Few sporting events are as exciting and unpredictable as a football match. Whether you’re a diehard fan or you just enjoy the game for fun, there is always something new to look forward to. It’s not unusual for a game to go beyond the allotted time, with several lengthy stoppages while the referee halts the action to consult with his assistants on whether to award a goal or not. The excitement and tension in a football stadium is unlike any other sport – it’s not unusual for fans to get so carried away by the occasion that they end up in a brawl on the pitch, or for a heated argument to erupt between teammates in the middle of play. Even the most devoted fan might find it hard to keep their head when the outcome of the game is in the balance, with one or both teams still in contention.
While the excitement of a game is unmatched, so is the downside. If you’re not aware of how betting on football works, then it’s possible you could end up losing a lot of money. The key to successful betting is due diligence – doing your research first, setting money goals and being selective about the games you choose to bet on. If you want to put a stop to unnecessary losses, then you need to learn to wager smartly – keeping your emotions out of the equation and only betting on games that are likely to end in a victory. Let’s have a look at some of the basics about betting on football.
The Basics
To start with, let’s have a look at the basics of sports betting. In general, this is how you place a bet:
- You put money on the desired outcome.
- If the outcome is a draw then you lose your wager.
- If the outcome is a victory then you win your wager.
In the case of football, there are two main methods of payout:
- If your team wins by two goals or more then you win your wager.
- If your team draws then you lose your wager.
However, if your team wins a match by a single goal then you only win your wager if the score is very close – by no more than one goal. If the score is far enough apart then the bet is considered a ‘false’ or ‘futile’ wager and you don’t win anything. The only other way to win is if the odds are very much in your favor and you predict an exact score – a ‘full’ or ‘perfect’ lay bet.
Match Facts & Formations
When you visit a sports book to place a bet, the first thing they will ask you for is the location of the match. This is important because it gives them the chance to evaluate the betting market for that particular game. The key factors that influence the odds of a game are:
- Home field advantage
- Size of the player populations
- Weather conditions
- Time of day
- The date
- Quality of the pitch
- Whether there are any injuries
- Whether the team is playing in its home kit
- Quality of the opposition (strength and experience)
These factors influence the ‘over/under’ line that is shown for each game – the amount by which the predicted score is exceeded or not. So, for example, if you predict a victory by two goals, then you are effectively betting on the over/under score of 2.0 – that is, that the final score will be more than two goals but less than four goals. If you were considering a bet on a football match, then you would first look at the match facts and formations to get a sense of whether it was a game that you could likely bet on.
Odds vs. Wagering
The odds and the wagering differ by sport, by location and by time. This is because different people are more or less likely to place bets on a particular event. For instance, a game at a neutral venue is more likely to end in a draw than a game at a home stadium, particularly if teams are of a similar strength. Games at kick-off times are also likely to end in a draw because people are more inclined to be out for a stroll at that time, rather than stay at home to watch the game. You can find the odds for any sporting event at any time on the internet using search engines such as Google.
You can also find a list of betting opportunities for any given game, along with a brief summary of each one. This is usually located at the top of the search results. In some cases, you may have to pay a small fee to access this information. However, this is a worthwhile investment because it will save you time by narrowing your search results and increasing your winnings – both of which increase your odds of successful betting.
If you are looking for a guide to placing bets, then all you need to do is follow the steps outlined above. However, if you want to increase your odds of winning, then you need to do more than just place a bet. You also need to study the odds, read the summaries of betting opportunities and narrow your search results. This will increase the likelihood of you winning your wagers.