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Why the Both Teams to Score Wager is a Hit Among Sports Fans  

A Sounders player celebrating a goal.  

There are many ways to bet on a football match, but one of the most popular wagers among sports fans is the Both Teams to Score (BTTS) wager.  

In this article, we dive into the stats behind the BTTS wager to see if it’s a decent bet. We also consider which teams are worth betting on in a BTTS bet and conclude that this is a good alternative to the rollercoaster ride of match betting for football fans.  

BTTS: What is both teams to score betting?  

Both teams to score (BTTS) betting is one of the most popular wagers among football fans. It’s a disarmingly simple bet – decide whether both teams in a fixture will score. You can bet yes or no.  

Then, sit back and watch the game play out. Assuming you back the both teams to score wager and a game finishes 1-0 to either team, you will lose. But, if both teams find the back of the net and the score finishes 3-3, you will win.  

The beauty of the BTTS online bet is that it’s in play for 90 minutes. Football teams can score goals at any time, so if you place this type of bet, you have a chance of winning right up until the final whistle.  

In contrast, if you bet on a specific team to win and they’re 4-0 down at half-time, your bet is pretty much over. The added longevity and the fact that anything can happen in football makes the BTTS wager appealing to fans.  

BTTS and the stats behind it: Is it actually a decent bet?  

On the surface, BTTS seems like a simple proposition and a fun way to bet on football. Equally, many perceive it as easier than picking a winner, given all the factors that can impact the outcome of a football match.  

But besides its simplicity, why might a punter consider a BTTS bet offered by the best UK bookies? Is it worth a punt? 

Between 2016 and 2021 in the English Premier League, both teams scored in 50.3% of matches. In the English Championship, the average was slightly higher, at 51.6%. Other leagues during the same period showed the following:  

  • Bundesliga = 56.9%  
  • Serie A = 56.4%   
  • Ligue 1 = 49.9%  
  • La Liga = 47.8%  

Therefore, based on these findings, the Bundesliga is the best major top-flight league in Europe for BTTS betting, with 9% more of its matches seeing goals from both teams than in La Liga, the worst major top-flight league for this market.  

Interestingly, the English Premier League shows a 50/50 chance of both teams scoring. Though things might have changed slightly in recent seasons, given that this data is from 2016 to 2021, you can use it as a handy starting point when considering the value of the BTTS odds you receive from a sportsbook.  

BTTS in the Premier League: Which are the best teams to bet on? 

Like all betting markets and options, BTTS is fluid, and you should conduct independent research before selecting matches. This is because some teams hit a barren run, failing to find the net in several successive games before going on a goal-scoring spree shortly after.  

This season so far, taking the English Premier League as an example, Brentford are the best team for BTTS bettors. Incredibly, 100% of Brentford’s home fixtures and 75% of their away fixtures have been a BTTS game, which is 88% of their fixtures overall.  

In contrast, Everton are the worst team to back in a BTTS wager in the EPL this season. Only five of the Toffees’ results have seen both teams score, with an overall BTTS return of 33%.   

Conducting research and arming yourself with such statistics can help you find games in which both teams are likely to score.  

Is BTTS betting better than match-winner betting?  

Female football players celebrating a goal. 

To many, BTTS is better than picking a match-winner in a football wager. The main reason is that it seems like a more straightforward bet.  

For a team to win a football match, a lot needs to go right over the course of 90 minutes. The team needs to play well, referee and VAR decisions must go in their favour, and the other team needs to be under par.  

Let’s use the recent Scottish League Cup Final between Rangers and Celtic as an example.   

As is often the case when these two meet, the game was intense, and the referee made several controversial decisions.  

If you had placed a BTTS wager on the game, you would have won your bet when Celtic equalised early in the second half. You could then sit back and watch the rest of the drama unfold with a smile. 

However, if you had backed Rangers to win, you would have been screaming at the TV in extra time when Vaclav Cerny was denied a clear penalty after being fouled by Liam Scales.  

The incident was branded “100% a penalty” by a former Scottish professional referee, who couldn’t believe the spot kick wasn’t awarded. 

Frustratingly for anyone backing Rangers to win, the referee gave a foul, but the VAR failed to tell him it was actually inside the box.  

Given the state of the game and the late timing of the incident, had the penalty been given, Rangers would probably have gone on to win the final.  

This is just one example, but it perfectly illustrates why BTTS betting might be more attractive than picking a match-winner.  

Anything can happen in football, so much must go right for a team to win. The same isn’t true for goals scored – anyone can score anytime in a football match, even if they’re playing poorly. After all, as Brian Clough famously said, “It only takes a second to score a goal.” 

Recap: Understanding the popularity of the BTTS football wager  

The overwhelming reason why the BTTS bet is so popular is that it’s such an easy bet to place. You don’t need to worry about which team will win, which players are on form, or anything like that. Simply back both teams to score and enjoy the game as a neutral.  

Though EPL games typically offer a 50/50 chance of both teams scoring, as evidenced by recent research, it’s an exceptionally popular bet among UK punters who like our betting offers, with many bettors building BTTS accumulators.  

Ultimately, if you cannot pick the winner of a game and want a simple and engaging way to bet on a football match, the BTTS wager is a great choice – check out the bet365 bonus or 10bet promos here.  

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