This guide explains what it means to bet the under in totals markets and why settlement details matter. It walks through how wins, losses, and pushes are defined, how American odds translate to payouts, and which operator rules commonly alter outcomes. The goal is a clear, practical routine you can use to make rule-aware decisions and manage risk when evaluating under total betting opportunities.

An under bet wins when the combined final score is below the posted total and pushes return the stake under house rules.

American odds and vigorish determine the exact payout and the break-even success rate for totals bets.

Always confirm sport-specific settlement rules, such as whether overtime is included, before placing a totals wager.

Quick answer: what it means to bet the under

To bet the under means you are wagering that the combined final score in a game will finish below the sportsbook's posted total; if the combined score lands exactly on the posted number the result is normally graded a push and your stake is returned under the provider's house rules, so checking the official definition matters for every wager Investopedia over/under definition

Practice thoughtful totals decisions

Read the checklist later in this article to make quick, rule-aware decisions before you place an under wager.

See the challenge options

Sportsbooks also embed a margin in totals pricing, commonly called vigorish; typical retail prices in recent years often show near-symmetric negative odds such as -110 on both sides, which reflects the book's built-in fee and affects the implied break-even rate for the bettor Investopedia vigorish guide

Before placing an under bet, verify how your chosen operator settles totals: many providers publish house rules that define whether overtime counts, how abandoned games are handled, and other edge cases that change outcomes DraftKings sportsbook house rules

Two-sentence summary

A bet the under wins when the combined score is below the posted total, loses when it is above, and pushes when it lands exactly on the number under most house rules. Always confirm settlement specifics and understand the role of vigorish before judging expected returns.

Where this article will take you

This article walks through settlement mechanics, reading American odds, how lines move, sport-specific settlement differences, a practical pre-bet framework, bankroll rules, common mistakes to avoid, and worked examples you can use immediately. It aims to give both beginners and experienced prediction-focused players a clear, platform-neutral guide to under total betting.

How an under bet is settled: wins, losses and pushes

An under bet wins when the combined final score is strictly below the posted total; it loses when the combined score is above that number; and when the result is exactly on the posted total most books grade the wager as a push and return the stake according to the published totals policy Investopedia over/under definition

What counts toward the combined score

What counts toward the combined score depends on the sport and the operator's settlement rules: in many cases only points scored during official play are included, while some operators specify whether overtime or extra periods are part of the total. Because the definition of "official play" varies, always read the house rules for the market you are using DraftKings sportsbook house rules

What a push means in practice

A push typically means you neither win nor lose the wager and your stake is returned; that outcome can matter for short-term bankroll math because a push returns liquidity immediately rather than settling as a loss. If you expect many close totals you might prefer half-point totals to avoid pushes when assessing strategy.

How payouts work for an under bet: reading American odds

American odds show how much you must risk or how much you win on a fixed base: negative odds indicate the amount you must risk to win 100 units, and positive odds indicate how much you would win on a 100-unit stake, which makes it straightforward to calculate returns from the posted number Investopedia American odds guide

Calculate net profit from a stake and American odds

Paste the formula into a spreadsheet cell

Negative vs positive American odds

With negative odds such as -110, the number tells you how much you need to risk to make a 100-unit profit; with positive odds you see how much you get for a 100-unit stake. Because vigorish is embedded in the posted price, the odds you see already reflect the book's margin and determine the effective payout you will receive.

Simple payout examples and formulas

As a quick rule, for negative American odds the net profit equals stake times 100 divided by the absolute value of the odds; for positive odds multiply stake by odds divided by 100. For a -110 price the math shows how much risk is required to achieve a given net profit and why the break-even rate is above 50 percent when vig is present.

Why totals lines move and the role of vigorish

Books set initial totals based on models and market-moving information, then adjust those lines as new information arrives and as bettors place money; opening totals are effectively a starting point that respond to market action and news Legal Sports Report over/under guide

How bookmakers set opening totals

Oddsmakers combine team models, historical scoring rates, matchup context, and expected tempo to generate an opening total; that initial line reflects a best estimate plus a built-in margin intended to attract balanced action. The opening line is not immutable; it is a starting value the book expects to move as bettors react or as injury and weather reports change.

