Betting Sports Totals

Betting on totals is clearly one of the more popular forms of betting on sporting events. Sportsbooks offering lines on NFL totals give them a chance to earn more vig on your sports wagers as well as an additional opportunity for you to beat the house!

A betting total is the number the lines maker has set to be the combined total of both scores in the sports event. For example if the total on a football game between Green Bay and Chicago is 38 that would mean that the lines maker has set the total combined score to be 38. Sports bettors will now have the opportunity to bet over or under the line.

Ex: Game 2 - Green Bay vs. Chicago 38.

You would be betting whether the game total went over 38 or under 38.

Total bets are easier to win then point spreads typically for a few reasons. First the public is not really interested in betting totals but are more apt to bet on sides in football. Secondly bettors who do bet on totals tend not to research correctly so there isn't enough consistency to win long term.