak on offense? Has the San Francisco 49ers defense been locking down opposing teams lately? Two high-paced teams with strong quarterbacks and weak secondaries could be a good spot to bet on the Over. Teams that focus on the run and have strong defenses meanwhile, could be good Under plays. Keep up with recent trends, like NFL plays per game, and consider how they may affect over/under betting.
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Keeping track of key injuries can be very valuable in NFL over/under betting. A quarterback injury is the most obvious injury which could severely impact the total of a game, possibly resulting in a lower-scoring result. But other injuries to positions like safety or defensive line, could give the opposing offense more time and and space, resulting in more scoring opportunities.
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Consider how an NFL game’s location might affect over/under betting. Are they playing in a dome or an open field, where inclement weather can affect offensive performances? Some teams are built to play fast on turf like the Rams, and often struggle on other surfaces. These factors all play an important role in the scoring flow of an NFL game, especially in the later weeks and playoffs where weather becomes a factor.
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Point spreads and totals often vary among online sportsbooks. Shop around for the best odds. Getting the Over 46.5 instead of the Over 46 on your over/under play could be the difference between a push and a win.
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Consider betting early on the lookahead lines for the next week. If you think two teams will look strong in say Week 4, there could be value on betting Over on the Week 5 lookahead lines to lock in a better price before the total moves. However, sometimes the lines don’t move as you expect them too or there are serious injuries to consider during the week. In this case, there could be an advantage in betting later and gathering more information. Each week and game will be different.
Advanced NFL Over/Under Betting Strategies and Tips
Newcomers and casual bettors can benefit plenty from following the basic football over/under strategy tips listed above during the NFL season. However, if you want to take your betting to the next level, here are some advanced strategy concepts to consider.
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There’s only so much you can learn from common team statistics, such as the average points scored and points allowed. Resources such as Pro Football Reference let you analyze more in-depth stats like rushing efficiency and quarterback pressure rates. Studying advanced stats like these can help you find offensive or defensive advantages for over/under betting that casual players might miss.
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There are other team factors to consider besides advanced statistics, such as their current form. For example, are they going up against a division rival who knows them well? Or is the game against an out-of-conference team who won’t have time to study them? Also consider how injuries, team motivations, and other factors beyond the stat sheet can impact the game’s flow and total.
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Football totals can fluctuate throughout the week based on betting action. For example, if a total opens at 43.5 points, and the public bets heavily on the Under 43.5, the line may move down to 43 or 42.5. You might choose to side with the popular option or go for the newly adjusted price.
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When it comes to value betting, price makes all the difference. If there’s a 50% chance a game will go over the posted total, you’d make a profitable bet at +110 and an unprofitable one at –110. Shop for the best lines and use The Sports Geek’s Odds Calculator to determine the value of your Over/Under bets.
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Injuries and other in-game occurrences can make hedging a smart decision. Let’s say you have the Over 45 in a Cincinnati Bengals game, and Joe Burrow takes a big hit in the first quarter. If the live betting total is still at 45, you may want to bet the Under 45 to cancel out your initial wager. For more details on this method, read our guide on hedging your bets.
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Sports bettors today have access to incredible tools and technology. For example, the NFL Next Gen Stats page has advanced statistics, charts, and play animations that can provide incredible insight into how offenses and defenses perform. Keep your eyes open for any modern resources that can help elevate your over/under betting strategies.
Key Takeaways for NFL Over/Under Betting
NFL over/under betting is a simple yet exciting type of wager where the only thing that matters is accurately predicting the total combined score.
This guide covered the basics for you to get started, including:
- Using examples of NFL totals like betting over or under a game with a total combined score of 46.5.
- Comparing the types of NFL over/unders you can bet like the full game score, halftime score, and player props like passing yards.
- How to build an effective NFL totals betting strategy by monitoring stats, weather, injury reports and more
Now that you know how to bet on NFL totals, you’re ready to make some of your own wagers at one of the top online NFL sportsbooks this season.
FAQs
Yes, more NFL Over/Under bets include overtime. Therefore, the final score after overtime will determine the Over/Under bet result. However, always be sure to check the terms and conditions at your chosen sportsbook.
If the final football Over/Under score lands right on the exact total, then the wager outcome will be graded a a push. As an example, if the total is 47 and the final score is 24-23, the scoreline lands right on 47 and your wager will be returned as a neither a win or loss.
Yes NFL Over/Under wagers can be placed on quarters and halves. They work the same way as full-game totals, but for shorter sections of the game.
Yes. Betting on NFL Over/Unders for both player props and season win totals are available at many football betting sites. Season-long and game props are both available, as well as betting on teams to go Over or Under a selected amount of wins.
The frequency of NFL totals going over and under varies by season. In 2024, 17 teams played to more Overs than Unders over the course of the season, two teams saw an even amount of Overs and Unders, and 13 teams played to more Unders.