How market action and news move lines

Market action moves totals when a large portion of money or volume tilts one side, and public or insider information such as injuries can shift the expected combined score; books also use half-point totals to force a clear result and reduce the frequency of pushes, which helps manage liability and client experience Legal Sports Report over/under guide

Settlement differences by sport: what to check before you wager

Settlement practices differ across sports and operators, and these differences can materially affect an under bet outcome; for example, many U.S. books include overtime when settling NBA and NHL totals, while soccer markets are frequently settled on regulation only, so confirm the provider's published rules for the sport in question DraftKings sportsbook house rules (see FanDuel house rules)

Common settlement rules: basketball, hockey, soccer

In basketball and hockey, extra periods are sometimes included in total calculations at many U.S. operators, which can turn a would-be under into a loss if the game goes to overtime. In contrast, soccer markets often settle on regulation, meaning stoppage-time counts but extra time and penalty shootouts usually do not unless the house rules say otherwise. For additional operator examples see Fanatics house rules.

Where operator rules vary

Operators differ on specifics such as how to handle abandoned or postponed games, statistical score corrections, and whether particular timing plays count; those distinctions can change the settlement result, so make verifying the precise clause in the house rules a routine pre-bet step.

A simple framework to decide whether to bet the under

Use a short pre-bet routine to keep decisions repeatable: confirm settlement rules, check the current market total and odds, evaluate tempo and scoring trends, review injuries and weather, and compare lines across sources to identify value Investopedia over/under definition

Checklist step 1, confirm the rule set and whether overtime is included in settlement for the sport and market you are using.

What does it mean to bet the under and how does settlement affect the outcome?

Betting the under means wagering that the combined score will be below the posted total; settlement rules, operator policies on overtime, and embedded vigorish determine whether that wager wins, pushes, or loses and how much you will be paid.

Checklist step 2, compare the prevailing total to your model or intuition about tempo and scoring, then size the stake according to your bankroll plan rather than emotion.

Applying the framework in a quick pre-bet routine

Turn the framework into a simple habit: open the operator's house rules, check injury reports, note the current -110 or alternative price, and decide stake as a fixed percentage of your budget. Document the reasoning briefly so you can review performance without leaning on short-term results American Gaming Association responsible gaming guide

Bankroll rules and decision criteria for under bets

Set a pre-committed budget and stick to consistent stake sizes; many experienced participants use fixed-percentage staking so losses scale with bankroll and no single event can derail the plan American Gaming Association responsible gaming guide

Staking approaches and percentage rules

Fixed-percentage staking means placing the same percentage of your available bankroll on each decision; this simple approach avoids the temptation to increase size after losses and supports long-term evaluation by keeping exposure proportional to resources.

How to set a pre-committed budget

Minimalist Funded Plays infographic showing how to bet the under with American odds example minus 110 and positive 150 labeled stake and payout

Decide in advance how much of your time or funds you will dedicate to totals evaluation and stick to that limit; combine that budget with a documented staking rule and a requirement to log each decision so performance can be judged objectively rather than reactively.

Common mistakes and traps when betting the under

One frequent mistake is failing to check settlement rules: an outcome that looks like a win under regulation can become a loss if overtime is included by the operator, so verify that detail before you allocate a stake DraftKings sportsbook house rules

Overlooking settlement rules

Missing an operator's definition of official time or extra periods can flip results; make the house rules check the first item on any pre-bet checklist to avoid surprises when a game goes beyond regulation.

Misreading pricing and vig

Another trap is ignoring vigorish and failing to shop for the best available price: -110 may be common, but small differences in odds change the break-even threshold and expected return, so compare sources before committing a stake Investopedia vigorish guide

Practical example: calculating an under bet at -110

Take a -110 under as a worked example: if you risk 110 units at -110 and the wager wins you receive 210 units back, which is your original 110 stake plus 100 units net profit; that calculation follows the American odds formula where negative odds show the amount you must risk to win 100 units Investopedia American odds guide

Minimal 2D vector checklist with house rules injury report weather icon and a spreadsheet row for tracking decisions concept for bet the under

Step-by-step payout calculation

Step 1, identify the American odds and your stake. Step 2, for negative odds compute net profit as stake times 100 divided by the absolute odds. Step 3, add the stake to net profit to get total return. Use the calculator formula above to repeat the math quickly.

