Baseball over/under betting might seem complicated at first for a beginner but it is actually not that difficult once you figure it out. Baseball over/unders are based on the number of runs scored by the two teams playing. A baseball run is scored when a player advances through the three bases returning safely to the home plate.

What you are betting on is whether the total score of the two teams will go over or under a projected amount of the baseball online betting site. This is a very popular form of baseball betting, and sports betting for that matter.

* Please see illustration below to help understand over/under bets, text explanation follows.

Sports Betting PUSH Totals bets are popular in football and basketball because they allow you to wager on the total combined number of points scored by both teams. A traditional totals bet involves a bettor deciding if the total will be OVER or UNDER the number set by oddsmakers. Totals odds for an NFL game would look something like this. Instead, over-under or total bets are handled much like point-spread bets on a team, with the usual 10/11 (4.55%) commission applied. Many Nevada sports books allow these bets in parlays, just like team point spread bets. This makes it possible to bet, for instance, team A and the over, and be paid if both. If the final score of the two teams combined ends up being precisely 49, your wager will result in a push since the actual result was neither over nor under what the sportsbook posted. If you ever have a totals bet push, the sportsbook will end up refunding your stake.

For example, an online sportsbook posts the following over/under betting odds for the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees teams:

• 7.5
• Over (-120)
• Under (+140)

In this case you are betting on whether the score will be over or under the total score (total runs) of 7.5. That is, if the final score was 3-3, then the total runs would be 6, which is lower than 7.5 so the ‘Under’ bet wins. If the score was 4-5, then the total runs would be 9, which is higher than 7.5 and so the ‘Over’ bet wins. If you are betting that the score will be over 7.5, then you need to bet $120 to win $100. If you are betting that the score will be lower than 7.5, then you need to bet $100 to win $140. The .5 is there to show that you are betting either 7 OR lower for the ‘Under’ bet and higher than 7 for the Over bet; in other words, it is there to avoid any ties, and hence, a ‘push’.

Sometimes a sportsbook might not use .5 so the odds might show up as:

• 7
• Over (-120)
• Under (+140)

In this case if the final score does hit 7 then there is what is called a “push”. When this happens, the sportsbook has to return the bets to the bettors.

The fact that there is less scoring on average in baseball than in basketball or football makes each run more important. As a result, online betting sites will adjust the odds to even out the action. For example, in a certain game, a total score of 10 might be too high and a total score of 4.5 might be too low. The real money line on the total number of 10 runs could be -110 each way. However, the money line will likely be adjusted to Under -120. This way you have to bet more ($120 instead of $110) to win $100 since the total score of 10 might be too high. On the other hand, you will get a better deal if you’re willing to bet Over 10 runs with a money line of +100.

Baseball Over/Under Betting Tips

Baseball over/under betting is very popular in the world of online gambling. It is one of the simplest types of betting and if you really follow baseball teams you could stand to make some descent money. One of the most important baseball over/under betting tips is to make sure that you are following the sport very closely. You should know how the teams fare against each other and what possible score they are likely to get.

Another baseball betting tip to consider is not to start betting before June. This is because, before June, the weather could be less consistent and might affect the game. In addition, many pitchers and teams might start off slowly at the beginning of the season. Before June, you can use the time to closely study all the teams and how they might fare against each other.

One more baseball over/under betting tip to consider is to explore different odds offered by various online sportsbooks. Different sportsbooks will sometimes have different odds offered for the same over/under sportsbook estimate. You should look for odds that you think offer the best probabilities for winning and earnings.

We have gone to the trouble of identifying the best online sportsbooks for you, so feel free to look through them in order to get your best service and odds.

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Wondering what a push is and how it will affect your sports bets? Quite simply, a push is what happens to your bet when the event you wager on results in a tie.

As bettors or competitors, we build up wins and dread losses. We’re all familiar with creeds such as “the thrill of victory and agony of defeat.” You’ve probably heard that “winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing.”

