Soccer Spread Betting Explained In Detail

Soccer Spread Betting Explained by Type

• Soccer Point Spread Bets (Handicap Betting).
• Total Goals Spread in Soccer.
• Asian Handicap in Soccer.
• Player Performance Spreads Bet in Soccer.

Point Spread Bets (also known as handicap bets) gives one of the teams an artificial advantage (or disadvantage) to level the playing field, and make the bet more interesting. If one of them team is much stronger than the other, this artificial disadvantage will make the action much more interesting.

How It Works

In our example, the bookmaker sets a spread for the match. Let’s say Manchester United is the favorite, and Liverpool is the underdog. The spread might look like this:

• Manchester United -1.5
• Liverpool +1.5

What Do These Numbers Mean?

• Manchester United -1.5: To win the bet, Manchester United must win by at least 2 goals.
• Liverpool +1.5: To win the bet, Liverpool can win, draw, or lose by 1 goal.

Let’s break down the different outcomes for a $100 bet on each team with these spreads with a chart. We can look at win conditions and payouts more easily.

Betting on Manchester United at -1.5

Likewise, these are your options if youd bet on Liverpool +1.5

Notice how betting for the favorite (Manchester United) in spread betting requires you to nail the goal difference in their favor if you want to get the money. Betting for the underdog, on the other hand, has more win conditions.

Total Goals Spread, or Over/Under betting focuses on the total number of goals scored in a match by both teams combined. The bookmaker sets a number, and you bet on whether the actual number of goals will be over or under that number.

How It Works

Let’s keep using our Manchester United vs Liverpool example. Let’s say that the bookmaker sets the Total Goals Spread at 2.5 goals. You can bet on these two options:

• Over 2.5 Goals: You bet that the total goals scored will be 3 or more.
• Under 2.5 Goals: You bet that the total goals scored will be 2 or fewer.

Let’s break down the different outcomes for a $100 bet on either Over 2.5 Goals or Under 2.5 Goals.

Betting on Over 2.5 Goals

Betting on Under 2.5 Goals

What’s cool about these bets is that you don’t have to pick a winner, you can just predict how many goals will be scored overall.

TL: DR Version on Total Goal Spread Bets

Over 2.5 Goals: You win if the total number of goals scored by both teams is 3 or more. If the total goals are 2 or fewer, you lose the bet.
Under 2.5 Goals: You win if the total number of goals scored by both teams is 2 or fewer. If the total goals are 3 or more, you lose the bet.

Why Use Total Goals Spread Betting?

• Simpler Bets: You don’t have to pick a winner. You’re only concerned with the total number of goals.
• Flexibility: Total Goals Spread betting can be used in matches where predicting the winner is difficult, but you have a good sense of how many goals will be scored.
• Exciting Matches: It keeps the game exciting throughout, as every goal counts towards your bet outcome.

Asian Handicap betting offer complex, yet highly profitable bets in matches with a clear favorite. They ignore the possibility of a draw and assign a handicap to each team to keep the action interesting.

While they do have an extra layer of complexity, it’s nothing too crazy either, and it does allow you to make more balanced and strategic bets, which is great. I’ll keep using the Manchester United and Liverpool match as our example to explain how these bets work. I’ll also include charts as visual aids.

How It Works

Asian Handicap, as you might’ve guessed, assigns handicaps to each team. These handicaps can be whole numbers, half numbers or quarter numbers. Here are some of the common Asian Handicap lines you’ll see on betting platforms:

Whole Goal Handicaps

Example: Manchester United -1 vs. Liverpool +1.Lets read the odds

Manchester United -1:

• Man. Utd wins by 2 or more goals: You win.
• Man. Utd wins by exactly 1 goal: It’s a push, so you get your stake back.
• Draw or Liverpool wins: You lose.

Liverpool +1:

• Liverpool wins or draws: You win.
• Liverpool loses by exactly 1 goal: It’s a push, so you get your stake back.
• Liverpool loses by 2 or more goals: You lose.

Half Goal Handicaps

Say you have the following option: Manchester United -0.5 vs. Liverpool +0.5

Reading the odds:

Manchester United -0.5:

• Man Utd wins: You win.
• Draw or Liverpool wins: You lose.

Liverpool +0.5:

• Liverpool wins or draws: You win.
• Man Utd wins: You lose.

Quarter Goal Handicaps

Quarter goal handicaps are a bit more complex, as they split your bet into two parts. Take for instance: Manchester United -0.25 vs. Liverpool +0.25, lets read the odds:

Manchester United -0.25:

• Man Utd wins: You win.
• Draw: You lose half your stake (the -0.5 part) and get back the other half (the 0 part).
• Liverpool wins: You lose.

