The total is divided into total and individual. The total is the sum of the indicators of all participants in the match, the individual is only one participant or team.
How are bets on a total settled?
The bookmaker offers the value of the total, and you make a prediction on what the final result will be – over (TO) or under (TU) of the proposed value. The value can be a fraction or an integer.
Fraction total
A fraction total is a total that isn't a whole number, for example, 2.5, 3.5 or 1.5. A fraction total has two outcomes: win and loss.
We bet on a total over than 2.5. We calculate what result of the match will give us a win:
- Three goals or more means you lose the bet
- Two goals or less means you lose the bet
Entire Total
An entire total is a total that has no fractional part, for example 2, 3, 4. An integer total has three outcomes: win, loss, and push.
We bet on a total over 3. Let's see what result best suits us:
- Two goals or less means the bet won
- More than three goals means the bet failed
- Three goals means a push, and the bet amount is returned to our account
What is an Asian total?
An Asian total ends with ".25" or ".75":
- 1.75
- 2.25
- 3.25
In formal terms, an Asian total is any total that implies a bet that pushes, such as TO 2, TU 3. However, the term is more often used for totals with two digits after the decimal point.
There are no Asian totals in Fonbet Sports.
An Asian total consists of two usual ones. For example, a total of 3.25 consists of totals of 3 and 3.5, and a total of 1.75 consists of 1.5 and 2. When betting on an Asian total, the bet amount is divided in half, and the odds remain the same.
We bet on TO 2.25 at odds of 2.00. Bet amount: EUR 10. We spread the bet:
- TO 2.25 consists of TO 2 and TO 2.5
- The amount of the bet is divided in half –EUR5 on TO 2 andEUR5 on TO 2.5.
- TO 2 and TO 2.5 have the same odds – 2.00
Possible outcomes:
- With 3 goals both bets will succeed
- With 2 goals TO 2.5 will not succeed, and on TO 2 we will receive back thebet amount –EUR5
- With 1 goal or less both bets will fail
How is an Asian total settled?
An Asian total consists of two bets. To calculate them, add and subtract 0.25 from the value of the total.
Let's take a bet on TO 2.25
- We add 0.25:
2,25 + 0,25 = 2,5. - We subtract 0.25:
2,25 - 0,25 = 2
The result is that TO 2.25 consists of bets on TO 2.5 and TO 2, the betting amount is divided equally between them.
How is the total in different sports calculated?
In team sports bets on a total are calculated according to the results of a certain interval: 15 minutes, 30 minutes, first quarter, second half. If the interval is not specified, then the bet is considered to have been placed for the full match regulation time.
Total in football
Betting on the total in football is calculated based on the results of two halves and the stoppage time assigned by the referee at the end of each half. The settlement does not take into account the values of extra time and penalty shootout.
Extra time is two halves of 15 minutes, added on after the second half. Extra time is assigned if, according to the rules of the tournament, there is no winner during regulation time. If no one wins even after extra time, then a penalty shootout takes place.
In football, Fonbet accepts bets on the total of statistical indicators:
- yellow and red cards
- violations of rules
- corners
- offsides
- sending-off
- player goals and assists
Total in hockey
Total in hockey is the sum of the results of three periods. If there is a draw after three periods, the referee will call for overtime and then a shootout. Pucks scored in overtime and shootout are not included in the settlement of the bet.
In hockey, Fonbet accepts bets on the total:
- penalty minutes
- penalty
- shots on goal
- face-off
Total in basketball
In basketball, bets on the total are settled taking into account regulation and overtime. Regulation time in basketball last four quarters. The length of each quarter depends on the tournament. In the NBA, each quarter lasts 12 minutes; in the VTB United League, it lasts 10 minutes.
If there is no winner in regulation time, the referee announces overtime, which lasts 5 minutes regardless of the championship. The number of overtimes is not limited, and the match continues until one of the teams wins.
Total in tennis
Total in tennis is the number of games played, so it is not tied to the duration of the match. Individual total indicates the number of games an athlete will win in a match.
Total in boxing and MMA
The total in boxing and mixed martial arts is the number of rounds it takes to determine the winner. In the case of an early win for one of the fighters, time is not divided in half – an entire round is counted.
We bet on the total rounds being over than 7.5 in a boxing match. The fight ended with a knockout in the last second of the seventh round. The bet failed because we needed to start the eighth round to win.
