In the world of sports betting, one of the most popular football markets and potentially profitable is the Both Teams To Score (BTTS). Whether you’re a casual bettor or a serious trader, understanding how to find value in this market can significantly boost your long term profitability. In this article, we’ll break down a how to identify value in this market, not just placing bets based on gut feelings.
What Is a BTTS Bet?
Table of Contents
A Both Teams To Score (BTTS) bet predicts whether both teams in a match will score at least one goal each.
✔️ Yes — both teams score
✖️ No — at least one team fails to score
BTTS doesn’t care about the final result, only that both teams find the net or they do not. This simplicity makes it a favorite among bettors.
The majority of bookmakers will offer both teams to score on all football matches they offer. It is also a common market on the betting exchanges (Betfair, Matchbook, Smarkets, Betdaq.)
How to Find Value in The BTTS Markets
One of the easiest methods of finding value in the BTTS is to compare odds at sharp bookmakers with soft bookmakers.
Many bettors choose BTTS simply because it feels likely “two good attacks, game will be open and both will score”. But likelihood alone doesn’t make a bet profitable.
The Value Method revolves around one principle:
Value exists when the true probability of an outcome is higher than the implied probability reflected in betting odds.
In other words:
📌 If you find a sharp bookmaker indicating the chance of BTTS happening is 41% (2.44), but the odds suggest only 40% (2.5), that is value. The bigger the difference the more value a selection has.
Example
Betfair is a betting exchange and is a good representation of what the true odds should be. They are what is known as a sharp signal. The betting exchanges alongside sharp bookmakers such as Pinnacle often are much better at providing odds close to the true probability of an event happening.
Using an odds comparison site we find odds at a soft bookmaker (Skybet) which is above what is being offered on the exchanges. Skybet are not as efficient in managing their odds and they are offering value here in the BTTS No market.
Consistently taking these value bets will lead to a profitable long term BTTS betting strategy, however this is not the only approach you can take.
Step-by-Step: Building a BTTS Value Strategy
1. Build a Reliable Data Foundation
To assess value, you need data. Look at:
- Goals scored and conceded (home & away)
- Recent BTTS frequency
- Expected goals (xG) statistics
- Injuries & suspensions
- Style of play (attacking vs. defensive)
Example:
| Team | Avg Goals Scored | Avg Goals Conceded | BTTS % |
| Team A | 1.8 | 1.4 | 78% |
| Team B | 1.5 | 1.3 | 65% |
High goal averages and high BTTS rates suggest natural goal involvement a great starting point if you are looking for a BTTS yes bet.
2. Estimate Your Own Probability
After gathering data, estimate how often BTTS should happen. Use metrics such as:
- Combined goals scored per match
- Defensive solidity vs. offensive strength
- Recent head to head history
3. Compare Against Betting Odds
Convert odds into implied probability:
Implied Probability = 1 / Decimal Odds
Example:
- Odds for BTTS Yes = 1.80
- Implied probability = 1 / 1.80 = 55.6%
Your estimated probability was 65%
Since 65% > 55.6%, this would make it a value bet.
Using Additional Tools to Improve Accuracy
Expected Goals (xG) Models
xG gives insight into the quality of chances created/conceded. Teams with high xG conceded but low actual goals conceded may be due for regression indicating potential BTTS events. There are some excellent free resources online available with XG for the majority of the top football leagues.
Poisson Distribution
This statistical model forecasts goal probability using scoring averages, helping you predict likelihoods more accurately than eyeballing.
Other Factors to Consider
Table Position/Cup Game
Is this game between the top of the table and the bottom of the league. Is one of these teams likely to park the bus in front of the goal and be ecstatic if they come away with a point after a 0-0 draw. Maybe the game you are looking at is an FA cup game between a small team that would love a replay away at Liverpool to boost their financial situation. Again they will be very happy to take a 0-0 draw in this situation.
Defensive or Offensive Absences
Injuries to key defensive or offensive players are going make a difference to a lot of teams. If 40% of goals have come from a star forward and the replacement isn’t of the same quality you could expect an adjustment in expected goals. The same can be said for a solid defensive captain that has seen his side pick up multiple clean sheets this season, if he is missing how does the replacement effect the game.
Managerial Changes
The way a football team plays is largely due to how their manager is training them. If there has been a recent change in management then the statistics that you are using for their next upcoming match maybe not as relevant.
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
❌ Betting based on gut feeling alone
❌ Chasing losses by increasing stakes
❌ Ignoring recent tactical changes
Using Proven Tipsters To Profit From The BTTS Markets
One other way to make money from the both teams to score market is to follow a proven tipster or service that consistently finds value in these markets.
There are a few services and tipsters over the years that I have found can make consistent profits from the BTTS markets. A service that I have been using as part of my Making A Million Sports Betting Challenge is sharp betting football selections. This service consistently finds value with bookmakers within the both teams to score markets.
Click Here For Our Full Review
Conclusion
The Both Teams To Score market remains one of the most popular markets in football betting but long term success requires more than simply backing matches that “look like” they’ll feature goals. By applying a value based approach, comparing bookmaker odds, analysing key factors, and understanding the context behind each fixture, you place yourself miles ahead of the average bettor.
A disciplined BTTS strategy isn’t built on intuition; it’s built on identifying when the implied probability in the odds undervalues the true likelihood of both teams scoring or not. Over time, consistently backing these value opportunities is what leads to sustainable profitability.
Whether you prefer doing your own research or leveraging resources like xG models, Poisson projections, and team news, the principles remain the same: gather data, estimate probabilities, and only bet when value is present. And if you want an easier route, proven tipsters who specialise in BTTS markets can provide a reliable shortcut especially those with independently verified long term results.
The BTTS market rewards patience, discipline, and smart analysis. Apply these methods consistently, and you’ll give yourself the best chance of turning the BTTS market into a genuinely profitable part of your sports betting strategy.