You may also wager on whether the combined final score of both teams is over or under the stipulated number. This is known as betting on totals. Here, it does not matter who wins the game, but instead, how many points are scored.
For example, a typical NFL total will be in the high 30’s to as steep as the low 50’s. A typical NBA total used be in the 180’s to 200’s, but the advent of the three-point line has caused that figure to go as high as the 250’s in recent campaigns. A typical baseball game will be in the 7-10 run range. And a typical hockey game will be in the 4-7 goal range.
Some handicappers work exclusively with totals because there are situations where styles of play from opponents will work together to yield an extreme performance. Meaning either an incredibly low scoring or very high scoring game. The sportsbooks number is a generic number that reflects public expectations, so it can be very vulnerable to solid handicapping.