It’s a safe bet that wagers are being made on every big sporting event
Dear Johnnie: What are the over/under and other numbers on predictions for men’s sport events? And why nothing for women’s sport events?
Predictions for how likely I will get in trouble for something I say at home are too easy. — Bob
Dear Bob: For me, the question of over/under regards how I’ll wear my shirt-tail in relation to my pants.
But about your question: According to thelines.com, an over/under — or “totals” — bet is a bet placed on the sum of
the teams’ scores. The website used this year’s Super Bowl as an example of how it works.
The over/under for the Chiefs-buccaneers game was 54.4 points (the number varied by site and changed over time). So, a combined score of 55 points or higher was a win for the “over” bettors. Anything 54 points and below would have been a win for “under” bettors. The final score was 31-9, so the “under” bettors came away as winners.
It’s rare for an over/ under number to be a whole number; however, if the over/under of this year’s game had been 40, then the bet would have been a “push” and bets would have been refunded.
Over/under bets aren’t just for scoring totals for team sports. Even the number of rounds in a boxing match could be the subject of an over/under bet.
The most common, or popular, bets are made on point spreads, which are bets on margins of victor y or defeat. But other betting options are more than either you or I can imagine, Bob.
If a wager can be made “on an uncertain event,” to quote Merriam Webster’s definition, it will be.
In the Super Bowl, for instance, bettors can place what are called “prop bets,” which this year included who would win the opening coin toss, which player would score the first touchdown, which quarterback would throw more touchdowns, which color of Gatorade would be poured on the winning coach, and how many times Gisele Bundchen would be shown on TV.
Events with uncertain outcomes include women’s sporting competitions. Later this month you may place bets on the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament. You may even bet on women’s boxing.