Football Betting Tips: Your Guide To Making Predictions
A guide to finding football betting tips and how to inform your football predictions
By James McMath
The global popularity of football makes it an appealing sport to bet on, and the abundance of data out there means the game is easier to research than ever.
Football betting tips today are driven by more data, figures, and facts than ever before, making it relatively easy to build confidence.
But football betting predictions are not as straightforward as having a gut instinct on a result. There is more of an art to football betting today that can help you enjoy and increase your chances of success.
Consider this a comprehensive guide to football betting, where you’ll find the terms explained, football betting advice on researching games, the markets you can bet on and some good sources of statistics. After reading this, hopefully you’ll be better versed in the world of football betting tips and you’ll start to build confidence with wagering on the beautiful game.
Football Betting - A Brief Overview
Before we get into our football betting advice, we need to talk about odds.
Odds are set by bookmakers and represent the probability of a specific outcome. There are hundreds of things you can bet on, from goals scored to the amount of corners or shots on target.
Betting odds can seem daunting at first as they can either be represented by fractions, decimals or percentages, possibly causing confusion with those new to betting. But, bettings odds are not really that complicated and simply reflect the probability of an outcome. For example, 2/1 odds mean that for every £1 a punter stakes, they get £2 in return if they win.
Football Predictions - Match Outcome
The most common, and simplest, form of football gambling is the classic match bet. Choosing a match bet means you are betting on the result of a football match by picking one of three outcomes - a home win, a draw, or an away win.
Match bets are settled once the 90 minutes of the game are over (this includes any time added on the referee may add for injuries in the game). Results after extra-time has been played, or penalty shoot-outs, do not come under the match bets market. Unless specifically stated, all football betting markets only cover the 90 minutes of the game.
It's All About The Stats
One way to add confidence to your weekend football predictions is to use stats to make your predictions. Since the emergence of Opta and other data collating companies, stats to bet on football have never been more readily available.
So, whether you're looking to bet on a one-off match, pick a Saturday acca, or find Bet Builder tips for tonight, always be sure to take a deep dive into the statistics.
Accumulators
A popular form of football betting is the accumulator (often shortened to "acca"). Accumulators work by creating bets on multiple games or outcomes in the hope of creating a larger payout at the end.
Linking two separate bets is called a double, whilst three bets would be a treble.
Accumulators bring bigger odds but, obviously, bigger risk, too.
Goalscorer Betting
Goalscoring betting is largely self-explanatory and simply encompasses betting on a certain player to score in a match.
You can bet on first, last and anytime goalscorers, by naming the player you think will find the back of the net.
If you’re choosing a player on hot form in a prolific team you might fancy your chances. But remember to think about factors such as the opposition they are playing against and whether the game is being played at home or away.
First and last goalscorer betting usually has higher odds than simple match betting, as there is a lower chance of it happening. You can choose any player for your goal scoring bet, including the goalkeeper, though it’s probably worth considering to select players with a reputation for finding the back of the net.
Over And Under Betting
Over and under betting represents the amount of times a certain event will happen across the duration of a football match - things like bookings, fouls, free-kicks, corners, throw-ins, etc.
Bookmakers will assign a certain number for these events and you can choose to either bet they’ll be more (over) or less (under) than their number.
For example, bookings. The market is set at 3.5 and you can bet on over or under that figure. Three or fewer bookings in a match is under, four or more would be over.
How To Research Games
Know Your Markets
Some of the best football betting advice you'll receive is to do your research. A great way to build betting confidence is to do your homework. In today’s day and age, it’s never been easier to research statistics, teams, trends, and the advice of seasoned betters for a holistic overview and understanding of where to find the best football tips.
Before you start betting, it’s essential you know the market you’re betting on. If, for example, you’re betting on a simple match result, then researching the form records of the respective teams is a worthwhile task.
Previous meetings are also important, as certain emotionally-charged fixtures like the Merseyside Derby could throw out an unexpected result - while factors like current form, expected goals, and usual number of fouls conceded may not be as relevant.
Team News Is Essential
Before you’re tempted to bet on a striker scoring a hat-trick, it’s vital you’re certain he’s even playing in the game. Absent players can drastically impact a team’s overall performance and even the best teams in the world are beatable if a few of their superstars are missing.
Squad depth is another important factor as the elite clubs have far better substitute players than those battling relegation. It’s worth researching the form of a team’s understudies, and making sure they can do the business before you bet on them to score or have shots on target.
It’s also worth checking for injury news, suspensions, and other important factors before you start betting.
Use Your Head, Not Your Heart
Football can be a very emotional game and it’s tempting to let your emotions get the better of you when you start betting on it.
It’s vital that you be cautious and only bet on a football outcome if you’re confident it will transpire. If your local team is going up against a top-flight Premier League side in the cup, try not to let your support for the underdogs get in the way of your betting success.
Betting on football should be a pragmatic endeavour, not an emotional one. Make sure you’re as educated as you can on the area you’re betting in before you take action.
Where to Look For Tips
Football betting tips today have never been easier to find. The web and social media is home to a wide variety of data-led football sites and all are full of useful information you’ll need before you start betting.
Listen To Seasoned Experts
There are plenty of respectable analysts, writers, and journalists out there for you to study before you begin your football betting journey.
It can be useful to read up on what others are saying before you make your decision. An outside perspective can either confirm your suspicions on what not to bet on, or it can confirm the strong feeling you have and add a layer of security to your predictions. When you have the chance to read or listen to some football betting advice, it’s always best to take it.
Bet On The Premier League - Know The Game
One of the easiest ways to find the statistical data you are looking for is to go right to the source - the Premier League. Tucked away on their official website is a comprehensive statistics section providing data on teams and players.
Transfermarkt.co.uk
The one-stop shop for everything related to transfers, Transfermarkt details every single move in world football, from headline-generating record transfers to the cheapest loan moves. It’s an ideal resource for those hoping to make the correct football betting predictions ahead of a match weekend.
It is also awash with team statistics, performances, and average squad ages. You can research an individual player’s record against certain clubs, the formation most likely to be used by a certain manager, and a host of other information.
Soccerstats.com
Soccerstats is another comprehensive resource showing everything from team goal records to overall form of every team on the planet.
The holistic nature of this platform makes it ideal for those with accumulators within various leagues. For example, users can view the average goals per game their teams generate, and choose their accumulators accordingly.
You can even research how quickly it takes a certain team to score, ideal for if you’re betting on first goalscorer or which team scores first in a game.
Football Betting Tips Summary
Entering the world of football betting need not be complicated. All it takes to get started is some research, sensible decision making, and knowledge of your own limitations.
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