Interpreting the result for stake planning

That example shows why -110 requires a success rate higher than 50 percent to be profitable after vig: the built-in margin raises the break-even win rate, so tracking long-term results and using proportional stakes helps determine if your model is overcoming the book's margin.

Scenario deep dive: when settlement rules change the result

NBA games that go to overtime illustrate how operator rules matter: if your chosen book includes overtime in totals settlement, points scored in extra periods count toward the combined score and that can transform an under into a loss; confirm the operator's published rule to know which outcome applies DraftKings sportsbook house rules

An NBA game that goes to overtime

Scenario: the posted total is close to the final regulation score. If overtime is included by the firm, additional scoring can push the combined total above the number and turn a regulation under into a loss. If the operator settles on regulation only, overtime would not change the totals outcome.

A soccer match settled on regulation only

By contrast in many soccer markets extra time or penalty shootouts are excluded by the house rules, so goals scored after the 90 minutes do not alter totals settled on regulation. This difference underscores why the same on-field event can have divergent settled results across sports and operators. For regulatory context see regulation-time guidance.

Quick pre-bet checklist before you bet the under

Top items to confirm before placing an under wager: 1) operator settlement rules for the market and sport, 2) current total and posted odds, 3) injury and lineup news, 4) weather where relevant, 5) tempo and recent scoring trends, 6) odds comparison across providers, and 7) stake size relative to your bankroll plan American Gaming Association responsible gaming guide

How to record the decision

Note the date, market, posted total, odds, your rationale, and the stake; a simple spreadsheet row per bet is enough. Review outcomes periodically to see whether your edge is real and to avoid emotionally driven size increases after streaks of losses or wins.

Conclusion: responsible ways to include under bets in your approach

Bet the under means predicting a combined score below the posted total, and its practical value depends on careful settlement checks, competent odds reading, and disciplined bankroll rules rather than short-term hope Investopedia over/under definition

Key takeaways

Confirm house rules, account for vigorish when judging prices, use consistent staking, and document results to see if your approach delivers value net of the book's margin.

Next steps for practice and tracking

Practice with simulated decisions or challenge accounts, keep a concise log of your under bets, and focus on small, repeatable improvements rather than chasing single-game outcomes.

Funded Plays Challenges

See the challenge options

What is a push when I bet totals?

A push occurs when the combined score exactly matches the posted total; most operators return the stake in that case according to their house rules.

Do overtime points count toward totals?

It depends on the sport and the operator; many U.S. books include overtime for NBA and NHL totals, while some soccer markets settle on regulation only, so check the house rules.

How does -110 affect my break-even rate?

A -110 price contains vigorish, so you need a win rate above 50 percent to overcome the implied margin and be profitable over time.

Use a pre-bet checklist, fixed staking rules, and a simple record to judge whether your approach to under bets is delivering value net of vigorish. Practice decisions in a simulated or challenge-style environment and review results over time rather than relying on short-term swings.

Quick answer: what it means to bet the under

Practice thoughtful totals decisions

Two-sentence summary

Where this article will take you

How an under bet is settled: wins, losses and pushes

What counts toward the combined score

What a push means in practice

How payouts work for an under bet: reading American odds

Negative vs positive American odds

Simple payout examples and formulas

Why totals lines move and the role of vigorish

How bookmakers set opening totals

How market action and news move lines

Settlement differences by sport: what to check before you wager

Common settlement rules: basketball, hockey, soccer

Where operator rules vary

A simple framework to decide whether to bet the under

Applying the framework in a quick pre-bet routine

Bankroll rules and decision criteria for under bets

Staking approaches and percentage rules

How to set a pre-committed budget

Common mistakes and traps when betting the under

Overlooking settlement rules

Misreading pricing and vig

Practical example: calculating an under bet at -110

Step-by-step payout calculation

Interpreting the result for stake planning

Scenario deep dive: when settlement rules change the result

An NBA game that goes to overtime

A soccer match settled on regulation only

Quick pre-bet checklist before you bet the under

How to record the decision

Conclusion: responsible ways to include under bets in your approach

Key takeaways

Next steps for practice and tracking

References