TYPES OF BETS
Over/Under
TOTAL - OVER/UNDER BETS
Along with the handicaps, this type of betting is perhaps the second most popular one. Many bettors choose this market, when the two sides are more or less equal and there can be no clear prediction on who will win. Let’s dig into the subject further.
The Notion Behind the Term
It’s quite simple. Punters need to guess how many goals, points, sets, etc… will be scored. To win the bet they must decide if the number they come up with, is above or below a predefined limit, set by the bookmaker. If this is set to, let’s say, 2.5goals, then a prediction of under wins if there up to 2 goals scored. Similarly, a bet on over is successful if the ball ends up in the back of the net 3 or more times.
As the number of the value in question is absolute (there can be no half goal or half a point scored in any sport), all bookmakers offer the limit in half decimals (1.5, 2.5, 3.5, etc…) so that there can be no tie between the limit and the bet. This means that there can be no refunded stakes. All bets will be settled to either won or lost.
How is the Limit Set?
Every sporting event has a number of variables attached. They constitute the circumstances under which it will be held. All bookmakers have teams studying them through mathematical algorithms. To provide a result, this is what they consider:
The history
There are plenty of cases where the form or the position of the two sides makes no difference. The confrontations are a matter of prestige and bride. Furthermore, the longer a tradition lasts, the more probable it is to be broken, according to the law of probabilities.
Latest performances
It is important to know if a side is in form or out of form. It levels the playing field if the “weaker” side is in form and the “stronger” team in decline. Such information can be found by examining the last matches played by each side.
Offense and word
Is a team scoring mainly at home? Is an opponent better in defense away? The general statistics on the ease of scoring or conceding goals provide a perspective on whether the result will be determined by a single score, or the free styles will provide plenty.
Key players
We have seen plenty of cases where the personality and ability of a single player determines the outcome. We have also witnessed major debacles when a key player is not able to play. Studying the influence of certain players in the performance of a team and conditions like injuries or exclusions due to punishment, may provide definite insights for the outcome.
External variables
This is the unpredictable part that always provides the worth in predicting. Issues like the weather, the state of the playing field, the decisions of the referee along with the interventions by VAR, financial issues (especially unpaid players) always add to the circumstances surrounding an event.
The over/under market can pay good money as the odds are usually quite high. For some, it requires the least bit of studying and homework as it is already done by others. In any case, it is an option that you should definitely consider.