What is BTTS in betting? Both Teams To Score Bet Explained

Betting Expert

Updated: 30 October 2024

Both Teams to Score or BTTS betting is one of the most popular football betting markets around today, where you can wager on two sides getting a goal in a game or not. It’s a simple case of choosing YES or NO. Our experts tell you all about BTTS, the different variations of the market and some smart strategy.

What is BTTS in Betting?

“Both teams to score” is when punters bet on whether both teams will score in a football match. There are generally two both teams to score, or BTTS as it is commonly known, options. You can opt for – YES or – NO. As you would expect, betting on BTTS – YES means that both teams need to score at least once in the match for a return to be gained. The reverse is true of BTTS – NO. That is the simple answer to what is BTTS in betting. Fortunately, this market that takes little working out. ‘Both Teams to Score’ is exactly that.

This type of betting quickly rose to prominence and still holds the UK punters interest. BTTS betting is hugely popular in the world of online football betting and can be found on most bookies.

For example: here’s how a BTTS betting may look like on a bookmaker site, which usually can be found by clicking on the selected football match markets:

It is a pretty straight forward market – you either back both teams to score at 1/2 or not at 13/8.

BTTS Betting Variants

Since the rise of the Both Teams To Score market, other related markets have sprouted up. Punters can no longer only bet on whether or not both teams will rattle the net in a match, but can now combine BTTS betting with a bet on the result, or with an Over/Under bet, and much more.

Here are the different types of Both Teams To Score bets:

Both Teams to Score

The original. Punters bet on whether both teams will find the net or not. If ‘BTTS – YES’ is taken, both teams must score for a return to be yielded. Reversely, if ‘BTTS – NO’ is selected, at least one team must draw a blank for the bet to be rendered a winner.

Both Teams to Score & Win

Like the above, but with a winner thrown in. So, both teams to score no draw. In other words, punters can either bet on both teams to score and the winner, or both teams not to score and the winner. For example, ‘PSG to Win & Both Teams to Score’, or ‘PSG to Win & Both Teams to Not Score’.

Both Teams to Score & Over/Under

Avoiding the result, punters can bet on BTTS – YES or BTTS – NO and combine it with a total-goals bet. For example, ‘Both Teams to Score & Over 2.5 Goals’. In this case, for a pay-out to be achieved, both teams would need to find the net, while at least three match goals would need to go in. Alternatively, should a punter choose ‘Both Teams & Under 2.5 Goals’, the game would need to finish 1-1 for a return to be gained. This is akin to betting on a 1-1 correct score, though both teams scoring & Under isn’t limited to 2.5 goals. For instance, punters can also back ‘Both Teams to Score & Under 4.5 Goals’.

These are simple Both Teams To Score markets, but it doesn’t end here. If you’re looking for something more complicated, then you won’t be disappointed.

Both Teams to Score in Both Halves

This is where things start to get a little more complex. This market is where punters bet on both teams to score, not just in the match, but in both halves of the match. Much less likely, but far more rewarding. Typical odds for this bet are around the 10/1 mark but can be as high as 25/1. To profit, both teams need to score in the first half and then again in the second half. Not the most regular occurrence, but certainly not something that is outside of the realms of possibility.

Both Teams to Score in 1^st Half

Again, does what it says on the tin. Punters can bet on whether both teams will score in the first half. Another lucrative bet, ‘BTTS in 1^st Half’ is typically prices around the 4/1 mark, but can be considerably bigger.

Both Teams to Score in 2^nd Half

‘Both Teams to Score in 2^nd Half’ allows punters to bet on whether both teams will bag during the second half. Usually lower priced than BTTS in 1^st half, but still a bet that can yield pleasing returns.

Both Teams to Score Two or More Goals

A bet tailormade for goal lovers. If you want to get behind goal-filed encounters and think you’re about to witness no shortage of goal-mouth action, then ‘Both Teams to Score Two or More Goals’ could be the answer. Depending on the fixture, a bet that pays out at 5/1 is often well worth a few pennies for the interested.

BTTS Accumulators

Acca betting have become massively popular among the football betting community over the last decade. Mainly because of the nature of the market, not requiring either team to win, week after week. This has led to thousands of hopeful bettors have a few pennies on an ambitious, yet entirely plausible, both teams to score accumulator.

Excitement Value

If fun betting is your thing, then BTTS accumulators are for you. Part of the lure of this market is that as long as one team has scored as the game draws to a close. Your bet remains alive, which isn’t exactly the case with result betting. With only 5-10 minutes remaining, you can be waiting on three teams to score for your football accumulator to land. Similarly, even if a game is 0-0 with 20 minutes to go, there’s still hope for both teams to score. This is one of the main reasons as to why both teams to score accumulators are popular among UK punters.

BTTS Betting Strategy

For most, BTTS betting will be a leisure activity, or a way of enhancing the viewing of a televised match. However, there are those punters who prefer to take a more serious approach.

If you are interested in testing the waters in that sense, then there are some things to note. Here are some pointers, a few both teams to score betting tips if you will.

