football betting tips

Anybody can place a random bet on a football match and win. They have a one-in-three, 33%, chance of winning as there are three possible outcomes. The more bets that the person places, though, the less chance they have of winning with such a random selection process. And this is where a bit of knowledge of the market, or at least the willingness to do your homework, comes in handy. The seven most important factors to consider when betting on a football match are: The odds The league positions Which team is playing at home/away The current form of the two teams Which players are injured/suspended Motivation levels The head-to-head record 1. The Odds The odds will largely be dictated by the stature of each team, but will also account for the various other factors outlined above. These are set by the bookmaker, who uses a complex statistical algorithm and ‘precedents’ to calculate odds that appear attractive to the bettor but minimises their risk. For example: a team that is top of the league will be odds-on to beat a team at the bottom. But there are other factors: form, player availability, where the game is being played etc. It’s not an exact science, and ‘professional’ football gamblers research every minute detail and statistic to see if they can find a competitive edge for themselves. But this really isn’t necessary; just some common-sense will usually suffice! 2. League Position This, in many ways, is the most important factor to consider. In a perfect world, Chelsea – who are currently top of the English Premier League – will beat Leicester City, who are bottom, each and every time they play. We know that this isn’t the case, but it is certainly a good guide. For people who are new to betting, and perhaps new to football, knowing the relative league positions of the teams is the minimum amount of knowledge you will need to be able to bet with any confidence. 3. Home or Away Another factor to consider is where the game is being played. The vast majority of teams are much better when playing at home, in front of their own adoring crowd, who give the players extra motivation to play well. Usually, the odds are lengthened on the away team – which is why so many football betting tips feature sides playing away from home. For example, in the Chelsea/Leicester City example we use above, the odds on Chelsea to win would be GREATER if they were playing away than at home, even though the abilities of the 22 players involved remain the same. 4. Form Another factor that can throw a spanner in the works is the form of the two teams involved. A team in the lower reaches of the league table that is playing well and winning matches can often be a more attractive proposition to bet on than a high-placed team in a bad run of form. “Form is temporary; class is permanent.” It is up to the discretion of the individual to decide how much credence they give to this old saying though! 5. Player Injuries/Suspensions The availability of each team’s star players is something to consider too. If Chelsea, for example, were missing the likes of Diego Costa, Cesc Fabregas and Eden Hazard, then that could encourage you to consider betting on their opponents. That’s not so say that Chelsea haven’t got world-class players in their squad that can step in. But a team missing a star player – particularly those teams towards the bottom of the league – can make a significant difference to their chances. 6. Motivation As if earning thousands of Euros a week wasn’t motivation enough, there can sometimes be other factors that come into play: Perhaps the team’s manager has just been sacked Perhaps the team’s star player has been sold Perhaps the team is playing a more important game in a couple of days Consider this example too: Team A is currently scrapping at the bottom end of the table to avoid relegation. They have three games left and this is one of them.Team B is comfortable in mid-table and they can’t move up or down. This is also one of their last games of the season. Now, ordinarily, you’d probably bet on Team B due to their superior league position. But in this example we can see that Team A has more to play for, and this needs to be factored into your thinking. 7. Head-to-Head Record Perhaps not as significant as other factors on this list, but still worthy of your consideration. Some teams just have a certain knack for defeating another, although, realistically, these kinds of head-to-head record are there to be broken. This should be at the bottom of your hierarchy of factors when considering football betting online. Bonus: Go With Your Instinct We hope that you’ve enjoyed reading this football betting guide. There’s been a lot to take in, but perhaps one final piece of advice we can give you is this: Always go with your gut instinct We’re always happy to hear how you’re all getting on with your soccer betting online, and love sharing tips too. So how do you decide which teams to bet on?