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Expert Guide to Betting on Soccer
Soccer, known as “the beautiful game,” is the most popular sport worldwide, and its betting market is equally dynamic.
Whether you’re wagering on the English Premier League, the MLS, or international tournaments, soccer offers unique opportunities for profit.
This guide is tailored for intermediate and advanced bettors looking to sharpen their skills and gain an edge. From analyzing leagues and understanding wager types to identifying profitable opportunities, we’ll equip you with the tools you need to excel.
Dive in, and let’s transform your soccer betting game into a winning strategy.
Best Soccer Bets Today
Our team of dedicated handicappers spend a lot of time pouring over lines, odds, and scores to determine their picks. New to betting? Demystify odds with our expert guide. Here are some of the best soccer wagers we have lined up:
Soccer Leagues to Bet On
Soccer leagues across the globe provide a wide variety of betting opportunities, each with its unique nuances. Below, we explore six prominent leagues. Want the inside scoop before kickoff? Catch our full soccer previews.
MLS
The Major League Soccer (MLS) season runs from late February to October, with playoffs extending into November. As the premier soccer league in the United States, it’s characterized by parity among teams, making underdog bets particularly attractive. With unique rules such as salary caps, it offers a distinct dynamic compared to European leagues. Looking for team deep-dives? Explore every MLS squad’s story on our team pages.
EPL
The English Premier League (EPL), often regarded as the most competitive soccer league in the world, runs from August to May. It features globally recognized teams like Manchester United, Liverpool, and Arsenal. Known for its high pace and unpredictable results, EPL betting requires careful analysis of form and fixtures, particularly during congested schedules like the winter holiday period.
La Liga
La Liga, Spain’s top-tier league, operates from August to May and showcases world-class talent, including teams like Real Madrid and Barcelona. Its matches often have high-scoring potential, making over/under betting a common choice. Pay attention to player form, as key stars heavily influence outcomes.
Bundesliga
Germany’s Bundesliga runs from August to May and is known for its attacking football and high-scoring matches. Bayern Munich has dominated the league for years, but value bets can often be found in matches featuring mid-table teams. Bundesliga’s winter break also gives bettors time to reassess team dynamics.
Ligue 1
The French Ligue 1 season spans from August to May and features powerhouse clubs like Paris Saint-Germain. While often labeled as a one-team league due to PSG’s dominance, betting opportunities abound in underdog matches and live markets, where smaller clubs often defy expectations.
Serie A
Italy’s Serie A, held from August to May, is synonymous with tactical play and defensive prowess. Betting markets often feature lower goal lines, making under bets popular. Keep an eye on injuries and squad rotations, as they significantly impact results in this physically demanding league.
Types of Soccer Bets
Soccer offers a diverse range of wagers, allowing bettors to tailor strategies to their expertise. Ready to back a winner? See our expert soccer picks.
- Moneyline: A straightforward bet on which team will win the match. Unlike some sports, soccer moneylines often feature three options: Team A, Team B, or Draw.
- Draw No Bet: This wager removes the draw as an option. If the match ends in a draw, your stake is refunded. It’s a safer alternative for risk-averse bettors.
- Over/Under: A wager on the total number of goals scored in a match. For example, betting over 2.5 goals wins if three or more goals are scored.
- Spreads: Also known as handicap betting, this levels the playing field by giving one team a goal advantage or disadvantage. Commonly used in mismatched games.
- Props: These bets focus on specific events within the game, such as which player will score or the number of corner kicks. Props can provide great value with thorough research.
How to Identify Good Soccer Wagers
Knowing the leagues and wagers is one thing, but how do you identify which wagers are worth taking? Curious who’s running the table this season? Check out the live standings on our leaderboard. Here are some of the practices our handicappers put into play when they’re hunting for profitable soccer wagers:
Analyze Matchups in Context
To uncover value in soccer betting, it’s essential to analyze matchups in context rather than relying solely on raw stats or league standings. Look at the recent form of both teams, but dig deeper into the circumstances surrounding their results.
For instance, a team on a winning streak might have faced weaker opponents, or their victories may have come with narrow margins despite a strong scoreline.
Also, consider external factors such as travel fatigue, squad depth, and tactical mismatches. A team that excels in high possession may struggle against a well-organized defensive opponent, creating opportunities for value bets on the underdog.
Leverage Advanced Metrics
Advanced metrics like expected goals (xG), expected assists (xA), and defensive errors leading to shots provide a clearer picture of a team’s performance than traditional stats like goals scored or conceded. These metrics help you understand whether a team’s results are sustainable or influenced by luck.
