How To Calculate Total Points In Basketball

The basketball Over/Under points market allows you to bet if the total points in a game will exceed the given line or not. In most bookies, points scored in a possible overtime also count towards the final score. Let’s look at an NBA game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics, where the line is 219,5 points. Over wins at 220 scored points or more, while Under wins at 219 or fewer. Do you want to learn all the secrets about how to make money on totals? Our article covers all types of total points bets, gives the best pieces of advice and explains why betting on total points in basketball is often better than wagering on moneylines or handicaps.

The Best Basketball Over/Under Formula

Predicting if the points scored by both opponents will be Over or Under a given line is not the only option. This type of bet can encompass specific game periods and props bets based on teams and players. Our goal is to explain every option regarding betting on total points in basketball, along with the Over/Under formula you can use.

Full-Time Result

⏩ Suppose a Euroleague bettor wants to bet on the Real Madrid vs. Barcelona totals, and the Over/Under line is set at 165,5 points. The Over pick will be a winner at 1.85 odds if the two teams combine for more than 165,5 points, while the Under, at 1.95, would need fewer. Most bookies include possible overtime in terms of this bet type, so you should adjust your basketball Over/Under formula on that.

Quarters

⏩ This is a variation of how to calculate total points in basketball, yet only referring to a specific quarter. The 1st quarter line for the example above is 41,5 points, so, the Over -at 1.80- will win if Real Madrid and Barcelona score at least 42 points in that given period; otherwise, the Under 41,5 will be a winner at 1.90 odds at Euroleague bookmakers.

Teams

⏩ An O/U points bet on one team is actually a team total. In which case, you’re betting on the number of points one of the contenders will score in a game or separately in specific quarters. The most straightforward example would be Real Madrid’s 85,5 line. If they score at least 86 over the 40 minutes or overtime, the Over will secure returns to bettors who backed that outcome. On the other hand, if Real Madrid makes an 84-83 win, the Under team total bet will be a winner.

Players

⏩ Besides game periods and teams, the total points in basketball betting for props apply to total points too. Following the example above, suppose Real Madrid’s Edy Tavares’ points line is 14,5. The Cape Verdean 7-footer should score at least 15 to make the Over pick successful at 1.80 odds; on the flip side, if his total points are below 14, the Under will be a winner at 1.85.

Live Betting

⏩ An in-play basketball Over/Under formula is challenging because you must make accurate predictions during fast-paced games. The odds and lines change rapidly, unlike in the pre-match mode. If Barcelona’s defence looks dominant early on against Real Madrid, the total line might move from 165,5 to 159,5 points, just after a few possessions in the 1st quarter. Yet if you still find an Over 160-point game probable, you can back the Over pick at 1.85 odds instead of Under’s 1.95.

The Most Effective Basketball Totals Strategy

This article aims to help you generate basketball betting strategies for Over/Under points bets while making a long-term profit from daily games through them. Maximum odds are this market’s bedrock for pre-match and in-play wagers, so we present how you can build your own basketball Over/Under formula and make money.

Game pace

General team stats for totals can rapidly change in any given quarter or during half-time, based on the opponent; so backing a team that averages 90 possessions and scores 110 points per game is not enough. You can exploit the momentum in live betting, paying attention to a game’s high or low pace and acting accordingly.

High-scoring teams

Bookies do consider teams with offensive skills when setting their total lines. In all basketball leagues, the best offences tend to win games. High-scoring teams may come with big total lines, but they still have better chances to score more than where these lines are set. Therefore, they can be profitable for Over bets on total points in basketball, for main and secondary leagues, as you can check on our EuroCup basketball predictions.

Value prices

Odds movement is a powerful weapon for those who want to know how to bet on basketball and win. So, it’s necessary to shop around to compare what bookies offer. One betting site may hammer down a game’s Under total points, while another keeps the lines as they initially were. You should adjust your bet to better lines and higher odds, avoiding integer lines and a possibly included tie (draw) result.

Time of bet placement

Betting on early lines in basketball is riskier because you stick with a standard line and just wait. Many bettors prefer a more conservative approach, waiting for the closing lines, which seems safer. Just before the jump ball, one can have accurate information on most factors that can determine the final result; instead of a riskier early betting choice.

How to Predict Basketball Totals & Win

There are several vital things to consider when betting on total points in basketball. To be successful, you need to gather data and information and avoid random wagering, which could damage your effectiveness. We will share the most critical pieces of advice and delve deeper into how to bet the Over/Under in basketball.

Scan H2H results

Head-to-head results can indicate the sum of points a basketball game may have. A complete analysis will answer questions about contenders’ offensive and defensive yields when facing each other. Current H2H results always have an exceptional meaning; especially in leagues like the NBA and the Euroleague (combined with domestic competitions), where elite teams face each other more than seven times during a single season.

Do detailed research

Pre-game homework is a key part of every bettor’s success. You should always be informed about any existing team injuries or bans. A team’s schedule and the number of rest days between games are also factors you must consider; especially in NBA betting, where every franchise plays three games per week. Finally, the home vs. away current form is another influential parameter for a winning basketball Over/Under formula, portraying each team’s strengths and weaknesses. That may help you to make also a winning basketball handicap prediction.

Go through all available stats

Basketball is a stat-based sport, where numbers indicate each team’s level. Besides basic statistics on offensive and defensive averages, you should also search for more advanced categories like possessions, free-throw percentages (which mean easy points), and even how often certain referees may punish contact as a foul.

Observe line movements

On the road to identifying the best basketball odds value, you should check the public opinion and all the latest news that might determine any possible line movement. Examine each team’s recent O/U streak and adjust the new lines in your favour compared to the opening ones.

Should I bet on Over/Under total points in basketball?

If you avoid integer lines, you have to deal with a 2-way market with great potential for success. Even if you aren’t a basketball fan, simply by examining the available for and against points stats, you can figure out the odds value of such a bet type. So without a need to have a descriptive answer for the questions “What is a Moneyline?” or “Which is the best basketball Over/Under formula?”, check this. Our experts have created two shortlists with the advantages and disadvantages of betting on total points in basketball; as always, the last call is yours.

Why bet on total points

✔️ These straightforward bets are easy to place, even for newbie bettors.

✔️ You can pick among plenty of options based on total points for players, teams, quarters, games and several alternative lines.

✔️ You can find numerous middle odds near 2.00 and above.

Why not bet on total points

❌ High-scoring and low-scoring games are not always predictable.

❌ The options with the most winning chances offer small prices.

❌ You need an extended bankroll and big stakes to make huge wins in the long term due to the relatively low odds compared to other markets.

Where should I place my wagers

Υοu can explore our complete list of the best basketball bookmakers and discover the most valuable offers for odds and promotions. Also, you can focus your strategy on several competitive lines for betting total points in basketball in big leagues from Europe, the USA and Asia; such as the Euroleague, the NBA and NCAA, the PBA and the CBA.