Soccer has become a popular alternative for bettors in the United States and it’s already the most popular sport to bet on in Europe. Just so you have an idea, in terms of popularity, in Europe, soccer betting is the equivalent of NFL or college football betting in the United States.
Here you will find a few important factors to consider before you embark on soccer betting.
Team Form
Look at the recent team form. Check who their opponents were and what their situation at the time of the game was. If available, read the recent match reports to see if the team was unlucky because of the opposing goalkeeper having a great day, etc.
Home and Away Records
Check for home and away statistics. As in any sport, some teams play better at home and some play better on the road. Also check if the game is a local derby and if the teams share the stadium.
Head-to-head
Check the history between the two teams. The home and away history is also important. You will be surprised how year after year history repeats in some games.
Team News
Always check for injuries and suspensions, which players are missing and how important are they. If there are injuries check if they are long-term injuries or new injuries since the last game. Also check how good are the players who will replace those who are injured.
Motivation
Motivation is very important in soccer, especially when the end of the season is near. Check if the team needs points, if the team is playing in the UEFA Champions League or in the UEFA Europa League and they might rest players.
Schedule
Check the team schedule. How many games have they played in recent days? Could they be tired? When are they playing again? Is the next game very important?
Betting
Betting on soccer is similar to betting on baseball or hockey because it uses a money line but there is one major difference, in soccer you can place a bet on either team and you can also bet that the game will end in a draw. Since you can wager on a draw, that means that if you bet on a soccer team, that team has to win the game or you will lose your bet.
The typical odds on a soccer game may look like this:
Manchester United -182
Draw +230
Everton +450
In this example, if a player bets on Manchester United he will risk $182 to win $100 while those who like Everton stand to win $450 for every $100 wagered if Everton comes through and gets the win. The players also have the option of betting a draw and in this case they will risk $100 for the opportunity to win $230.
The odds on another soccer game may look like this:
Aston Villa +140
Draw +220
Blackburn Rovers +150
In this example both teams are underdogs, which is something that could never happen in baseball or in hockey because of the possibility of a draw.
Others Types of Bets
Most soccer games also have a total (Over/Under) posted so you can bet on the number of goals that both teams will score combined. A typical number for these types of bets is 2.5, so if you bet on the Over both teams would have to score at least three goals for you to win the bet and if you bet on the under both teams would have to score less than three goals combined for you to win your bet.
A number of soccer games will also have proposition bets available, such as the time of the first goal, the team to score first, or the team that leads at halftime. These bets can be profitable for those who are extremely knowledgeable on the soccer teams they are betting on. Those familiar with money line betting should have no trouble betting on soccer.