Liverpool +0.25:

• Liverpool wins: You win.
• Draw: You win half your stake (the +0.5 part) and get back the other half (the 0 part).
• Man Utd wins: You lose.

TL: DR For Asian Handicap Soccer Spread Betting Explained

Asian Handicap betting is all about balancing the odds and removing the draw option to make your bets a bit more exciting, in short:

• Whole Goal Handicaps (-1, +1): Push if the margin equals the handicap.
• Half Goal Handicaps (-0.5, +0.5): No push, just win or lose.
• Quarter Goal Handicaps (-0.25, +0.25): Split bet; half can push while the other half wins or loses.

Sometimes, soccer is more than just team effort and tactics. Talent finds a way, and some players (through sheer skill and willpower) and turn matches around and snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. Some players are so dominant throughout a tournament that they unexpectedly end up making history for their teams during a season.

This is where Player Performance Soccer Spreads betting comes into play.

Player Performance Spreads involve betting on the statistical performance of individual players during a match. It’s a fun way to bet that goes beyond just the final score of a match. Bookies sets a spread for various performance metrics like goals scored, assists, shots on target, etc., and you bet on whether the player’s performance will be over or under that spread.

Some soccer fans are not really fan of a team, rather a fan of a player, and can master performance stats and accurately predict how a player will do each week. These bets are for them.

How Does This Bet Works?

Let’s say we’re looking at a match between France and Norway, focusing on Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland. The bookmaker might set performance spreads for goals scored by each player in a similar way to this:

Let’s go over different outcomes for player props on each of these players.

Betting on Kylian

Kylian Mbappé’s Goals Spread (0.5 – 1.0)

Over 1.0 Goals:

• You bet $100 on Mbappé to score over 1.0 goals.
• If he scores 2 or more goals, you win.
• If he scores exactly 1 goal, you get half your stake back (push) and lose the other half.
• If he scores 0 goals, you lose your bet.

Under 0.5 Goals:

• You bet $100 on Mbappé to score under 0.5 goals.
• If he scores no goals, you win.
• If he scores 1 or more goals, you lose.

Betting on Erling

Erling Haaland’s Goals Spread (0.5 – 1.0)

Over 1.0 Goals:

• You bet $100 on Haaland to score over 1.0 goals.
• If he scores 2 or more goals, you win.
• If he scores exactly 1 goal, you get half your stake back (push) and lose the other half.
• If he scores 0 goals, you lose your bet.

Under 0.5 Goals:

• You bet $100 on Haaland to score under 0.5 goals.
• If he scores no goals, you win.
• If he scores 1 or more goals, you lose.

There are special bets that you can place for extra-time. These bets focus on whatever happens after the referee marks the end of the match (first 90 minutes). Let’s take a closer look at some extra time soccer spread bets to get the full picture.

Extra Time Outcome Bet

The simplest of extra time bets, just choose which team will win during the extra time period. You can either choose to:

• Bet on Manchester United to win in extra time.
• Bet on Liverpool to win in extra time.

Extra Time Total Goals Bet

Here, you’re betting on the total number of goals scored during extra time.

Example:

• Over 1.5 goals in extra time.
• Under 1.5 goals in extra time.

Extra Time Exact Goals Bet

This bet involves predicting the exact number of goals that will be scored during extra time.

Example:

• Bet on exactly 1 goal in extra time.
• Bet on exactly 2 goals in extra time.

Extra Time Correct Score Bet

Predict the exact score at the end of extra time.

Example:

• Bet on Manchester United 1-0 Liverpool.
• Bet on Manchester United 2-1 Liverpool.

Extra Time Goal Scorer Bet

In this one you can bet on a specific player to score during extra time.

Example:

• Bet on Bruno Fernandes to score in extra time.
• Bet on Darwin Nuñez to score in extra time.

Soccer spread bets are very versatile. You can choose them when there’s a clear favorite, or when you anticipate a lot of goals being scored throughout the match. However, you can also go for spread betting when the teams are evenly matched too.

Spread bets can also offer better value and help manage risk. Let’s summarize and explain how spread bets can offer value and mitigate risk. And, more importantly, how you can make them a part of your own Soccer Betting Strategy.

What is soccer spread betting?

Soccer spread betting involves betting on the margin of victory or performance metrics, not just the match outcome.

How is spread betting different from traditional betting?

Spread betting focuses on margins or specific metrics, while traditional betting involves betting on win, lose, or draw outcomes.

What are the advantages of spread betting?

Spread betting offers better odds, balances mismatched teams, and provides diverse betting options.

How do you calculate winnings in spread betting?

Winnings are calculated based on how far the actual outcome exceeds or falls short of the spread you bet on.

What are some common mistakes to avoid in spread betting?

Avoid betting without research, ignoring team form and injuries, overestimating favorites, and not managing your bankroll properly.