Totals (Over/Under) Betting in Wyoming
Wager on whether the combined score of both teams will be over or under a number set by the book.
What is a totals bet?
A totals bet, also called an over/under, is a wager on the combined score of both teams in a game. The sportsbook posts a number (the "total"), and you bet whether the actual combined score will be over or under that number. It doesn't matter which team scores more; only the sum matters.
Totals are offered on every sport at every Wyoming sportsbook. They're particularly popular for NFL, NBA, and MLB games, where scoring patterns are well understood and the math is easy to follow.
How a totals bet works
- The total is set by the book based on team offenses, defenses, pace, weather, and venue.
- You bet over or under. Standard pricing is -110 on each side.
- The result is determined by the combined final score at the end of regulation (or overtime, if the book includes it, usually it does).
Worked example: Broncos vs Raiders
Broncos vs Raiders, total 45.5
Final score 28-21 (combined 49). The over wins.
Final score 17-13 (combined 30). The under wins.
Final score 23-22 (combined 45). The under wins (45 is below 45.5).
Why half-points matter on totals
If a total is set at exactly 45 and the combined score lands on 45, the bet is a push, refunded with no winner. Half-points (45.5) eliminate that possibility. Just like with point spreads, half-points around key totals (in NFL: 41, 44, 47, 51) carry meaningful value.
Sport-by-sport totals dynamics
NFL totals
NFL totals typically range from 38 to 55 depending on the matchup. Cold-weather games (mid-November onward, especially at outdoor stadiums in Denver, Buffalo, Green Bay) trend under more often than warm-weather games. Indoor games in Las Vegas, Detroit, and New Orleans trend over.
Broncos games at Empower Field have a small under-trending bias in late season because of altitude wind patterns and cold temperatures.
NBA totals
NBA totals are higher than any other major U.S. sport (200-240+ points typical). Pace is the dominant factor, fast-paced teams (Pacers, Suns, Wizards) reliably push games over; slow-paced teams (Heat, Knicks) push under. Nuggets totals trend slightly under league average because of their efficient half-court offense.
MLB totals, the Coors Field effect
Coors Field is the most over-rich park in baseball. The 5,280 ft elevation thins air and reduces drag on baseballs, inflating runs. Rockies home totals open 1.5-2 runs higher than equivalent matchups at sea level, and even with that adjustment, Coors home games go over the total at meaningfully higher rates than league average.
Wind direction matters: wind blowing out at Coors increases home runs by 20-30%; wind blowing in cuts them. Wyoming bettors who follow Denver-area weather forecasts have a real edge on Coors totals.
NHL totals
NHL totals are usually set at 5.5 or 6 goals. Goalie matchups are the single biggest factor. Avalanche totals are often soft when starting goalie news breaks late.
Soccer totals
Soccer totals are typically 2.5 goals. Common variants include 1.5 (low-scoring matchups, Asian handicap world) and 3.5 (high-scoring leagues like Bundesliga).
Strategy: weather, pace, and rest
The three biggest non-team factors in totals betting:
- Weather (outdoor sports). Wind speed and direction at NFL stadiums and MLB ballparks; temperature affects ball flight and player conditioning.
- Pace (NBA and college basketball). Adjusted tempo statistics (kenpom for college, hollinger for NBA) explain most game-to-game variance in totals.
- Rest and travel (NBA, NHL). Second nights of back-to-backs reliably push under in NBA. NHL games on three-in-five-nights stretches are also under-trending.
Alternate totals, more granular control
Wyoming sportsbooks offer alternate totals at adjusted odds:
| Total | Adjusted Odds | Use case |
|---|---|---|
| Over 39.5 | -280 | Heavy buy on a 45.5 total, easier to hit, lower payout |
| Over 45.5 | -110 | Standard line |
| Over 51.5 | +220 | Sell points, needs explosive game |
| Under 51.5 | -280 | Heavy buy on the under at 45.5 |
Alternate totals are useful when you want to lock in directional confidence with less variance, or when a particular game flow would push past a key number you want to capture.
Team totals, the under-the-radar option
Rather than betting the combined score, you can bet just one team's total. Broncos team total over 23.5 is a wager on Denver alone scoring 24+. This is useful when:
- You think one team will dominate but aren't sure how the other will respond.
- You want to combine with a moneyline (e.g., Broncos win + Broncos team total over) for an SGP.
- The full-game total has too much variance and you want to isolate one offense.
First-half and first-quarter totals
Books offer totals on partial-game segments. First-half NFL totals are typically set around 45-48% of the full-game total (slightly below half because second halves trend higher). First-five-inning totals in MLB insulate you from late-game bullpen variance, particularly valuable for Coors Field games where bullpens can blow up totals late.
Common mistakes
- Betting overs out of fan habit. Public bettors love overs; books know this and price accordingly. Disciplined bettors take the under more often than they think they will.
- Ignoring the close. If you bet the over at 45.5 and the line closes at 47.5, you got a great number. If it closes at 43.5, you lost the close, even if the over hits, your bet was -EV.
- Forgetting overtime rules. Most NFL totals include overtime; some markets don't. Always check the book's rules tab.
- Treating totals like spreads. Totals don't have the same "key number" structure in NBA or college basketball. Don't overweight half-point movements there.
Best book for totals betting
DraftKings offers the widest catalog of alternate totals on every game, useful for granular control. FanDuel tends to price closing totals sharpest, meaning their numbers are closest to the true expected outcome. BetMGM runs reliable totals pricing across all sports and frequently offers totals odds boosts.