Most sports fans have heard of goal handicap betting, as it is one of the most popular betting options on the internet. But what exactly does it mean? And what are the odds of winning with this type of wager? Let’s take a closer look at this betting option and how it works.
What Is Goal Handicap?
Goal handicap is a type of football betting where the money wagered is based on how much the sportsperson or team in question is favored to score (or concede) in comparison to the opposing team or individual. For instance, if you back Manchester United to score three goals in a Premier League match, you are wagering on a three-goal outcome, but you might also have to pay out if they concede a fourth goal or worse. It is similar to having a fixed score bet, except the point spread is based on how much the bettor thinks the team (or player) in question will score. Thus, the less you know about the sport or event, the more you can profit from goal handicap betting.
How Does Goal Handicap Work?
We’ve covered the concept of goal handicap in detail above, so now let’s take a look at how it actually works. To start, you will need to place a sports bet of some sort with a bookie (or better yet, a reputable betting exchange such as Betfair or SkyBet). The details of the bet you have chosen will determine the odds and payout of your wager. For instance, in American football, you might place a bet on the New England Patriots to beat the Buffalo Bills. Then, if they do in fact win the game, your winnings would be based on the following:
- The Patriots are 3.5-point favorites;
- The over/under is set at 51;
- Your total payout is 4.41.
What Are The Most Popular Games To Bet On Using Goal Handicap?
The sports enthusiasts among our readers might be interested to know that some of the most popular games to use the goal handicap option are as follows:
- NHL Hockey;
- AFC – American Football Conference;
- NFC – National Football Conference;
- MLB – Major League Baseball;
- NBA – National Basketball Association;
- MLS – Major League Soccer;
- Australian Football;
- U.S. College Football;
- U.S. Pro-Football;
- Canadian Football League;
- UniCredit–NHL Challenge;
- Raabó–Memphis Grizzlies;
- Barcellona–New York Knicks;
- Chelsea–Manchester United.
What Is The Most Popular Sport To Bet On Using Goal Handicap?
Once again, our readers might be interested in knowing that some of the most popular sports to use the goal handicap option are as follows:
- NHL Hockey;
- AFC – American Football Conference;
- NFC – National Football Conference;
- MLB – Major League Baseball;
- NBA – National Basketball Association;
- MLS – Major League Soccer;
- Australian Football;
- U.S. College Football;
- U.S. Pro-Football;
- Canadian Football League;
- UniCredit–NHL Challenge;
- Raabó–Memphis Grizzlies;
- Barcellona–New York Knicks;
- Chelsea–Manchester United.
Can You Profit From Goal Handicap In The Right Sports?
The short answer is yes, you can profit from goal handicap in the right situations. Here’s how:
If you follow a clean sports betting template, you can use the tools available on the internet to identify the appropriate odds and payout for any given sporting event or match. Remember, you are not risking your own money, so this is a very safe investment option. You can use the money you make from goal handicap to place further bets on more profitable games. This is similar to the concept of a winning streak or a hot-betting streak, except in this case, you are investing in a team or individual rather than just playing to win.
When Using Goal Handicap, Should You Bet On Under Or Over Performance?
From a betting perspective, you generally don’t want to bet on underperformance (i.e., the favorite dog winning the race, the underdogs winning the match), as this raises your chances of losing money. On the other hand, betting on an overs performance (i.e., the favorite team winning the match, the underdog team winning the race) can be very lucrative, as long as the overs win by enough to cover the point spread. In the situation above, if Manchester United wins the football match with three goals, your profit is three goals minus the 3.5-point spread (i.e., 0.75 points or 75% return on investment). If they win by two goals, your return is 1.5 points (i.e., 75% return on investment), and if they win by one goal, your return is 1 point (i.e., 50% return on investment). You’ll notice that the profit in all cases is above the usual 50% return on investment you would expect from a straight up win bet on that game.
Which Teams Are Most Suitable For Betting On Using Goal Handicap?
To determine which teams are most suitable for betting on using goal handicap, let’s take a look at how each team performs overall in comparison to the rest of the league:
- The New England Patriots are one of the most popular teams to use the goal handicap option, averaging 10.2 points per game;
- The Pittsburgh Steelers are the second most popular team with 9.4 points per game;
- The Oakland Raiders are third at 8.8 points per game;
- The San Francisco 49ers are fourth with 8.2 points per game;
- The Kansas City Chiefs are next at 7.8 points per game;
- The Buffalo Bills are last in the league with 5.8 points per game.
Which Teams Have The Most Predictable Performance In Goal Handicap?
Although it’s always fun to speculate on games, sometimes we have to deal with teams and events that are just way too predictable. Luckily for us, the list of predictable teams in goal handicap is quite small. Here are the top five most reliable teams:
- The Pittsburgh Steelers;
- The New England Patriots;
- The Kansas City Chiefs;
- The Buffalo Bills;
- The San Francisco 49ers.
Is It Worth Betting On American Football In Europe?
This is a question that many an avid football fan have asked themselves. The simple answer is yes, betting on American Football is very profitable in Europe, but you must be aware of the following:
American Football is widely considered to be one of the most demanding sports to follow outside of the United States, as the sport requires a lot of training and practice in order to be able to compete at a high level. Thus, if you are looking for a low-maintenance sports betting option, American Football might not be the best choice, as your profits might be considerably less than you would expect from a game of a similar caliber in the United States.