Online betting offers a variety of over/under bet markets and the common favourite is the goal over or under markets. The other available markets include corners, cards and the Asian Handicap. This particular wager on over/ under goals is a favourite with majority picking the over 2.5 goals and usually punters are challenged with predicting the number of goals to surpass or become lesser than the specific limit provided.
Where to find over/ under bets in football?
Although majority of bookmakers offer over/under markets on pretty much all sports events, the favourite markets are available on the football events. Common sense dictates this since it’s the number one sport in the world.
There are also bets for both players and teams. While in other sports like basketball there markets on a team and an individual’s points on rebounds, steals and blocks on the over markets. In American football, there are wagers on over/under markets like rushing yards, down conversions, home runs and interceptions among other markets.
In tennis over/under markets will find number of sets, games and also foul balls. The over bet markets are available in various types the come goal ranges are over/under 1.5 and so on. This is also available in the first half and second half markets with odd changes. In the over goal markets there is an increase in the win percentage from the common 33.5% to about 50%.
The main disadvantage of this type of bet is that there is no chance of prolongation of time and usually extra time goals are rendered invalid by majority of bookmakers. However, you stake amount can be refunded by a bookie offering the over 2 goals option and the final result is a (1-1) or (2-0) goal difference. If this was the result for an under 2 goals then you would have won the bet.
What does the Asian over/under bets mean?
To answer your question, the Asian handicap is a complicated version of the normal over/under bets and usually splits the margin in a whole goal, half and quarter. Let’s take the example of an over 2.25 and under 2.25. When betting on the under the following take shape;
- If the match ends with less than 2 goals, that is with only one goal then the bet fully has won.
- If the match ends with more than 3 goals the bet is lost.
- If the match finishes with only 2 goals than half the stake is given as cash back and the other half is won. This is usually multiplied by number of odds.
The same applies for the over 2.25 goals option whereby if the match ends with less than 2 goals scored the bet is off. If more than 3 goals are scored during regular time, the bet is won, but in the event the match ends with exactly two goals half of the sum is refunded depending on the bookies policies and the other half is lost.
Picking the right matches
The over/under bets require you to pay attention to detail since not all games are suitable to bet on and experienced punters use head to head stats to way out their possibilities. Take a look at the last 5 matches played since the team form plays an important role and usually teams that are motivated tend to score more goals against particular opponents.
Avoid matches whereby teams are matched in strength such matches tend to remain goal less and is important to check previous encounters between the teams. The scoring form usually depends on the matches played, sport, league and the frequency of scoring in consecutive games. Look at more games since focusing at the last 5 matches doesn’t provide the right idea about a team’s records and is usually incomplete data.
Think like an experienced punter (pro-bettor)
Being a pro needs a lot of time and a lot of years in experience. Although majority of players learned betting the hard way, you can avoid the hard way using by analysing all scores as individual data and not as an average. The average ratings provides an over look and doesn’t show the real picture behind a team’s draw, win or loss. Team’s results from an average game is usually distorted by a change in form in the team and this gives the variance, therefore making decisions like a pro.
Although average results from a large sample size provides an almost accurate possibility and a pro-bettor overlooks such average results and focuses on the individual results. However, the down side of doing the work is time consuming and it’s important to identify underdogs and favourites to win since they reduce the time spent on research.
What to avoid on over/under totals?
Majority of punters make mistakes during their analysis and this decision affects the winning margin on bets. So what to avoid in totals betting;
- Avoid basing your picks on previous season stats-, the teams motivation depend on stages during the season and majority teams start with an impressive team play. Avoid misleading stats from previous and also consider recent stats in your bet slip.
- Avoid placing high odds without focusing on what the research results since high odds are consider high paying but also come with the disadvantage of a high risk percentage. In short avoid being greedy, a pro will keep in mind and ask questions concerning the match. Asking yourself questions has shown to be effective in decision making.
- Check on statistical categories,-Grouping teams in categories into average scoring time, average goal scored and teams form. Grouping information into this categories gives a better perception of a team’s form and scoring potential. Relegated teams in league, most of the time end up beating favourites to win since such top teams have already qualified and therefore have no need to win their last matches.
- Deeper understanding of the results. An experienced punter will take time and analyse a team’s scoring potential. This becomes an advantage to you since majority of bookmaker’s base odds on the crowd effect whereby a particular direction is picked by a large number of bettors.
