Originally Published: May 7, 2009, 04:54 AM

Types of Football Bets

Posted By Diego | Soccer News | May 7, 2009, 04:54 AM |

It's easy to get lost between all the names and nicknames for various types of bets. While you must all be familiar with the basic match odds concept (and even that we'll go over, just for that warm fuzzy feeling of completion), you might find out that you've never ran into the finer details of the Asian Handicap, for example. So I'm just going to go over everything relevant to make sure that you haven't missed anything important.

Match Odds

Your most basic straightforward bet on the market. The options are Home Win ("1"), Away Win ("2") or Draw ("X"). This bet is so common that "1X2 Betting" has become a household term.

Over/Under Goals

In this case you're betting on how many goals a team will score. For example the line is set at "2.5" and then you can bet over (3 or more goals) or under (2 or less goals).

Total Goals

Similar to the previous category, in this one the lines are usually 0-1, 2-3, 4+. But the amount of goals is about the whole game, not just a single team.

Correct Score

Just what is sounds like. This is a really hard bet to predict though, and while the odds may be great to match it, I wouldn't really recommend it. Too much risk involved. It's also important to remember that this bet is 90 minutes only, so extra time and such are not considered. What happens at the 90 minutes mark, is what counts.

Half Time Result

Self explanatory, and similar to the Correct Score bet. Again, not really recommended. Most of the times you can't make a good prediction, and you're just off guessing and taking shots in the dark. No good investment there.

First / Anytime Goalscorer

These are two very different bets although they are technically related. The "first goalscorer" is just what is sounds like, and it is a very risky, nearly impossible to predict bet. The second one is one to consider, especially if you're betting on a scorer from a team that plays a very offensive match, with more chances of scoring. However make sure that your player is in the starting lineup! (some betting firms however will let you have your money back if your player wasn't opening).

To Win To Nil

This is a specific version of the "correct score" bet, you're betting that your team will win and that the opposite team will score no goals. It's best when you're backing a team with a really good defense, or when you're going against a team with a really weak offense.

Draw No Bet

You are backing a team and are taking away the possibility of a draw. If the game finishes on a draw you just get your money back. You will get less profits from winning this kind of bet, but you'll be safer off. It's best used when you're not really positive that the team you're backing will win, but at least trust them not to lose.

Asian Handicap

The "Asian handicap" market sounds (and it kind of is, actually) confusing at first, but once you figure it out, you'll find out that there's a lot of profit just waiting in there. There are a few types of Asian handicaps:

The first one is exactly like Draw No Bet. Both teams will appear with a +0 next to them, and if it's a draw the bet is void.

The second one is to back a team +1 or -1. For example you might back a strong favorite +1. This means that to for your bet to win, your team has to win by more than one goal. And if they win by just one goal you just get your money back and the bet is void. Just the same, for an underdog you are backing -1, as long as they don't lose by two goals or more (i.e draw or victory are all fine), you'll win, and if they lose by one goal then you get your money back.

Another version is to back a team by +1.5 or -1.5. This is just the same except that it eliminates the draw option. For example if you're backing a team +1.5, they'll have to win by two or more goals.

Asian handicaps are most useful if you want to back a short priced favourite to win by a big margin or for an outsider to only lose by a small margin or to draw. For example, if you back a team +1 then you have both the draw and them winning as positive results.

To sum things up, these are the major types of bets. There are many other, minor ones, but they are of little significance and are often marginal and maybe untrustworthy. In any case, now that you're familiar with this long list of bets, you'll have something to keep you busy for quite a while.

