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BTTS (Both Teams To Score): The Complete Guide to 'Both Teams to Score' Betting

Discover everything about BTTS betting: how it works, key statistics, winning strategies, and common mistakes to avoid.

MetaPred Teaam
January 12, 2025
6 min de lecture
btts
goals
strategy
statistics

BTTS: The Complete Guide to 'Both Teams to Score' Betting

The BTTS (Both Teams To Score) bet, or "Both Teams to Score," is one of the most popular types of football bets. Easy to understand but requiring careful analysis, let's explore how to master it.

What is BTTS?

BTTS stands for "Both Teams To Score" in English.

Simple Principle

You bet on both teams scoring at least one goal during the match.

Two Options

BTTS Yes (Both teams score)

  • Team A and Team B each score at least 1 goal
  • Possible scores: 1-1, 2-1, 3-2, 4-3, etc.

BTTS No (At least one team does not score)

  • At least one team ends with 0 goals
  • Possible scores: 0-0, 1-0, 2-0, 3-0, etc.

Concrete Examples

✅ BTTS Yes – Winning Bets

Arsenal 2 - 1 Manchester United

  • Arsenal scored ✓
  • Manchester United scored ✓
  • Bet won!

Liverpool 3 - 2 Chelsea

  • Liverpool scored ✓
  • Chelsea scored ✓
  • Bet won!

Tottenham 1 - 1 Aston Villa (draw)

  • Tottenham scored ✓
  • Aston Villa scored ✓
  • Bet won!

❌ BTTS Yes – Losing Bets

Manchester City 3 - 0 Brighton

  • Manchester City scored ✓
  • Brighton did NOT score ✗
  • Bet lost

Newcastle 0 - 0 Crystal Palace

  • Neither team scored ✗
  • Bet lost

Everton 0 - 1 Fulham

  • Everton did NOT score ✗
  • Fulham scored ✓
  • Bet lost

Key Statistics to Analyse

1. Average Goals Scored per Match

For the home team:

  • Average goals scored at home
  • Average goals conceded at home

For the away team:

  • Average goals scored away
  • Average goals conceded away

Example:

  • Arsenal at home: 2.3 goals scored, 0.9 goals conceded
  • Liverpool away: 1.8 goals scored, 1.2 goals conceded
  • BTTS likely ✓

2. BTTS Percentage for the Season

Some teams have matches where BTTS occurs very frequently.

Example: Premier League 2023-24 (illustrative data):

  • Tottenham: BTTS in 70% of matches
  • Brighton: BTTS in 65% of matches
  • Manchester City: BTTS in 45% of matches (strong defence)

3. Recent Results (Current Form)

Analyse the last 5 matches of each team.

Example: Arsenal

  • Arsenal 3-1 Chelsea (BTTS Yes)
  • Liverpool 2-1 Arsenal (BTTS Yes)
  • Arsenal 2-0 Everton (BTTS No)
  • Manchester United 1-2 Arsenal (BTTS Yes)
  • Arsenal 4-1 Wolves (BTTS Yes) Result: 4/5 matches with BTTS = 80% → Strong trend

4. Head-to-Head History

How did the last matches between these two teams end?

Example: Liverpool vs Manchester United (last 5 matches):

  1. Liverpool 3-0 Manchester United (BTTS No)
  2. Manchester United 2-2 Liverpool (BTTS Yes)
  3. Liverpool 2-1 Manchester United (BTTS Yes)
  4. Manchester United 1-3 Liverpool (BTTS Yes)
  5. Liverpool 1-0 Manchester United (BTTS No) Result: 3/5 = 60% BTTS

When to Bet on BTTS Yes?

✅ Positive Indicators

1. Two Strong Attacks

  • Both teams score regularly
  • Many quality forwards

2. Weak or Leaky Defences

  • Both teams concede often
  • Known defensive issues

3. High-Stakes Match

  • Derby, end of season, European qualification race
  • Teams must attack

4. Offensive Playing Style

  • Teams that play forward
  • Few matches with 0-0 or 1-0

Example of an Ideal BTTS Yes Match Tottenham vs Brighton

  • Tottenham: 1.8 goals scored/match, 1.3 conceded
  • Brighton: 2.0 goals scored/match, 1.4 conceded
  • History: 75% BTTS in last 5 matches
  • Stakes: European qualification for both BTTS Yes Odds: 1.75 Analysis: ✅ Excellent BTTS Yes bet

When to Bet on BTTS No?