Top Tips for Winning BTTS Strategy

Learn – Learn about betting in general and how to approach betting from a serious point of view. Read about those who have lots of experience, learn from such individuals. Harness the information that is available, of which there is a considerable amount, even if lots of it needs some uncovering. Put the effort into learn and use what you learn to inform your both teams to score betting.
Value – The much talked about word in betting circles. Learn what value is, learn how to identify if both teams to score odds represent value. Learn also how to exploit value. Bet only when value exists. It’s not just about identifying winners. Many a great form judge has fallen short of betting success because of an inability to identify value.
BTTS form – This is open for debate but BTTS form, in that the record a particular team has of both scoring and conceding, is somewhat irrelevant when it comes to ‘Both Teams to Score’ betting. If a team has consistently scored and conceded in their games, then the price of BTTS ahead of their next match is likely on the short side. Avoid selections that have been over-bet because of obvious form.
Useful form – If you are keen to keep things simple from a form point of view, then concern yourself more with how teams perform against certain types of opposition from both an attacking and defensive point of view. Also, factor in shot and chance creation data, which is often a far better indicator of how a team is performing both offensively and defensively.

Useful Betting Guides

Apart from BTTS betting we provide an expert betting guide on enhanced odds, ACCAs, best odds guaranteed and much more. To improve your chances to beat the bookies and help you to develop a winning strategy make sure you check out the following guides.

How to Evaluate Both Teams to Score Betting Sites

These are some pointers to what quickly to look for in the assortment of a prospective bookies offering.

Safety – Whatever you are looking at, safety is of the utmost importance. To be recommended, sites need to be protecting their players, use up-to-date technology. But also comply with regulations, and last but certainly not least, they must treat their customers fairly.
Markets – The more the better. ‘Both Teams to Score’ is a market that all betting sites offer. But sites need to go above and beyond this by offering plenty of variations of the market. Those with the most options will rank highest.
Promotions – Bonuses should also be considered. Whether it is sign-up offers or free bets, sites offering ‘Both Teams to Score’ markets need to be performing well in this area to feature highly on the list.
Odds – Offering lots of markets without offering consistently good odds is a bit like offering someone a drink and handing them an empty glass. Both teams to score betting sites should to be competitive with the odds.
Features – Extra features can separate the men from the boys so to speak. Betting sites with useful features such as cash-out, stats relating to both teams to score markets, great content, live streaming, and betting tips is a plus.
Usability – This can often be a deal breaker, so to speak. A site can have all the markets, great odds etc, but if they’re not up to the mark in terms of usability, they’re unlikely to be popular.

Summary

Since its emergence a decade a go, BTTS betting has become one of the most popular lines among UK punters. However some bookmakers offer more coverage than others, so make sure your choice specialize in your preferences. After reading this article, you should have a solid grounding on what is BTTS in betting, how to set up a good line and what to look out for. We wish you good luck in your betting and have a fun with your new knowledge.

Both Teams To Score

Double Chance in Betting

Draw No Bet

Over/Under 2.5 Goals

FAQ

Is BTTS betting available at every bookmaker?

Nowadays, you’ll be hard pushed to find a bookmaker that isn’t offering both teams to score odds. However, not every site has the same level of coverage. Some sites offer more both teams to score markets than others.

What returns can I generally expect from a both teams to score bet?

Naturally, this varies from game to game, though in general, particularly in the Football League. This is incredibly popular among UK bettors when it comes to BTTS betting, odds will be somewhere between 4/6 and 1/1. That said, much bigger odds of 6/4, even 2/1, are not unheard of. On the flipside, in games where a glut of goals seems unavoidable, the odds of both teams finding the net can be as low 4/9, or even 1/3.

Do both teams to score bets count in extra time?

Unfortunately, no. Both teams to score bets apply to 90 minutes only. You can bet on both teams to score in extra time, but that would be a separate bet. If you have backed BTTS and the game finishes 0-0, but ends up 1-1 during extra time, your original bet will be unsuccessful.

How often do both teams score?

This is an interesting question. If we take the Premier League as an example, in 2019/20 season, both teams scored in average of 48% of matches. During the 2018/19 campaign, the average stood at 51%. It varies from league to league and from country to country. For instance, while the average was at 48% in England’s top tier last season, in Serie A in Italy, both teams found the net 59% of the time. Meanwhile, in France’s top division, the BTTS average was 48%.

Lee Bassin

Betting Expert

Sports betting expert Lee joined SafeBettingSites in 2021 as a Betting Writer, having studied Broadcast Journalism at University and worked as a TV Producer, Director and Writer for over 20 years. He has created written and video content for some of the biggest names in sport including Nike, Adidas, PUMA, Red Bull and NFL. He has also worked as a sports and betting writer for Planet Sport, Odds Manager and one of the biggest sports websites in the UK, sportinglife.com. He’s a keen sports bettor with an excellent knowledge of most sports and a particular love of boxing, football, golf and NFL. Lee also has wide-ranging expertise when it comes to betting strategy, sporting markets, spread betting and exchange betting.

View all posts by Lee Bassin

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