The ‘Both Teams To Score’ market is one of the most popular bet types among punters. There are a variety of ways you can use the market, including:
- Create accumulators
- Bet on BTTS & Full-Time Result
- Use the market in multiples selections
Both Teams To Score Meaning
To win a bet on a BTTS (the acronym for Both Teams To Score) selection, you need the two sides you’re betting on to score at least one goal each. If only one, or neither, side bags a goal the bet loses. Therefore, you should be diligent when picking which teams to put money on.
Generally speaking, bookmakers will give bettors two options when betting on the ‘Both Teams To Score’ market. These are as follows:
- Both Teams To Score – Yes
- Both Teams To Score – No
By selecting ‘Yes’, you are betting on an outcome that involves both teams scoring one or more goals. If you opt for ‘No’, then you’ll win if neither side scores. Bets on ‘No’ will also win if only one team gets the ball in the back of the net.
We can give you an idea of what the market represents, but bookmakers can provide actual hard and fast rules concerning ‘Both Teams To Score’ bets. Here’s an official description of ‘BTTS’ written by William Hill:
William Hill
Predict whether or not both teams will score in a match.
It really is that basic. You choose to put money on either both of the teams scoring or not, and if your selection comes true you make a profit. The simplicity of this market makes it one of the most accessible for new bettors. Similarly, ‘Both Teams To Score’ can be hugely rewarding for experienced punters.
SkyBet are a little more detailed in their ‘Both Teams To Score’ definition:
SkyBet
You’re betting on: whether both teams will score over the course of the 90 minutes, answering yes or no.
It should be noted that certain rules apply to bets on ‘BTTS’ selections. These are the most important to remember:
- Bets on this market are settled based on events that take place during normal time (00:00 to 90:00).
- Additional time at the end of the first half and the second half count towards the outcome of your bet.
- Occurrences during extra time do not count.
Both Teams To Score Strategy & Tips
Many punters overlook the importance of a betting strategy. More often than not, bettors throw money at a wager solely because the odds look enticing and not due to the bet being a potential winner. This is a fatal error for anyone’s bankroll – whether you’re a veteran or a novice.
That’s why we recommend putting a strategy together for each market you intend on using. It may sound daunting at first, but rest assured that it’s actually quite easy. Perhaps more importantly, it’s quick. We know that prices are constantly evolving by going up and/or down, so time is of the essence. But if you dedicate just a small portion of your day to your strategy, your profit/loss margin will thank you for it. This applies to all betting markets, not just BTTS.
1. Look For Early Goals
The earlier a goal is scored, the more time the opposition has to retaliate. The later a goal is scored, the harder it is for the opposition side to fight back. This is a simple fact about football.
You should keep a close eye on teams that tend to score before the 15th minute. This may seem like an arbitrary number on paper, but the proof is well and truly in the pudding. Teams that have a habit of scoring earlier in the day are more likely to concede later on. For example, Leicester City scored three goals before the 15th minute in the opening 10 weeks of the 2022/23 Premier League season. Between minutes 75-90, the Foxes conceded four goals. The earlier they scored, the greater the chances of them letting goals in became.
Crystal Palace’s record was nigh on the same as Leicester’s during the same period. The Eagles bagged three goals within the first 15 minutes of matches up to October and gave away four goals in the last 15 minutes of games throughout that time.
You’re not limited to the Premier League, either. Feel free to examine other leagues with early goals to find winning BTTS wagers.
2. Which Teams Come From Behind The Most?
A team that usually goes behind and fights back will pay significant dividends when betting on the ‘Both Teams To Score’ market. You need these teams in order for the market to exist at all, because if only one team were to score in every game then there would be no such thing as ‘Both Teams To Score’.
Hence, any team that has developed a trend of going behind at some point in the game but almost always scores is perfect for your selection. They’re guaranteed to make you money.
Take Liverpool, for instance, The Reds endured a torrid start to the 2022/23 Premier League season which saw them 10th nine weeks in. Two wins, four draws and two defeats. Across all competitions, Liverpool went behind first on six occasions. In each of those matches where they trailed, Liverpool clawed back at least one goal. That’s at least six wins for bets on ‘BTTS’ selections that included the 2021/22 domestic cup double winners.
Manchester United were forced onto the backfoot five times across each of their domestic and European outings at the opening of the 2022/23 campaign. Like Liverpool, they showed impressive resolve to hit back with goals of their own later in their respective affairs (four times in all).
The main point of advice to follow here is this:
- Look for talented sides that often strike back after going behind, especially if they have a run of fixtures against decent opponents.
3. Remember The Power Of ‘No’
The majority of bettors see the ‘BTTS’ market and assume that there is just one option: that both teams must score. This could not be further from the truth.
