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Over/under meaning: how totals bets win, lose or push
Over/under is a bet on the combined score of both teams: above or below a line set by the book. Enter expected goals above to see the chance of each side.
Total 6 goals. Over 6.5 needs 7+; under needs 6 or fewer. A half line cannot push.
Over 6.5Loses
$10 at 1.91 → back $0.00
Under 6.5Wins
$10 at 1.91 → back $19.09
Example price 1.91 on both sides.
NHL 2025-26, all 1312 regular-season games: over 6.5 in 615 (46.9%), under in 697 (53.1%).
Average 6.25 goals a game. Final scores from NHL game data (api-web.nhle.com); a shootout win counts as one goal. Past games, not a forecast. Hockey totals in depth →
How a totals bet works
- Read the lineThe book posts a total, for example 5.5 goals. It counts the goals of both teams together.
- Pick over or underOver wins if the combined score is above the line. Under wins if it is below.
- Check the priceEach side has a price, for example −110 (1.91). A winning bet returns $19.09: $9.09 profit plus the stake.
- Check what time countsOn PROLINE, hockey match markets without a stated timeframe include overtime and shootouts. The overtime or shootout winner is credited one goal.
- Add the final scoreFor example, a final score of 3–2 means five goals: over 4.5 wins, under 5.5 wins.
How often NHL games go over
| Line | Share of games over | Can it push? |
|---|---|---|
| Over 4.5 | 80.6% | No – half-point line |
| Over 5.5 | 57.3% | No – half-point line |
| Over 6.5 | 46.9% | No – half-point line |
NHL 2025-26 final scores. Average 6.25 goals per game, 6.01 in regular time. Past shares, not a prediction.
When the total lands on the line
| Bet type on PROLINE | What happens |
|---|---|
| Single | Void, stake refunded |
| Parlay | Leg removed, stake stays on the shorter parlay |
| Same Game Parlay | Pushed part removed, paid on the other parts |
| Combined prop offer | Push counts as not achieved – bet lost |
Price and break-even of a total
Minus odds: 1 + 100 ÷ |odds|. Plus odds: 1 + odds ÷ 100. Break-even = 1 ÷ decimal
Example: −110: 1 + 100 ÷ 110 = 1.91. Break-even chance 52.4% – more than a coin flip, because the price includes the margin.
Totals terms
- Total
- The line for the combined goals or points of both teams. Also called over/under. More on hockey: Hockey totals and the Grand Salami.
- Over
- A bet that the combined score ends above the line.
- Under
- A bet that the combined score ends below the line.
- Push
- The score lands exactly on a whole-number line. On PROLINE the offer is void, except in combined prop offers, where the bet is lost.
- Half-point line
- A line such as 5.5 or 6.5. A push is impossible.
- Regular time
- In hockey, the 60-minute game without overtime or shootout. Markets marked this way ignore extra time.
- Point spread
- A line on the margin of victory, not the total. See Point spread explained.
- Moneyline
- A bet on who wins, no line on the score. See Moneyline explained.
Sources
- olg.ca /en/proline/proline-game-conditions.html · checked Oct 27, 2026
Questions
What does over/under mean in betting?
It is a bet on the combined score of both teams. Over wins above the book's line, under wins below it. New to lines? Start with what is a betting line.
What happens if the total lands exactly on the line?
That is a push, only possible on whole-number lines. On PROLINE the offer is void: a single is refunded, a parlay drops that leg and the stake stays on the remaining legs. In combined prop offers a push means the bet is lost.
Does overtime count in an NHL over/under?
It depends on the market. On PROLINE, hockey match markets without a stated timeframe include overtime and shootouts; regular time markets do not. Elsewhere, read the market rules.
Why does −110 on both sides mean you need more than half to break even?
The price includes the book's margin. At −110 (1.91) each side needs to win 52.4% of the time just to break even, so the two sides together add up to more than a whole.