Totals betting in MLB preseason — often referred to as spring training — involves wagering on whether the combined runs scored by both teams will finish over or under a number set by the sportsbook, typically ranging from 8.5 to 10.5. These lines tend to be higher than regular-season totals because spring training games feature pitchers on strict pitch counts, frequent bullpen turnover, and lineups filled with minor leaguers and roster hopefuls, all of which inflate scoring. Understanding that these aren't competitive, full-effort contests is essential to evaluating the number correctly.
The totals market in spring training can offer value when bettors dig into pitching plans — specifically, how many innings a starter is expected to throw and which relievers are likely to follow. Early in spring, starters rarely go beyond two or three innings, making overs more attractive. As camp progresses and pitchers extend their workloads, unders become more viable. From a vig perspective, spring training totals often carry wider margins than regular-season lines because books face thinner betting volume and greater uncertainty. Comparing the juice across sportsbooks becomes especially important here, as even small differences in vig compound quickly in a market where the edge is already razor-thin.
Totals Vig Rankings
| # | Sportsbook | Vig | Grade | Events |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | theScore Bet | 5.07% | B+ | 1 |
| 2 | BetMGM | 5.74% | B | 1 |
| 3 | DraftKings | 6.18% | C+ | 1 |
| 4 | MyBookie.ag | 7.08% | D | 1 |
| 5 | Hard Rock Bet | 8.78% | D | 1 |
| 6 | Bovada | 8.78% | D- | 1 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a totals (over/under) bet?
A totals bet is a wager on whether the combined score of both teams will be over or under a number set by the sportsbook. For example, an NFL total of 47.5 means you're betting whether the final combined score will be 48+ (over) or 47 or fewer (under).
How does totals vig compare to other markets?
Totals vig varies by sport but is generally moderate — between moneyline and spread vig. Totals attract less volume than spreads but more than most prop markets, putting them in a middle ground for vig. Weather and injury news can cause totals to move significantly, sometimes affecting vig.
What is vig (vigorish) in sports betting?
Vig — short for vigorish, also called juice or overround — is the margin a sportsbook builds into its odds. It's the difference between the true probability of an outcome and what the odds imply. Lower vig means you keep more of your winnings on every bet. For example, a standard -110/-110 line has about 4.76% vig.
How often is this data updated?
We pull fresh odds from The Odds API three times per day — at 6:00 AM, 2:00 PM, and 10:00 PM UTC. Each snapshot captures the latest lines from every sportsbook that has posted odds. The timestamp at the top of the page shows the most recent refresh.
How is the vig grade calculated?
Each sportsbook is graded on a letter scale based on average vig: A+ (under 2%) is exceptional, A (2–3%) is excellent, B+ (3–4%) is above average, B (4–5%) is the industry standard, C (5–6%) is below average, and D (above 6%) indicates high-juice markets.
Why does lower vig matter for bettors?
Lower vig directly impacts your long-term returns. A bettor placing $1,000 per week at a book with 4% vig loses roughly $40/week to the house edge. At 2% vig, that drops to $20/week — a $1,040 difference over a year. For serious bettors, shopping for lower vig is one of the most reliable ways to improve profitability.
What sportsbooks do you track?
We track both regulated US sportsbooks (DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Caesars) and offshore books (Bovada, BetOnline, MyBookie, BetUS, LowVig.ag, BetAnySports). Data comes from The Odds API, which aggregates real-time lines from licensed sources.
How We Calculate These Numbers
- Data Source
- All odds on this page come from The Odds API, which aggregates real-time lines from licensed US and offshore sportsbooks. We track moneyline, spread, and totals markets across every sport with active betting lines.
- Update Frequency
- We pull a fresh snapshot of every tracked market three times per day — at 6:00 AM, 2:00 PM, and 10:00 PM UTC. Each snapshot captures the latest lines from every sportsbook that has posted odds for a given event. The timestamp at the top of each page tells you exactly when the data was last refreshed.
- Vig Calculation
- Vig (short for vigorish, also called juice or overround) measures the margin a sportsbook builds into its odds. We calculate it by converting the odds on each side of a market to implied probabilities, summing those probabilities, and subtracting 100%. For example, a market priced at -110/-110 implies 52.38% on each side — a total of 104.76%, meaning a vig of 4.76%. Lower vig means better value for bettors because you keep more of your winnings.
- Per-Market Breakdown
- We compute vig separately for each market type: moneyline (h2h), point spreads, and totals (over/under). The "average vig" shown for each sportsbook is the mean across all market types weighted by the number of events sampled in each market.
- Grading Scale
- Every sportsbook receives a letter grade based on its average vig: A+ (under 2%) is exceptional and rare — these are typically sharp-friendly books. A (2–3%) is excellent. B+ (3–4%) is above average. B (4–5%) is the industry standard for most recreational sportsbooks. C (5–6%) is below average. D (above 6%) indicates high-juice markets where bettors face a steep cost per wager.
- Trend Tracking
- We store daily snapshots for 30 days, allowing us to show 24-hour and 7-day vig trends. A downward trend (improving) means sportsbooks are tightening their lines — often in response to increased competition or higher betting volume as a season heats up.