Both Teams to Score Betting
Both teams to score is a modern betting market that first emerged with the launch of sports betting websites. Online betting created lots of new markets, but few are as simple and potentially effective as both teams scoring.
Yes or No?
The market works by presenting football bettors the question “Both teams to score?” While bettors have the option to choose yes or no, an ill informed majority opt for yes. This has to speak to the positive mentality of punters, who are hoping to see attacking football and goals in every game.
To provide perspective as to why yes is more popular, let’s take a look at the 2013/14 Premier League season. In total, there were 380 games played involving 20 teams. The average ratio of goals per game stood at 2.77, which alone is telling. Looking at that ratio alone, it is easy to see hope for both teams scoring.
However, taking things further, there were 27 nil-nil score lines accounting for approximately 7% of all results. That statistic clearly shows that there is potential for at least one team not scoring in a game. Just think of all the games where clean sheets were kept.
Again taking the 2013/13 Premier League season as an example, there were 205 out of 380 games where both teams did not score. So, over the course of the season, approximately 54% of no bets would have won compared to 46% of yes bets. The average punter perhaps would not expect to see no bets reigning supreme.
As an option, no should not be overlooked. But the mere fact that it is works in your favour. When there are evenly matched teams clashing lower in the table, the odds for no can often be much more favourable. Of course, it’s the mismatched games that pay out on the most no bets. However, you can spot plenty of promising opportunities throughout the course of a season.
Check the Tables
No matter which league you are betting on in this market, you must check the league table. Both teams to score is the ideal market for football fans who embrace statistics. Any time that you bet without checking out the table is a risk that you will lose. Some teams might surprise you as to how poor they are at scoring at home compared to away.
Informative websites like BBC Sport and ESPNFC offer the ability to view collective statistics as well as home and away records. Evaluating home and away records is central to making the best decisions when betting on both teams to score. At every level of professional football in England, there can be considerable fluctuations between home form and away form.
The only statistics that you need to be concerned with are the goals scored and conceded at home and away. Look out for leaky defences and tight defences and how they perform home and away. Pounce on any obvious opportunities and don’t back any matches with question marks. Top-of-the-table clashes can be relatively unpredictable as to the scoring output.
Betting Example
There was considerable focus on the potential of no bets above, but in this example the focus will be on a yes bet. For this example, West Ham will be playing at home against Tottenham. The odds for yes are 8/11, while no are evens. A £10 stake on yes will deliver profit of £7.27 – no would deliver £10.
The rationale for backing yes is that West Ham conceded more than a goal a game the 2013/14. The team is also planning to play with a more attacking approach, which could lead to an open game. Tottenham conceded more goals away from home in 2013/14, so there’s every chance that they leak one against West Ham.
All that matters in football betting are the victories. Don’t be afraid to take on a negative bet in the both teams to score market. During an entire season in the Premier League, you might very well win more than you lose. All things considered, there are two options for both teams scoring. Bettors are far too quick to forget this and focus only on the positive nature of a yes bet. Remember to consider both options.