If you’re new to football betting, you’ll soon realize the diverse landscape of markets available at your fingertips. Whichever sportsbook you choose online, you’ll have a plethora of options to wager on your favorite sport.
Below, we’ll demystify some of the most widely used markets by novice and seasoned football bettors alike.
Both Teams to Score (BTTS)
The BTTS market has gained popularity for its simplicity and potential for high returns. In this market, you must predict whether both teams will score at least one goal during the match. According to this BTTS guide, one of the best ways to filter suitable matches for BTTS wagers is to find games involving teams with high combined strike rates of scoring and conceding in the same game.
Match Odds
The Match Odds market, also known as the 1X2 market, is perhaps the simplest football betting market there is. Here, all you need to do is correctly predict the outcome of an upcoming or in-play match. You’ll either back the home team (1), the draw (X), or the away team (2). This market is ideally suited to football betting novices due to its ease and widespread availability across sportsbook platforms.
Over/Under 2.5 Goals
In the Over/Under 2.5 Goals market, bettors wager on whether the total number of goals scored in a match will be over or under 2.5. If you believe a game will have three or more goals, you’ll bet on the Over odds. It’s a strong option if you’re betting on a game involving top marksmen like Robert Lewandowski, Harry Kane or Erling Haaland. If you think it’ll be a low-scoring affair, you’ll take the Under odds. The 2.5 benchmark is the most popular Over/Under goals market since most professional leagues average around 2.5 goals per game.
Asian Handicap
Asian Handicap betting is a unique type of football betting market. Originating in Asia, it has since become increasingly popular worldwide. Unlike traditional handicaps, Asian Handicap markets eliminate the possibility of a draw by giving one team a pre-game goal advantage or disadvantage.
For instance, if you were to bet on Barcelona with a -1 Asian Handicap, they would have to win by two or more goals to clear the pre-game handicap. This market offers more precise odds and allows bettors to mitigate risks in matches involving clear favorites or underdogs.
Whether you prefer the simplicity of Match Odds or BTTS, the excitement of Over/Under 2.5 Goals or the ultra-precision of Asian Handicap markets, there’s a football betting market out there suitable for your preferences and level of knowledge of the “Beautiful Game”.