If one of the fighters does not come out to fight in the next round, according to the rules, the fight is considered to have finished in the previous round. If one of the fighters refuses to come out to fight after the seventh round, the bookmakers will only take into account the seven full rounds.
Bet strategies on totals
In all sports with bets on totals, there are strategies that help increase profits or reduce losses. Let's consider them here using examples from three sports: football, hockey and tennis.
In football
This strategy is for Live bets. Players watch the first half, and if one of the teams scores, then they place two bets: the first on an even score, and the second on a total over 2.5.
If after the first goal the teams score again, then the bet on an even score will win. If there are three or more goals in the match, the bet on a total over 2.5 will win. With a minimum of four goals and an even score, both bets will win, and the player earns on them both. The only option where neither bet wins is that the first goal remains the only one scored in the match.
To increase your chances of winning, choose teams that score an average number of goals. When choosing teams that score a lot, the chances of winning will be high, so the odds will be lower. So if only the bet on the total wins, you risk being in the red. In a match with low-performing teams, there's a possibility that the teams will score only one goal and both bets will lose.
If you're sure of your prediction, use this strategy in Pre-Match. After the first goal is scored, the odds on TO 2.5 will decrease, so betting before the match is more profitable than in Live.
In hockey
Players place a series of several Single bets on a total under 7.5 in different matches. If they win, they bet the entire amount on the next total.
This strategy is called a "ladder". The idea is that odds for a total less than 7.5 usually don't exceed 1.20, so the bet has a high chance of winning (about 80%). By accumulating winnings on these bets, players quickly increase their bank.
For a total ladder in hockey, matches in low-scoring tournaments work well, for example, KHL, VHL and European championships. However, games in the NHL and AHL aren't suitable because average points scored reach 6-7, so there's a risk of losing often. Only select these tournaments if there are two teams that don't score a lot.
In tennis
Players bet on match totals over 8 if in the first set one of the opponents won with a massive lead, for example 6:1 or 6:0. This strategy is based on statistics: in 80% of matches where a tennis player wins massively in the first, the second set is played more equally, and the players play more than eight games.
Before placing a bet, watch the first set and see how the players perform, paying attention to what they can and can't do. A major lead in the first set is normally a consequence of a hidden injury of one of the players, or a strong gap in athletic abilities. In this case, you should select a different match.
What to consider when betting on totals
Scored and missed goals.
This helps assess how well the team's offence and defence is playing. For example, when two teams that score a lot play each other, take a closer look at the bet on total over, and in matches with defensive clubs check out the total under.Statistics will not help you choose a bet on a total in a match where one team scores a lot and the other rarely concedes goals. In this case, you will not know which factor to take into account, so pay attention to the other indicators, such as player performance, motivation, and the match status.
Championship trends.
For example, the German Bundesliga is a high-scoring championship, and in the RPL not many goals are usually scored. Trends also change sometimes, so look at average performance over the last three seasons. For example, the Italian Serie A was a low-scoring championship until 2011, with an average of about 2.5 goals per match. But by 2021, the championship become the leader among the top 5 European leagues with about 3 goals per game.Team priorities.
Teams that compete in multiple tournaments are forced to prioritize during the season. In minor matches, they let reserve athletes play and rest their leaders so they are in optimal shape for more important matches. To get a better idea of which lineup a team will play for a match, take a look at their schedule. If there is a meeting in a major tournament or match with a rival coming up, the club may play a semi-reserve squad. If you bet a few hours before the match, wait for the official announcement of the main lineup.
Match status.
If the teams are rivals, for example, they are from the same city or compete for first place every season, then the match total will be difficult to predict because the outcome does not depend as much on the statistics of previous matches or current position of the teams in the standings.In the 2018/19 season, Liverpool was on the second line, and Everton was on the ninth. On average, these teams scored 2.8 goals a game in the Premier League, but their head-to-head match ended 0:0.
In rival matches, bets often take place on total yellow cards and penalties, as the status of the meeting forces players to act harshly and violate the rules more often.
Time of the season. At the start of a tournament, players are still getting in shape, and they need time to reach their peak after the time off. Because of this, even matches with obvious favourites often end with low total goals. Transfers also affect performance. Clubs often start the season with new players in their starting lineup and play for a long time.