The answer to the question “What’s BTTS in betting?” is in the name of the bet itself — it assesses the likelihood of both teams scoring at least one goal each in the match, or conversely, that one or both teams will fail to score.
How it works: When choosing the option “Both Teams to Score – Yes”, you win if each of the opponents scores at least one goal. The manner in which the goal was scored doesn’t matter; the crucial factor is the fact of its existence. In the case of choosing the opposite option, the bet will be settled if the match ends in a goalless draw or with a “clean sheet” victory for one of the sides.
Some bookmakers may use a short abbreviation for naming the bet — “BTTS – Yes” or “BTTS – No.” The rules for calculating the bet remain the same.
Keep in mind that such a bet can take several formats. For example, a bet on a specific half/period or even a certain period of time within the match. It can also be combined with another bet, for example, “Total Over 3.5 + BTTS.”
When to Choose the “Both Teams to Score” Bet
First, let’s understand when we choose the positive option of this bet. In this case, “Both Teams to Score” implies that both opponents have a bias towards attacking and have issues in the defensive line. Moreover, the difference in the level of the match participants is not too significant, and both sides are capable of scoring.
The opposite option can be considered in cases where the opponents prefer a defensive style and lack sufficient attacking power. Another scenario is a match between a favorite and a clear outsider, where the latter will have few opportunities to score, meaning “Both Teams to Score – No” could come into play.
However, it’s essential not to forget about other crucial factors that should influence your bet selection. Here’s the main list:
- Injury/suspension list. The absence of the top striker can diminish a club’s chances of scoring.
- Tournament motivation. One of the game participants might have already achieved their goals, or a draw might be sufficient. Consequently, the attacking focus in such circumstances will be lower than usual.
- Recent match statistics. Relying solely on gut feelings is not advisable. Numbers are your best friend in finding the right bet. If they indicate that one side prefers to “park the bus,” it’s better to consider “BTTS – No.”
Which Sports Most Commonly Feature this Bet
Next, we’ll briefly discuss BTTS meaning in betting for various sports and what to pay attention to.
Football
First and foremost, study the average goal-scoring rate in the tournament of interest. For example, in the 2023/24 season in Serie A, “BTTS – Yes” occurred in 51% of cases, while in the Premier League, it happened in 62% of matches. However, there will always be a club deviating from the norm. Returning to the Italian championship, it’s “Frosinone,” in 19 out of 24 matches, neither side left without scoring. In England, this season’s outlier is “Everton” – only 9 out of 25 matches were productive for both teams.
Pay special attention to the leading forwards and defenders. In the absence of even one crucial player from these lines, the coach may change the team’s usual playing style, which can affect the match outcome.
Hockey
The average goal-scoring rate in hockey is higher than in football. Matches with a goalless draw in regulation time or a clean victory for one of the participants are extremely rare. Therefore, the odds for both teams to score are minimal.
Here, we recommend looking at bets on period-specific goal-scoring. Once again, statistics will help you identify the suitable tournament and the participants’ ability to score. Don’t forget about combinations with other types of bets, such as totals.
Other sports
In disciplines where a goalless draw is impossible by definition, BTTS is not applicable. This includes volleyball, basketball, tennis, and similar sports. In other sports, you can rely on your intuition, for example, in futsal. Here, an approach through statistical analysis will also help identify patterns. However, keep in mind that the line at many bookmakers in such disciplines is much weaker, so the bet may not be available everywhere.
Conclusion
The rules for placing and calculating the “Both Teams to Score” bet are quite simple, so newcomers to the betting world don’t need to be afraid to use it. And if you love football, this bet is one of the best options and opportunities to test yourself.
Keep in mind that you should only place bets after serious analysis of statistics and news. Fortunately, there are plenty of tools available today to facilitate this process. For example, for football, we recommend SoccerStats, where you can learn about trends in individual tournaments and their participants.