This form of betting could be a good option if you believe a certain match will be high scoring or low scoring. It doesn't matter who wins this match, as you are betting on the total amount of goals scored by both teams.
Most sportsbooks will offer this form of bet, especially for the big soccer games.
However, remember you’ll be up against computer algorithms, who will have thoroughly analysed the goalscoring records of both teams. This means that you might not always find real value in the juice offered by your sportsbook. For example, if two teams who have a terrible defensive record play each other, the odds offered on an over 2.5 goals, for example, won’t be of great value.
Here is an example:
Let’s say Philadelphia Union are playing LA Galaxy. You have analysed their head to head records and both teams' recent performances. It’s a tough game to call, but you do think it will be a high scoring game.
Your sportsbook is offering odds of +200 on over 4.5 goals.
The juice looks good, but it is unusual for a match to produce five goals or more. In the MLS there is an average of 3.22 goals per game.
You are still confident, so you place a $30 wager on over 4.5 goals.
This means there could be two potential outcomes:
- There are five goals or more in the match. You get your $30 wager back plus $60 profit. $90 in total.
- There are less than five goals in the match. You lose.
There is an additional twist to the over/under bet and that is the existence of quarter over/under bets.
This type of bet is in effect two bets in one. Let us explain:
If you were to place a bet on over 3.75 goals using the same game as above, you would be betting on both over 3.5 goals and 4 goals. This can end in three outcomes:
- The match ends in five goals or more then you win.
- The match ends in 4 goals, half your bet wins and the other half will be refunded.
- The match ends in three goals or less. Your sportsbook wins.