Soccer totals, or goal lines, are similar to point-spread wagers in other sports. They are adjusted in half-goal increments and often include a half-goal hook to encourage bets on both sides.
You can also place bets on the total number of corners in a match. These wagers are typically presented as an Over/Under.
Over/Under bets
Soccer Over/Under bets work similar to hockey totals, but with some notable differences. For one, soccer is not a high-scoring game, so the numbers sportsbooks post for a match’s over/under are lower than those in other sports. In addition, most over/under bets are canceled if the game goes to overtime or extra periods.
Unlike NFL and other sports that don’t allow ties, soccer often ends in a draw after 90 minutes of play. To account for this, most bettors prefer to bet on the three-way money line. This betting market removes the draw option and adjusts the odds on either side to reflect their implied probability of winning the match.
Another popular type of soccer bet is a half-time over/under. This wager focuses on the number of goals scored in a soccer match during the first or second half. The over/under is set by the sportsbook and punters must choose whether to buy or sell the bet. Taking the buy side means that you think more than the number of goals listed will be scored; taking the sell side, on the other hand, means that fewer than the specified amount will be scored.
First/Second Half bets
Soccer is the most popular sport for betting. In addition to wagers on which team will win the match, there are also bets on the first half and second half results. These bets work differently from traditional straight up or 3-way moneyline bets because a draw is always possible in soccer. This makes it more difficult to predict the winning team, so the best option is to focus on teams that score a lot of goals in both halves.
Sportsbooks set totals for a game by adding up the number of expected goals scored. Then they price the Over/Under based on how many more bettors are taking the over than the under. However, since soccer is typically a low scoring game there’s usually a large amount of juice attached to the under side of a total. This means that a $100 bet on the under will only pay out if there are fewer than 2.5 goals scored in the match.
World Cup bets
The country has gone bonkers for soccer recently and as the sport’s popularity grows in North America, so too does its betting action. As a result, the world cup is an ideal place to start for those looking to try their hand at this exciting new form of wagering.
Unlike other sports where ties are not possible, in soccer games you can place a three-way money line (1X for Home win, X for Draw, and 2 for Away win) on any game. These bets are settled after 90 minutes plus referee stoppage time. If a game goes into extra time or penalties, original bets are not carried over unless explicitly stated.
Another popular type of soccer wager is the soccer spread, which allows you to bet on how many goals a team will win by. For example, if you bet on USA against Mexico and the USA wins by more than 2.5 goals, your bet is a push and your wager is refunded.
Match-winner bets
Soccer betting has become a 365-day-a-year sport for those who’ve learned how to do it responsibly. The World Cup, MLS expansion, and a slew of superstar players have fueled a love for the Beautiful Game like never before. It’s no wonder soccer has overtaken baseball and football as the most popular sports gambling market in North America.
In match-winner bets, you’re betting on which team will win the game. You can choose between the home team, away team, and a draw. Unless otherwise noted, all match-winner bets will be settled after 90 minutes of play, plus any additional injury or stoppage time. Extra-time and penalty shootouts are not included in these bets.
Another way to bet on a specific outcome is with 2-way money lines. This type of bet takes the place of a point spread, and adjusts the odds on either team to reflect their likelihood to win. A win on the favorite pays out, while a loss or tie cancels your bet and returns your stake.