Totals betting, also known by the name NFL over under bets, has become a popular form of football wagering, rivalling the point spread in some cases.

The premise is simple. You don`t care who wins or loses – all you care about is whether the total number of points scored by both teams together is more than a certain number or less than a certain number.

[ See who are the best NFL over under teams in recent years by reading this article ]

That ‘certain number’ is the NFL over under or total. Much like the point spread, oddsmakers set the total and invite you bet over or under.

For example, if the Giants vs Cowboys game has an over under value of 45.5 and the final score is 30-17, then OVER bettors win (because 30+17 = 47 which is greater than 45.5). If the final had been 27-17, then UNDER bettors would win because 44 is less than 45.5.

So much for thinking that missed field goal was meaningless, huh? It may have been meaningless to the game, but not to the football total. Hence the reason why every play is important to a football bettors, even after the game is out of hand and it’s obvious that one team will win.

Handicapping NFL over unders requires consideration of many of the same principles as point spread wagering. Knowing key offensive and defensive stats is important, knowing coaching philosophies and game plans and knowing the weather are all important factors in determining whether the game will be high-scoring or low-scoring.

And betting on over unders can be an issue of timing as well. Often recreational bettors love to bet over the total because they love high-scoring games. That means the total may rise during the week, Sportsbook at 45 and getting bet up to 47.5.

If you like to bet under, it’s often best to wait until Saturday or Sunday to place your wager. If you like the OVER on a game, it might be a good idea to get your money down Tuesday or Wednesday.