Understanding Over/Under Betting in Football: Tips and How to Calculate Your Winnings
If youve been involved in football betting, youve probably come across Over/Under oddslike Over/Under 2.5, Over 2 goals, or Under 3 goals. Even major sports broadcasts such as those on VTV often mention terms like Over 3 or Under 3.5. But what do these odds actually mean? In this article, win betting tips will walk you through the Over/Under (O/U) betting system in football, helping you understand how it works and how to calculate your potential returns.
What Is Over/Under Betting in Football?
Over/Under (abbreviated as O/U) is a type of bet where the online bookmaker offers sets a projected number for a match. The bettors task is to predict whether the actual number will be higher (Over) or lower (Under) than the bookmakers number.
Initially, Over/Under bets were used to wager on the total number of goals scored in a matchtypically whether there would be more or fewer than 2.5 goals. But today, O/U betting is used for many other match statistics such as yellow cards, red cards, throw-ins, free kicks, corner kicks, and more. Lets explore the different types of Over/Under bets in football with Kubet.
Types of Over/Under Bets in Football
1. Goals This is the most popular type of Over/Under bet because it's easy to follow and doesn't require extensive statistics. Variations include total goals in the first half, second half, or the entire match.
2. Yellow Cards Also common and easy to track. Wintips recommends betting on card totals in fast-paced Premier League matches or intense derby games.
3. Corner Kicks Especially useful when betting on teams that rely on aerial play. Statistics for corners are widely available and can be used for profitable bets.
4. Offsides Though less common, betting on total offsides is a newer variant. Its recommended for matches involving teams with strong counter-attacks or teams that actively use the offside trap.
How to Bet and Calculate Winnings on Over/Under
Over/Under is a 50/50 betonly two outcomes are possible: either the result is over or under the line set by the bookmaker, so your chances of winning are 50%.
Example:
When the U.S. And Canada womens national teams are about to play in the semi-finals, Kubet lists the Over/Under line at 2.5 goals. The ".5" eliminates the possibility of a draw in the bet. If the line was 2.0 and the final score was 2-0, then both Over and Under bets would be void and refunded.
If the line is 2.5 goals and you bet on Over, you win if there are 3 or more total goals scored. Your winnings = your bet × the Over odds (e.g., 0.99). So if you bet 100,000 VND on Over, you'd earn 99,000 VND profit.
If you bet on Under, you need the match to end with 2 goals or fewer. For example, a 1-1 draw. Your profit = your bet × the Under odds (e.g., 0.87), so 100,000 VND × 0.87 = 87,000 VND profit.
How to Use Math to Analyze Over/Under Bets
Take a match with an Over/Under line of 2.5 goals. Look at the last 4 matches of each team (total of 8 matches).
If a match ends with more than 2.5 goals, score it as +0.5.
If both teams scored, add +0.75, even if under 2.5 goals.
If under 2.5 goals, subtract -0.5.
If one team didnt score, subtract -0.75, even if total goals exceeded 2.5.
Add all values for a final total, positive or negative.
Compare this with the current bookmaker's O/U line to decide whether to bet Over or Under.
Use Statistics to Predict Over/Under Bets
Use league stats from the current season to estimate O/U outcomes.
Start by finding the average goals per match in the league, then divide by 2 to get the base goal value per team. Example: Bundesliga average = 2.5 goals per match 1.225 goals/team
For the home team: (Home goals scored / Home games) 1.225 If 30 goals in 15 games (30 / 15) - 1.225 = +0.625 Estimated home team goals = 1.225 + 0.625 = 1.85 goals
For the away team: (Away goals / Away games) 1.225 If 14 goals in 15 games (14 / 15) - 1.225 = -0.292 Estimated away goals = 1.225 - 0.292 = 0.933 goals
Expected total goals = 1.85 + 0.933 = 2.783
To balance against league averages: (2.5 league average + 2.783 projected total) / 2 = 2.6415 goals