Total – based on the name, this is a type of bet on a certain number of events that can occur in a sports or eSports match: goals scored (no matter by whom), points scored, number of rounds played, kills, etc. It can be argued that it is totals that are presented by bookmakers with the largest number of lines.
Totals are in most cases indicated as a fractional decimal number with a fractional part of 0.5 and are presented by bookmakers in two versions:
- Total Over (TO) – a bet that a certain event will occur more times than the total number.
- Total Under (TU) – a bet that a certain event will occur fewer times than the total number.
Such totals, like a “hard” handicap, give only 2 options: a win or bet loss.
Totals can also be specified as an integer. Such totals, like the “soft” handicap, in addition to loss and win, provide the option of returning the bet.
Now we will indicate popular examples of totals for various sports and eSports.
Totals in football (socker)
The most popular total in football is the total for the number of goals scored in a match. At the same time, bookmakers offer many options for totals both for all goals (no matter which team scores), and totals for goals of a single team.
- Total Over 3.5 means that the bet will win if the teams together score 4 goals or more. For example, the following match results will work: 2:2, 3:1, 1:3, 3:2, 2:3, etc. The bet will lose if the teams score less than 4 goals together – 0:0, 1:0, 0:1, 1:1, 2:1, 1:2
- Total Under 3.5 means that the bet will win if the teams score no more than 3 goals together. For example, the following match results will work: 0:0, 1:0, 0:1, 1:1, 2:1, 1:2. The score 2:2 is no longer suitable, since 4 goals were scored (4 > 3.5).
Let’s look at an example of a “soft” total:
- Total Over 3.0 means that the bet will win if the teams score more than 3 goals together, lose if they score less than 3 goals, and be refunded if there are 3 goals in total (2:1, 1:2, 3:0, 0:3)
- Total Under 3.0 means that the bet will win if the teams score less than 3 goals together, lose if they score more than 3 goals, and be refunded if there are 3 goals in total (2:1, 1:2, 3:0, 0:3).
In addition, there are usually dozens of totals available for a football match for the total number of goals:
Totals for goals of a separate team:
Similar totals are also available for the 1st and 2nd half of the match.
Bookmakers often offer totals combined with another bet.
This picture shows an example of “Barcelona Win + Total Under” bets on the 1st half of the Barcelona – Bayern match:
- Yes 1.5 means that the bet will win if Barcelona wins in the 1st half and less than 2 goals are scored. This is equivalent to a bet on Barcelona winning in the 1st half with a score of 1:0.
- No 2.5 means that the bet will win if Barcelona does not win in the 1st half (draw or Bayern win), and less than 3 goals are scored. The following 1st half results will work: 0:0, 1:1, 0:2.
Totals in eSports: CS2
Bets on Counter-Strike 2 offer a large number of lines with totals. Let’s look at the most popular ones.
Totals for a Bo3 match by maps
- Total Over 2.5 means that the bet will win if all 3 maps in the match are played (2:1 or 1:2)
- Total Under 2.5 means that the bet will win if only maps are played (victory of any team with a score 2:0).
Totals for the number of rounds played in the match
- Total Over 38.5 means that the bet will win if the match has 39 or more rounds (on all maps)
- Total Under 50.5 means that the bet will win if the match has no more than 50 rounds.
Totals for the number of rounds on the map
Similar totals, only for a separate map.
Totals for the number of rounds won by a certain team
Totals in eSports: Dota 2
The most popular total in a Dota 2 Bo3 match is the same as in CS2.
Another popular total in Dota 2 matches is the total on the number of kills on the map.
- Total Over 44.5 means that the bet will win if there are 45 or more kills on the 1st map by both teams
- Total Under 44.5 means that the bet will win if there are 44 or less on the 1st map kills by both teams.
Totals for kills of a specific team on the map are also available.
Dota 2 has an interesting total for the duration of the map.
- Total Over 35.5 means that the bet will win if the duration of the 1st map is 36 minutes or more (only whole played minutes are taken into account, if the duration is 35 minutes 30 seconds, the bet will lose, since there will be 35 full minutes)
- Total Under 37.5 means that the bet will win if the duration of the 1st map is 37 minutes or less.
Totals in tennis
Compared to football and eSports, totals in tennis are quite meager.
Totals on the number of games in match
- Total Over 20.5 means that the bet will win if there are 21 or more games in the match
- Total Under 26.5 means that the bet will win if there are no more than 26 games in the match.
Totals for the number of games in a set
Totals for games won by a player
Totals in basketball
Let’s look at examples of totals in basketball.
Totals for the number of points scored in a match
- Total Over 206.5 means that the bet will win if both teams score 207 or more points in the match
- Total Under 206.5 means that the bet will win if both teams score 206 or less points in the match.
Totals on the number of points scored in a certain quarter
Totals on the number of points scored by a certain team
- Total Over 26.5 means that the bet will win if Miami Heat scores 27 or more points in the 1st quarter.
- Total Under 27.5 means that the bet will win if Miami Heat scores 27 or less points in the 1st quarter.
Totals on the number of successful 3-point throws
- Total Over 23.5 means that the bet will win if there are 24 or more successful 3-point throws in the match (namely the number, not the points received)
- Total Under 23.5 means that the bet will win if there are 23 or fewer successful 3-point throws in the match.