How to Bet on Goals Markets in Football

Football goals markets are some of the most popular wagers. Goals markets allow you to find great odds even when unsure which team will win the game. Whether you think it will be an entertaining contest or a low-scoring affair, you can find great value by taking advantage of these markets.
Bettors should always pay close attention to the goals markets when trying to unlock profitable betting opportunities on a football match.
Note: Odds in this article use fractional format (e.g., 10/1), which is common in the UK and Ireland. Depending on your region or sportsbook, you may encounter decimal odds (e.g., 11.00) or American odds (e.g., +1000). Most betting sites allow you to toggle between formats.
Key Goals Betting Markets, Explained
Here are some popular markets available at most football betting sites:
Both Teams to Score (BTTS)
This is one of the best betting options for finding value in a match. You are presented with two simple options: both teams to score—yes or no. You do not have to predict the result of the match.
If you bet on both teams to score, it can finish 1-1 or 7-4. As long as both teams find the back of the net at some point, you will be paid out.
The odds on this market will vary on a match-by-match basis. It all depends on how strong each defense is and how dangerous they are in front of the goal.
Total Goals (Over/Under)
This is a prediction on the cumulative goals scored by both teams during the match. When a site sets 2.5 as the total goals line, you can bet over or under this amount.
With this type of bet, you are asked to predict whether there will be more or fewer than 2.5 total goals in the game. It doesn’t matter which team scores the goals, as long as you have predicted the total goals correctly. If there are three goals and you've bet on over 2.5, you'll win your bet. However, your bet will lose if it's a one-goal or two-goal game.
If it is a game between two teams that do not play particularly adventurous football, you can see great value in betting on over 2.5 goals. If both teams are regularly involved in high-scoring games, you should go for over 3.5 goals or even over 4.5 goals to find value. That is also true in a mismatch.
Alternative Total Goals
Bookmakers and betting apps usually offer alternative total goals markets alongside the main over/under line. The over/under line may not always be set at 2.5 as bookmakers change totals for each game, but 2.5 is the most common line.
If the over/under line is set at 2.5 goals, 1.5 and 3.5 goals might be offered as alternative total goals markets. If you fancy a goalfest, you can back over 3.5 or 4.5 goals, for example.
Team Goals
This bet type predicts how many goals a particular team will score in a match. You do not have to worry about how the opposition performs. You can also bet on the number of goals a particular team will score with the team total goals market.
Exact Goals
This is much trickier than betting on the over/under total, as it requires you to predict the exact number of goals that will be scored in a game. However, if you can pull it off, you will earn a significantly higher profit.
You can also bet on multiple options to give yourself a better chance of success. You can choose whether 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or more goals will be scored. You can also bet on the exact goals a particular team will score.
Clean Sheet Betting
With clean sheet betting, you’re backing a team not to concede any goals. It does not matter how many goals they score. They must keep the opposition to zero goals for 90 minutes for your bet to pay off. It is similar to betting on a team to win to nil, but it covers if the game finishes 0-0.
Clean sheet betting is tricky because teams with sizable leads often make substitutions and take their foot off the gas late in games, making them more likely to concede. Likewise, a team with a tight lead is constantly threatened because the opposition desperately wants to score and get back into the game.
First Goalscorer
This is a straightforward bet on which player will score first in a match. The lead scorer for the stronger team will generally have the shortest odds of all players in this market.
The odds will grow progressively longer as you go down the list of players. You will eventually reach the rank of an outsider, like a defensive player who rarely scores.
Once again, you can cover multiple players in this market. If the player you bet on does not start the game and is not on the pitch when the first goal is scored, you should receive a refund.
Note that own goals generally don’t count toward settling goalscorer bets. If you've backed a player to score first and the first goal is an own goal, your bet is still alive.
For most other markets, such as total goals or both teams to score, own goals count the same as traditional goals.
Last Goalscorer
This is similar to the first goalscorer but involves predicting who will score the last goal. The odds on first and last goalscorer are usually identical, unless a particular player has a habit of popping up with last-gasp goals.
Anytime Goalscorer
This is often a far more appealing option than betting on a player to score first or last. It involves predicting a player's score at any time in the match. You will be paid out if that player finds the back of the net, regardless of when it occurs.
The odds available for a player to score at any time will always be shorter than the odds for that player to score first or last. However, you stand a much better chance of success on anytime goalscorer markets.
Alternative Player Goals Markets
Several bookmakers now offer an exciting range of player goals betting markets. You can bet on a player scoring 2+ goals in the match, which carries longer odds. Alternatively, bet on a player to score 3+ or 4+ goals for even longer odds.
