Unlike sports like football, there is no such thing as a draw in basketball. If the scores are level at the end of the 4h quarter, then 5-minute periods of overtime are played until there is a winner. The fact then that overtime is a possibility has a direct impact on one of the most popular basketball betting options, which is to bet on the total number of points scored in a game by the two teams combined.

As a basketball betting strategy this makes sense because the odds offered to the total points scored and “More or Less than”, are usually much more attractive than just betting on the winner of the game. However, before making any bet it is important to determine what the rules of the various betting houses are when it comes to overtime basketball. Some betting companies will allow for the inclusion of overtime when it comes to offering odds, whilst others do not, in which case the total number of points scored at the end of the 4^th quarter is taken as the final result in terms of determining if a bet is successful or not.

Some betting houses make this clear upfront, whist others may have it hidden away in their terms and conditions. So, if in doubt ask the company with whom you are laying your bet what their rules are regarding overtime basketball.

Irrespective of their policy, what the betting agencies offer is a best on whether the total number of points scored by both teams will be Over, or Under, a certain threshold (in the rare event that the combined score is exactly the predicted line then everybody gets their money back). The pay-out for an over or under bet should always be the same – if the betting house needs to encourage or discourage action on one side of bet or the other, they will adjust the points total and not the pay-outs.

The betting house policy will have a direct factor on your basketball betting strategy. After all, if the result is taken after the end of four quarters, then the betting line will be lower than if overtime is taken into consideration. It also should be noted that this is actually more of a consideration when betting on college basketball rather than the NBA. This is because in the NBA less than 4% of games go to overtime, as opposed to college basketball where the figure rises to 20%.

When attempting to calculate the likely number of points scored in a game, time should be taken to study both teams and their statistics prior to placing any bet. What types of teams are they in terms of strategy and style of play, for example? Are they strong in defence or attack-minded, do they play well at home or are poor on the road, and how strong are their squads?

When considering squads, useful NBA tips which should be considered include assessing not only the strength of the starting quintet but also the depth of their bench. It should be remembered that many teams will start with their strongest five or seven players, and allow the fringe players to come off the bench later in the game. The ability of these less well-known players to score in the third and fourth quarter can have a big impact on any bet on the total number of points scored.

Over/Under bets on the total number of points scored in a game is a valid basketball betting strategy but make sure you know the house rules before laying a bet with any betting agency. Whether they allow overtime betting or declare a result after the end of the 4^th quarter will have an impact on the odds and the likelihood of your bet to succeed.