Embed <p dir="ltr">It's easy to get lost between all the names and nicknames for various types of bets. While you must all be familiar with the basic match odds concept (and even that we'll go over, just for that warm fuzzy feeling of completion), you might find out that you've never ran into the finer details of the Asian Handicap, for example. So I'm just going to go over everything relevant to make sure that you haven't missed anything important.</p><br /> <p dir="ltr"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Match Odds</span></p><br /> <p dir="ltr">Your most basic straightforward bet on the market. The options are Home Win ("1"), Away Win ("2") or Draw ("X"). This bet is so common that "1X2 Betting" has become a household term.</p><br /> <p dir="ltr"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Over/Under Goals</span></p><br /> <p dir="ltr">In this case you're betting on how many goals a team will score. For example the line is set at "2.5" and then you can bet over (3 or more goals) or under (2 or less goals).</p><br /> <p dir="ltr"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Total Goals</span></p><br /> <p dir="ltr">Similar to the previous category, in this one the lines are usually 0-1, 2-3, 4+. But the amount of goals is about the whole game, not just a single team.</p><br /> <p dir="ltr"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Correct Score</span></p><br /> <p dir="ltr">Just what is sounds like. This is a really hard bet to predict though, and while the odds may be great to match it, I wouldn't really recommend it. Too much risk involved. It's also important to remember that this bet is 90 minutes only, so extra time and such are not considered. What happens at the 90 minutes mark, is what counts.</p><br /> <p dir="ltr"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Half Time Result</span></p><br /> <p dir="ltr">Self explanatory, and similar to the Correct Score bet. Again, not really recommended. Most of the times you can't make a good prediction, and you're just off guessing and taking shots in the dark. No good investment there.</p><br /> <p dir="ltr"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">First / Anytime Goalscorer</span></p><br /> <p dir="ltr">These are two very different bets although they are technically related. The "first goalscorer" is just what is sounds like, and it is a very risky, nearly impossible to predict bet. The second one is one to consider, especially if you're betting on a scorer from a team that plays a very offensive match, with more chances of scoring. However make sure that your player is in the starting lineup! (some betting firms however will let you have your money back if your player wasn't opening).</p><br /> <p dir="ltr"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">To Win To Nil</span></p><br /> <p dir="ltr">This is a specific version of the "correct score" bet, you're betting that your team will win and that the opposite team will score no goals. It's best when you're backing a team with a really good defense, or when you're going against a team with a really weak offense.</p><br /> <p dir="ltr"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Draw No Bet</span></p><br /> <p dir="ltr">You are backing a team and are taking away the possibility of a draw. If the game finishes on a draw you just get your money back. You will get less profits from winning this kind of bet, but you'll be safer off. It's best used when you're not really positive that the team you're backing will win, but at least trust them not to lose.</p><br /> <p dir="ltr"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Asian Handicap</span></p><br /> <p dir="ltr">The "Asian handicap" market sounds (and it kind of is, actually) confusing at first, but once you figure it out, you'll find out that there's a lot of profit just waiting in there. There are a few types of Asian handicaps:</p><br /> <p dir="ltr">The first one is exactly like Draw No Bet. Both teams will appear with a +0 next to them, and if it's a draw the bet is void.</p><br /> <p dir="ltr">The second one is to back a team +1 or -1. For example you might back a strong favorite +1. This means that to for your bet to win, your team has to win by more than one goal. And if they win by just one goal you just get your money back and the bet is void. Just the same, for an underdog you are backing -1, as long as they don't lose by two goals or more (i.e draw or victory are all fine), you'll win, and if they lose by one goal then you get your money back.</p><br /> <p dir="ltr">Another version is to back a team by +1.5 or -1.5. This is just the same except that it eliminates the draw option. For example if you're backing a team +1.5, they'll have to win by two or more goals.</p><br /> <p dir="ltr">Asian handicaps are most useful if you want to back a short priced favourite to win by a big margin or for an outsider to only lose by a small margin or to draw. For example, if you back a team +1 then you have both the draw and them winning as positive results.</p><br /> <p dir="ltr">To sum things up, these are the major types of bets. There are many other, minor ones, but they are of little significance and are often marginal and maybe untrustworthy. In any case, now that you're familiar with this long list of bets, you'll have something to keep you busy for quite a while.</p><br /><a href='http://www.balldigg.com'>Balldigg</a> | <a href='http://www.balldigg.com/Soccer/Types-of-Football-Bets'>Types of Football Bets</a>