For example, a team with a high xG but low actual goals scored may be underperforming due to poor finishing or unlucky outcomes, making them a good candidate for positive regression.
Similarly, a team outperforming its xG may be due for a decline, presenting opportunities to bet against them.
Use a Handicapping Service
Even our handicappers have bettors they look up to, and using their expertise is always an acceptable way to find good soccer wagers. Some people might have more experience betting on a certain league or team, so using their know-how is key to developing your own strategy.
Signing up for a handicapping service often seems like a waste of money, but you’re paying for expertise. Plus, winning more wagers is definitely worth the price of your membership, especially if you’re planning on betting a lot. Want premium picks delivered straight to you? Grab yours here.
Monitor Line Movement
Line movement is a crucial indicator for professional bettors. Significant shifts in odds often signal where sharp money is being placed, reflecting insider information or market corrections.
For example, if the odds for a favored team suddenly lengthen without clear public knowledge, it could indicate issues like last-minute injuries, suspensions, or lineup changes.
Conversely, a shortening line on an underdog may suggest increased confidence in their chances. Pay attention to these movements and act quickly, as the best value often occurs before the market fully adjusts.
Biggest Soccer Events to Watch Out For
There’s usually always a soccer game on, as the leagues have different schedules. But, there are a few events every year that draw the attention of fans and bettors alike. These events are often quite profitable for smart bettors:
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FIFA Club World Cup
The FIFA Club World Cup brings together top clubs from around the globe to compete for international supremacy. The tournament’s unique structure often pits teams from different styles and leagues, creating intriguing mismatches and betting opportunities, especially in early rounds.
MLS Cup
The MLS Cup is the culmination of the MLS playoffs and crowns the league champion. With single-elimination matches leading up to the final, every game is high-stakes, and live betting becomes a powerful tool to capitalize on shifting momentum.
UEFA Champion’s League
The Champions League is Europe’s premier club competition, featuring the continent’s top teams. The tournament’s two-legged knockout rounds demand tactical awareness from bettors, as away goals and aggregate scores come into play. Look for value in markets like halftime results and team-specific props.
Tips for Betting on Soccer
If you’re serious about making money betting on soccer, whether it’s MLS, EPL, or any league in between, there are a few things you should know.
Focus on Specific Markets
Specializing in a specific league or wager type is a critical strategy for advanced bettors. By focusing on one market, such as the EPL moneyline or Serie A under bets, you can become an expert in identifying trends, key players, and team tendencies.
For instance, some leagues, like La Liga, tend to have higher-scoring games, while Serie A is often more defensively oriented. This specialization allows you to spot inefficiencies in odds that generalists might overlook. Over time, your deep knowledge can help you anticipate outcomes more accurately and consistently find value bets.
Track Team Trends
Understanding how teams perform against different styles of play can give you a substantial edge. Some teams excel in counterattacking setups but struggle against high-possession opponents. For example, a mid-table EPL team might thrive against dominant sides because of their ability to absorb pressure and break quickly but falter against clubs that sit deep.
Keeping a record of team performances against varying tactical setups helps you predict results with greater precision. Additionally, tracking home and away performance trends can reveal teams that struggle under travel fatigue or thrive in their home stadium atmosphere.
Use Live Betting
Live betting in soccer offers opportunities that pre-match wagers cannot. Watching the game in real-time allows you to identify factors like a shift in tactics, an unexpected injury, or a red card that might significantly alter the match’s outcome.
For example, if a team goes down to 10 players, betting against them in the second half can provide great value. Similarly, observing the flow of the game can help you decide whether an over/under bet on goals might be favorable. Timing is key in live betting, so act quickly but decisively when the odds shift in your favor.
Assess the Weather
Weather conditions play a more significant role in soccer than many bettors realize. Heavy rain can slow down play, leading to fewer scoring opportunities and making under bets more appealing.
Conversely, extreme heat might cause fatigue, especially in teams that rely on high-intensity pressing systems. Windy conditions can disrupt long-ball strategies or affect free kicks and corners. By researching the weather forecast for matches and understanding how conditions impact each team’s style of play, you can make smarter wagers.
For example, a high-scoring team playing in the rain may struggle to maintain their typical offensive output.
Kick Off Your Soccer Betting Experience
From league-specific insights to advanced betting strategies, this guide equips you to make informed decisions and maximize your soccer betting profits.
Ready to take your betting to the next level? Join ScoresandStats.com today and access premium picks from top handicappers, tailored for serious sports bettors. Explore our membership tiers and start winning today!
