Tune in to one of the major sports networks or scan the sports section of the newspaper to stay informed about the outcomes of big games. You can also dive deeper into club and player statistics on websites like ESPN, BBC UK, and Fox Sports. [1] X Research source
Stats can tell you more about how a club is likely to perform than past victories. A club with a high scoring average may not be guaranteed a win if the opposing club’s goalkeeper has a record of blocking 75% of shots on goal. Instead of basing your selections solely on a club or player’s win-loss record, look closely at their specific offensive and defensive stats.
A sudden shift in the odds the day before a big game, for instance, could be an indicator that a star player is out with an injury or illness. Using the popular odds as a starting point and fine-tuning your selections from there can be a useful strategy when you’re not sure how to bet.
A common variation of fulltime betting is known as the “Asian handicap,” where a certain number of goals is either added to or deducted from the chosen club’s final score to prevent a draw. Asian handicaps make it possible to actually win money by betting on a losing team. [5] X Research source Fulltime betting doesn’t always promise as large a payout as other schemes, but it gives you a better shot at winning smaller sums consistently.
If a bookmaker is offering 4/6 odds on Liverpool, for example, it means their chances of winning are 0. 6, or approximately 60%, which is reasonably strong. When the odds are presented in decimal form, simply divide 1 by the entire number, then multiply the answer by 100. For 2. 26 odds, the process of conversion would look like this: 1/2. 26 = 0. 44247 x 100 = 44. 25%. It’s important to calculate probability every time you make a bet. If you just eyeball the bookie’s odds, you could end up making a riskier bet than you would have otherwise. [7] X Research source
You’re far more likely to correctly predict that Newcastle United will win the match than that Ciaran Clark will make the game-winning goal for a final score of 3-1. It’s not uncommon for bookmakers to offer attractive prices and payouts for multiples. This is their way of enticing gamblers into a making bets that don’t favor them statistically. [9] X Research source
Resist the temptation to place hefty bets in advance on the promise of major discounts or bonuses. You forfeit your ability to revise your prediction when you do this, which means you’re playing right into the bookie’s hands. Keep an eye out for special price multipliers on game day. These are usually offered in narrow windows of time at the bookmaker’s shop. If you like the probability of the odds specified, it can be a good way to increase your earnings. Odds are organic, not fixed, and can continue to change throughout a match. A certain club might be behind at first, but if they tend to score most of their goals in the second half, they could still pull it out. [11] X Research source
Taking the best available odds from multiple bookmakers knocks down the odds of them winning your money to around 1. 5%, as opposed to the normal 5%. Run a search for top-rated odds checking websites to compare odds and prices from various online bookmakers. [13] X Research source
You’ll most often know the ins-and-outs of your favorite club better than any other, which can be a good thing, as long as you’ve done your due diligence and matched their stats directly with those of the opposing team.
If you think one club might have a slight edge over the other, it may be a better idea to take an Asian handicap (if that scheme is offered) to give yourself an added advantage. Because of the relatively low scoring rate, you’re much more likely to see a draw in football than in other sports. This tactic can prove particularly successful when two clubs with similar stats and rankings face off against one another. [16] X Research source
