Over/under totals: reading the number and the push rule
An over/under, also called a total, is a bet on the combined score of both teams. You choose over or under a number the sportsbook sets. A total of 5.5 cannot tie; a total of 6 can, and an exact tie is a push. Whether overtime counts depends on the operator's rules.
Checked by the editorial team on
- 2 min read
- 4 sections
- 1 table
- 4 FAQ
What a total is
The sportsbook sets a number for the sum of both teams' goals or points. You bet that the real sum will be higher (over) or lower (under).
The bet ignores who wins, and it does not matter which team scores.
Both teams' totals are added. If the sportsbook sets 5.5 goals, the bet is on whether the final sum reaches six. A game can end 5 to 0 or 3 to 2 and settle the same way against a total of 5.5.
Bottom line: a total bets on the sum of the score, not on a team.
Reading 5.5 and 6
| Total set at | Combined goals | Over | Under |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.5 | 6 | Wins | Loses |
| 5.5 | 5 | Loses | Wins |
| 6 | 7 | Wins | Loses |
| 6 | 6 | Push | Push |
The scores are invented for the example. The push treatment of a whole-number total is the usual convention; each operator's terms decide.
Overtime and the total
If a hockey game goes to overtime, the combined score can change by a goal. Whether an operator counts that goal, or a shootout goal, in the total is stated in its rules. We have not yet read them for this page.
They will appear in the NHL settlement comparison. For the sports themselves, see NHL betting in Canada and CFL and NFL betting.
How we checked
The definition and examples are our own derivation. No operator's wording has been quoted yet; when one is, it will carry a URL, a date and at most 15 words.
Compare with the point spread and the puck line. 19+ in Ontario and British Columbia; 18+ in Alberta, Manitoba and Québec. Gambling involves risk. Play responsibly.
FAQ
What does over 5.5 mean?
The bet wins if the two teams score six or more goals combined. It loses if they score five or fewer. A half-point total cannot end in a push.
What happens if the total is a whole number and the score matches it?
The result is a push and operators normally return the stake. The exact rule is in each operator's terms, which we have not yet quoted.
Does overtime count toward a total?
That depends on the operator's rules. In hockey a total can settle on regulation time or on the final result, so read the rule before you bet.
Is an over/under the same as a total?
Yes. Over/under and total name the same bet on the combined score. We write over/under (total) throughout.