✅ Indicators for BTTS No

1. Very Strong Defence

  • One team concedes very few goals
  • Frequent clean sheets

2. Very Weak Attack

  • One team rarely scores
  • Offensive problems

3. Unbalanced Match

  • Big difference in level
  • Risk of a lopsided score (3-0, 4-0, etc.)

4. Asymmetric Stakes

  • One team must attack, the other can defend

Example of an Ideal BTTS No Match Manchester City vs Burnley

  • City: Solid home defence (0.3 goals conceded/match)
  • Burnley: Weak away attack (0.7 goals scored/match)
  • History: 70% of matches with BTTS No BTTS No Odds: 1.60 Analysis: ✅ Good BTTS No bet

Advanced Strategies

1. BTTS in the First Half

Riskier but higher odds. BTTS 1st Half Yes:

  • Both teams score before half-time
  • Odds generally between 3.00 and 5.00 When to Bet?
  • Two teams that start matches quickly
  • Open match context from the beginning

2. BTTS Combined with Over/Under

Example:

  • BTTS Yes + Over 2.5 goals
  • If both score AND there are 3+ goals: Bet won
  • Combined odds often attractive (2.50 - 3.50) Ideal Match:
  • Two strong attacks
  • Two weak defences
  • History of eventful matches

3. Live BTTS (In-Play Betting)

Strategy:

  1. Wait for the first 20 minutes
  2. If 0-0 but many chances, BTTS odds increase
  3. Bet if both teams create chances Advantage: Better odds than pre-match Risk: Odds can change very quickly

Common Mistakes to Avoid

❌ 1. Betting on BTTS Based Only on Attractive Odds

Bad Example: "The BTTS Yes odds are 2.30, I'll bet!" Good Example: "I analysed the stats, BTTS is likely. The 2.30 odds are good."

❌ 2. Ignoring Match Context

Example: Manchester City plays against a League Two team in the FA Cup.

  • City will dominate and likely win 3-0 or 4-0
  • BTTS No more likely

❌ 3. Relying Only on Recent Results

5 matches with BTTS do not guarantee the 6th will be the same. Analyse:

  • Were the opponents strong or weak?
  • Were there special circumstances?

❌ 4. Forgetting About Absences

A key striker being injured can completely change the outcome. Example:

  • Liverpool without Salah = Less effective attack
  • Can reduce the probability of BTTS Yes

❌ 5. Betting on Every Match

BTTS is not suitable for every match. Be selective!

BTTS Statistics by League

Average BTTS Percentage by League (2023-24)

Bundesliga: ~55% (Most offensive league) Premier League: ~52% Serie A: ~48% Ligue 1: ~45% La Liga: ~42% Conclusion: The Bundesliga is the most BTTS-friendly league.

Calculating BTTS Probability

Simplified Method

Formula:

P(BTTS) = P(Team A scores) × P(Team B scores)

Example:

  • Team A has a 75% chance to score
  • Team B has a 70% chance to score P(BTTS): 0.75 × 0.70 = 52.5% Fair Odds: 1 / 0.525 = 1.90 If the offered odds are 2.10, it's a good bet!

Practical Tips

✅ Checklist Before Betting on BTTS

  1. I checked the average goals for both teams
  2. I analysed the last 5 matches of each team
  3. I reviewed the head-to-head history
  4. I considered important absences
  5. I evaluated the match context (stakes, weather, etc.)
  6. The offered odds match my estimated probability

💡 Tip: The Tracking Table

Create a table to track your BTTS bets:

DateMatchBTTSOddsStakeResultProfit/Loss
15/01Arsenal-Man UnitedYes1.85£102-1 ✓+£8.50
16/01Liverpool-ChelseaYes1.90£103-0 ✗-£10

This allows you to analyse your performance and adjust your strategy.

Conclusion

BTTS betting is simple in appearance but requires rigorous analysis. Keys to success: ✅ Analyse both offensive and defensive statistics

✅ Check the recent form of both teams

✅ Consider the context and stakes

✅ Be selective, don't bet on every match

✅ Compare odds to find value Golden Rule: A good BTTS bet requires that both teams have a real chance to score.

Ready to go further? Discover our guide on Over/Under to master betting on the number of goals.

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