The fact of the matter is that this is a double-sided market with two options available to you. On top of being able to bet on both teams scoring, you can also place bets on whether both teams will fail to score. Here’s how a bet on ‘Both Teams To Score – No’ works:
- 0-0 – Bet Wins (neither team scored)
- 1-0 – Bet Wins (only one team scored)
- 1-1 – Bet Loses (both teams score)
Any scoreline where two sides score will not win in this market.
Analyze which sides keep clean sheets, participate in goalless draws, or have a hard time creating chances themselves. When you mix and match the two available options for ‘BTTS’ markets and create a strategy for both, your experience with this betting genre will improve tenfold.
Is BTTS A Good Bet?
‘Both Teams To Score’ is an accessible and easy-to-use market. As such, it’s a great option for newbies or those of you that prefer to play it safe and avoid complex bet types.
Generally speaking, the odds for BTTS markets are lower in value compared to other options at UK sportsbooks. This is because the market requires just one outcome to be true. Even variations of the BTTS betting market – like Full Time Result & BTTS – offer much better odds than standard BTTS selections. However, those selections are much harder to get right.
You could argue that the odds on BTTS bets are actually quite rewarding for what you’re getting. If all you need is for both teams to score one goal each, why shouldn’t Full Time Result & BTTS and similar markets offer improved winnings? After all, bets on those types of selections ask more of you. It all depends on what you’re looking for in a wager.
If you’re on the hunt for a value-laden accumulator, then BTTS is the way to go. It’s a low-risk choice as you’re avoiding the “which team will win” question, but the odds are impressive nonetheless. Don’t just take our word for it, check out this accumulator on the ‘Both Teams To Score’ market from Matchday 11 of the 2022/23 Premier League season.
- Brighton vs Nottingham Forest – Yes
- Crystal Palace vs Wolves – No
- Bournemouth vs Southampton – No
- Brentford vs Chelsea – Yes
- Liverpool vs West Ham – Yes
- Newcastle vs Everton – Yes
- Manchester United vs Tottenham Hotspur – Yes
This selection gave us odds at 50.79 (4979/100). A £15 punt on this 7-fold acca would payout £761.82, making almost £750 in profit. Not bad for a selection that didn’t even ask us which team will win.
So, is there value in BTTS? Absolutely. You’ll get more value by using selections from the market in Multiples like accumulators, but the rewards are pretty good across the board considering what you’re betting on.
Is BTTS Better Than Over 2.5 Goals?
It may be frustrating to hear, but the answer to this is “it depends”. There are some games where it makes more sense to bet on ‘Both Teams To Score’, and others where a wager on ‘Over 2.5 Goals’ is the best option.
Here’s why:
- Betting on BTTS in a game between a top club and a struggling relegation battler makes very little sense as the smaller team is unlikely to score. However, you can win money from a bet on ‘Over 2.5 Goals’ without worrying about whether or not both teams will find the net.
- On the other hand, placing a bet on BTTS when there are two evenly matched sides facing off in a high-pressure encounter is more sensible than entering a stake on ‘Over 2.5 Goals’. Any low-scoring draw (anything above 0-0) pays out here, giving you more winning outcomes than ‘Over 2.5 Goals’.
Let’s compare odds taken from SkyBet within these two markets:
Ajax vs Liverpool
- BTTS @ 1.50 (1/2)
- Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.53
Barcelona vs Bayern Munich
- BTTS @ 1.40
- Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.50
The Ajax vs Liverpool game is a tricky one to bet on. Previous history between these two sides offers very little insight as to how many goals we should expect to see, while stats on both teams scoring when facing off against one another are few and far between. However, we can glean plenty of information from the pair’s statistics as a whole.
Ajax have scored in every match they’ve played this season (17 games). Liverpool are enjoying a similar vein of form, bagging at least once in their last eight outings. Just two of Liverpool’s past five encounters saw more than two goals scored. Therefore, a punt on ‘BTTS’ looks like the best option.
On the other hand, Barcelona vs Bayern Munich should see plenty of goalmouth action. Bets on this selection offer far more “certainty” as the two have shown their prowess in front of goal and displayed questionable defensive performances. Much like the first meeting during the Group Stages of the Champions League, we expect a high xG for either side and plenty of chances.
Bayern’s scoring record speaks for itself. The German champions have hit the net three or more times in five of their last six matchups in all competitions. Their opponents for this fixture are on a decent run of scoring form too, with a minimum of one goal in five of the last six games. ‘Over 2.5 Goals’ is probably the best choice for your betslip, but a wager on ‘Both Teams To Score’ shouldn’t be ruled out.
And we shouldn’t forget that ‘Under 2.5 Goals’ and ‘Both Teams To Score – No’ are available options in these markets. Again, you’ll want to utilize selections in these areas under differing circumstances:
- Under 2.5 Goals – Bet on this selection when you anticipate a low-scoring game.
- Both Teams To Score ‘No’ – Bet on this selection when you expect a low-scoring match or believe that one team will keep a clean sheet.
