Most Common Football Bets Explained

Few sports can boast the sheer amount of popularity football possesses, and indeed this game’s charm has failed to wane throughout the years. It has also continued to entertain individuals fond of having the chance to gamble on the matches’ odds, so it is no wonder that more and more individuals take up this pastime. 

It is not all smooth sailing, as visiting a sportsbook website for the first time can be an overwhelming experience. Rest assured, however, because we will help you dip your toes into this engaging form of entertainment by introducing you to some of the most popular football bets.

Moneyline bets

These types of bets are fairly straightforward, and they are some of the first types of wagers you will learn about when you turn to a guide about betting on football for assistance. When you place a moneyline stake, you are simply wagering on which one of the teams is going to win. The outcome of your stake depends on the results of the match. If your team won, then you can walk away with the money you got in addition to your original stake. If your team lost, then it is your loss as well and you will part with your stake. If the match ends in a draw, you get your stake back, but you do not win anything either.

Both Teams To Score (BTTS)

As it says on the tin when you place this type of bet you are wagering on whether or not the teams are going to score goals. You will typically be presented with two options, a “yes” wager and a “no” wager. If you bet on the former, you are counting on both teams to score at least one goal each by the time the match has reached 90 minutes. If you place your stake on the latter, you are betting that either none of the teams will score, or only one of them will. 

Over/Under

Over/Under bets, also called Totals, are also fairly simple. With them, punters bet on the combined totals of both teams’ scores. First, you are presented with a predicted total, for example, 5. You can then place a bet on whether the teams’ combined score will total more (over) or less (under) than the predetermined number of goals. If the total lands on 5, then that is known as a “push”. In this case, neither side wins, and every punter is refunded their stake.

Outright bets

These types of bets cater to patient players, as punters wager on who is going to win at the end of an entire league season for instance. As you might imagine, these types of bets can build up a lot of tension, so they still pack a good amount of excitement as the so-called “judgment day” draws near.

Spread betting

Spread betting looks intimidating at first but there is nothing too complicated to it. The point spread is the bookmaker’s prediction on how the team’s final scores will look like, and punters bet on which prediction they believe is more likely. Let us take a hypothetical match between Chelsea and Brentford as an example. The point spread could look like this:

• Brentford: +2.5
• Chelsea: -2.5

The minus means that Chelsea is considered the favorite. In other words, if you bet on them and they win by 3 points or more, it is your win too. Brentford’s plus means they are the underdog, thus if they lose, they need to lose by no more than 2 points for your wager to be successful had you placed your stake on them.

In-play

In-play betting is a fun and very popular way of placing stakes, as it involves betting while a game is in full swing. This lets you make decisions based on what is unfolding in front of your eyes, which makes for a thrilling and emotionally charged experience.

Accumulators

Accumulator bets, fondly referred to as “accas”, are some of the most tempting bets you can find in your bookie of choice’s catalog. Basically, accas allow punters to bet on several football events at the same time. The catch is that all of the matches must be won for your bet to be successful, but it is worth it. This is due to how the profit is accumulated should a wager land a win. Let us look at an acca that offers even-money odds, and you bet on 5 events, $2 on each match. If the first event ends in your favor, you have so far won $2 + your stake, totaling to $4. If the second match is also successful, the money you get will be doubled so at this point your profit is $8. This happens for all subsequent wins, which accumulates to $486 + your stake at the end. Even-money acca bets are fairly rare, but that is a given considering they can easily reach astronomical payouts.