You could also bet on him to score a header, fire in a penalty shot, score from outside the box, or score an own goal.
You can even bet while watching live streaming through a betting platform.
Time of First Goal Betting
This market allows you to predict when the game's first goal will be scored. It does not matter which team finds the back of the net.
Some bookmakers divide it into 10- or 15-minute increments. You can bet on multiple increments if you like.
The time of the first goal market is usually available with in-play (live) betting.
Odd or Even
This is a somewhat unusual market focusing on whether the total number of goals scored in a match will be odd or even. It is a bit like betting on red or black on a roulette wheel.
It is not a sophisticated wager and might be best avoided unless you like playing the lottery.
Recommended Goals Accumulators
Consider combining two or more selections in an accumulator (parlay or multi) for more value. Many accumulator bettors go for over/unders with their Saturday accas instead of betting on match results.
Always consider combining multiple selections within the same game for added value.
Combining Total Goals with Both Teams to Score
If you anticipate a high-scoring game between two teams, combining both teams to score over 2.5 goals is a great option. This type of bet essentially rolls the two selections into a single bet, generating higher odds.
Another great option is for both teams to score under 4.5 goals. If you think both teams will score, this is a valuable market, but do not anticipate an outrageously high-scoring game. Combining both teams to score with under 4.5 goals will earn you a greater potential profit than simply betting on both teams to score.
Some bookmakers provide “both teams to score and over/under 2.5 goals” in the match's betting options or parlay/Bet Builder sections.
Combining Goals with Winner Markets
You can combine a team winning with a goals market to boost the odds.
For example, you could go for a team to win and over 2.5 goals in the game. In that case, they would have to win 3-0, 2-1, 3-1, and so on for you to be paid out, but your potential profit would be much higher. If you think a team will secure a low-scoring victory, you might choose to go for them to win and under 3.5 goals in the game.
You could even build a same-game parlay—also known as a bet builder—by combining a team to win, both to score, and over 3.5 goals.
How to Place Bets on Goals Markets
- To place bets on goal markets, visit a betting site and click on a game you are interested in.
- You will be presented with various betting options to choose from. Markets like total goals, both teams to score, and exact goals are generally featured near the top of the list. You can also find live markets if there are any games in progress.
- When you find a market you like, click on the odds next to it, and the selection will be added to your bet slip.
- Choose the amount you would like to stake. The bet slip will inform you of the potential profit you stand to make if your wager is successful.
- Click “Place Bet” to confirm.
Top 5 Tips for Betting on Goals Markets
Conduct Research
Check out how often “both teams to score” pays off when a team plays. Break it down into home games and away games. Work out the average goals per game each team scores, and how often over 2.5 or under 2.5 goals pays off when they play. It's worth exploring each team's expected goals (XG) statistics, as this metric measures the probability of a team scoring. If two teams have been creating many chances and underperforming their XG, their luck in front of the goal may be due to change. Try to find XG stats for lesser-known leagues, where the bookies may have paid less attention to the advanced statistics.
Consider Context
The importance of a match can drastically affect how teams set up. For example, crucial games, like cup finals or matches where a team needs a point to avoid relegation, are often cagey affairs, which could lead to fewer goals. If both teams have injury problems on defense, over 2.5 or 3.5 goals might look attractive.
Check Team News
Even the most seasoned bettors can overlook team news at times. After you've looked into both teams' stats and head-to-head records, check their injury/suspension lists. For instance, the team might be less likely to score if a top striker misses time with an injury. Also, consider squad rotation. If a team plays midweek in Europe, their manager might habitually rotate his players at the weekend to keep them fresh.
Consider All Options
If you are uncomfortable betting on under 2.5 goals, go for under 3.5 instead.
As a more advanced strategy, check out Asian total goals markets, which allow you to secure half wins, incur only half losses, or receive your money back as a push in certain circumstances.
Know the Terms & Conditions of Goals Bets
Goals scored in extra time won't generally count towards your over/under bet in a knockout game in a cup competition. But check the terms and conditions on the betting site you’re using.
Penalty shootout goals do not count toward a player's tournament tally or Golden Boot award tally.
Final Thoughts on Betting on Goals Markets
The goals market is about understanding how a match will unfold. If you can read the tempo, spot a mismatch in styles, or sense when defences might be vulnerable, there’s usually an angle worth taking.
Don’t just follow the crowd on over 2.5 or both teams to score—dig into the context and look for value. It’s not just about predicting goals—it’s about finding the right spot to take your shot.