The major differentiating factor between the two is that high-scoring affairs can result in winning bets when you choose ‘Both Teams To Score – No’, whereas any game with more than two goals will see your ‘Under 2.5 Goals’ wager lose.
Is BTTS better than Over 2.5 Goals? Often it is, sometimes it’s not. Only you can decide which one is better for your bankroll.
What Percentage Of Matches Result in BTTS?
The 2021/22 Premier League season was enthralling for a variety of reasons, not least the number of goals per game. In the campaign, Leicester City participated in the most fixtures where both teams scored (68%), with West Ham (63%) and Southampton (61%) following in second and third on the standings.
Four of the top-flight’s ‘Big Six’ sat in the bottom six of the ‘BTTS’ table for 21/22. They are:
- Liverpool (42%)
- Arsenal (42%)
- Manchester City (39%)
- Tottenham Hotspur (37%)
This tells us that it’s better to stick lower-ranking clubs in bets on ‘Both Teams To Score’ as stronger sides tend to put forward resolute defensive displays. It’s also worth noting that some teams are simply better at preventing goals than others; most of these sides reside in the top half of the Premier League table.
If you want to dig even deeper into BTTS statistics, take a look at the Home & Away records below.
Top 5 Premier League Home Teams For BTTS In The 2021/2022 Season:
- West Ham United (79%)
- Chelsea (63%)
- Southampton (58%)
- Newcastle United (58%)
- Leeds United (58%)
Top 5 Premier League Away Teams For BTTS In The 2021/2022 Season:
- Leicester City (84%)
- Manchester United (63%)
- Brentford (63%)
- Southampton (63%)
- Leeds United (58%)
Essentially, all you need to do is put money on West Ham vs Leicester City at The London Stadium to make a profit. The statistics for Home and Away sides match up with both teams’ scoring form with regard to BTTS, with every one of the previous seven meetings at the home of the Irons’ seeing both sides get on the scoresheet.
Again, you may notice that the top 5 in both tables holds just one team from the so-called ‘Big Six’ in the form of Manchester United. This goes against the general bias of most bettors as most of us tend to veer towards games involving higher-placed teams – which makes sense due to the fact that such sides are televised more than weaker ones. As a result, we know more about those clubs compared to teams sitting further down the table.
Here are some games to keep an eye out for throughout the Premier League season when betting on the ‘Both Teams To Score’ market:
- West Ham United vs Southampton
- Chelsea vs Southampton
- Chelsea vs Manchester United
- Newcastle United vs Brentford
- Leeds United vs Leicester City
Best Bookies & Odds For Both Teams To Score
Such is the popularity of this market, virtually every top UK bookmaker offers odds on ‘Both Teams To Score’. However, that doesn’t mean the odds are the same at every sportsbook. Some provide better prices, others upload a wider range of selections with worse odds.
For instance, SkyBet are offering Ajax vs Liverpool BTTS @ 1.50 (1/2). Bet365 have the same selection on their website but with slightly better odds @ 1.57 (285/500). It’s a small difference with potentially huge ramifications depending on the type of bet you place. The greater the amount of money you stake on a single, the better your winnings will be. If you create an accumulator with Bet365 rather than SkyBet, you’ll get an improved price overall (provided the bookie offers better odds across the board).
If you value user experience over the number of selections available in the market, you’ll choose a sportsbook catered to your needs. Should you have more interest in betting on a vast array of foreign and lower-ranking divisions, you’ll want to pick a different operator to bet with. Regardless of where you bet, you should find that most fixtures are supported by the BTTS market.
Here are some of our favourite sports betting platforms that offer odds on ‘Both Teams To Score’.
1. SkyBet
2. Bet365
3. William Hill
4. BetVictor
5. Paddy Power
To find ‘BTTS’ at any of these sportsbooks, you’ll need to open the event page for the match you want to bet on. From there, you can filter the markets on-screen by selecting ‘Goals’ so that only markets relevant to goals being scored are displayed. ‘Both Teams To Score’ should appear as one of the first options.
In addition, be sure that the bookie you want to use offers all the bells and whistles you’re looking for. For example, Paddy Power throws all of its ‘Both Teams To Score’ markets into one area. This can be incredibly helpful if you’re struggling to find the exact selection you’re after.
Some notable variations of BTTS that you may find at popular UK bookmakers include the likes of:
- Both Teams To Score In The First Half – The two competing sides must score at least one time each during the opening 45 minutes.
- Both Teams To Score In The Second Half – Each team must score once in the final 45 minutes.
- Both Teams To Score in Both Halves – Each team must score once apiece in the first and the second half.
- Both Teams To Score No Draw – Both sets of teams must score at least one goal each and the result cannot be a draw.
- Both Teams To Score Two Or More Goals – Both sides are required to hit the net a minimum of two times each over the course of 90 minutes.