But sometimes, sporting events are neither a win nor a loss. Overtime and shootouts have minimized the number of ties in many sports, but sometimes things still end in a draw. So, how do sportsbooks deal with these situations?

In this guide you’ll learn:

1. The definition of a push
2. How sportsbooks deal with ties
3. Ways to avoid pushes

And the Winner Is…Nobody!

Pushes happen in sports betting relatively frequently.

Say you’re betting on the NFL point spread in a match up between the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants, and the spread is set at +/-3. Whether you bet on the Cowboys -3 or the Giants +3, there is a distinct possibility of the game ending at 17-14, 20-17, or 24-21 Dallas. Each of those scores result in a push.

Totals also result in pushes with some frequency. If the Dodgers and Nationals are playing with Clayton Kershaw and Max Scherzer on the mound, the over/under might be six. A 4-2 LA win is a victory for the Dodgers, but a push regardless of whether you had the over or under.

There are some exceptions, but most sportsbooks will take the same approach when faced with a push.

Your Bet Is a Push, Now What?

Straight wagers (also known as single bets) that result in a push are refunded. Simple and to the point, regardless of juice, if you have the Buccaneers +7 at New Orleans and the Saints win 28-21, both sides get their cash back.

If the total on Tampa Bay and New Orleans is 49, both over and under are a push and bettors who took either side will be refunded.

Moneyline bets push in the case of an actual tie. If the Patriots are -250 against Jets while New York is +240, should the teams play to a 20-20 draw, both bets are refunded.

Things get slightly more complicated when parlays and teasers are involved.

How Sportsbooks Deal with Ties in Multi-Event Wagers

Bettors can get 6/1 odds if they win a three team parlay and 12/1 for a four teamer. What happens if you win three legs of a four team wager, but the fourth bet pushes?

Most sportsbooks will simply remove any ties from a parlay or teaser and pay the bet out as if it was a multi event wager with one fewer leg. So a four team parlay with three winners and a push will pay out the same as a winning three team parlay. While you were aiming for 12/1 odds, you receive 6/1 with the push dropped from the bet.

While this policy seems like the fair and equitable way of dealing with ties, some sportsbooks treat ties included in parlays and teasers as losing bets. This is particularly common on parlay cards produced early in the week that remain available for betting all the way up to kickoff on Saturday or Sunday.

The bottom line is that you should always read the small print. Know exactly how your sportsbook deals with pushes before you place a bet.

Of course, you’re more likely to be faced with a push in your parlay if you include a higher number of legs in the wager. A 10 team parlay has 10 chances for a push, whereas a two team parlay involves only two games that could possibly tie.

What Do You Get Out of a Push?

If you’re always in it to win it, it is possible to avoid pushes completely. If you spent time to watch a long sporting event and put a few bucks down, it can feel like a waste to get refunded if the game ends in a tie. On the flip side, a tie certainly beats a loss if you are a high volume better primarily concerned with ROI.

Hockey Over Under Push

The easiest way to avoid pushes is to bet on spreads that include a half point, also known as a hook. There will never be a push with a 2.5 or 3.5 spread or a total of 47.5. If you can’t find a spread or total with a hook, you can usually buy a half point. You might pay a small price in juice, but it usually makes sense to take -125 to get -2.5 instead of -110 when laying three.

While moneyline bets occasionally push, it doesn’t happen a lot. There are no ties in the NBA, NHL, or MLB these days. The NFL had one tie last year, two in 2018, and none in 2017. The chances of a push when playing the moneyline in major sports is very small.

Finally some sports, particularly soccer, offer three way betting. You can bet on either team to win or on a tie. Just remember that if you pick a team to win on a three way moneyline, a push will result in a loss rather than a refund.

Draftkings Over Under Push

Go for the Win, Settle for the Push

In the end, a push is not a bad result. It gives you a free data point to consider and learn from. Of course, that only holds true if your sportsbook refunds your bet in the case of a push. Read the terms and conditions carefully before placing any wagers.

Knowing is the key to success when betting on sports. You can find all the basic info you need to get started on the right foot in our sports betting 101 guides.