Correct score betting is exactly that – to call the exact final scoreline of a footy match. Simple enough, but one of the hardest bets you can lay, which is exactly why the odds are so tempting.
Instead of a simple bet for City to beat United, you’re tipping the actual result. 2-1 to City, 3-0, 1-1 – whatever you fancy to be the score when the whistle blows.
The appeal is obvious. Backing City to win might have you at 4/7, but being able to accurately predict they’ll do it 2-1 might have you paid out at 8/1 or better. Be very detailed with a score such as 4-2 and you’re looking at odds to make a lottery winner envious.
But the fact is – football is volatile enough without trying to nail down precise scores.
The most common scorelines offer the shortest odds because, after all, they happen most often. Your 1-0s, your 2-1s, your 1-1s – these are happening week in, week out, so bookies set their prices accordingly. Still decent odds though, usually around 5/1 to 9/1 depending on the teams involved.
Then you have your less frequent returns. 3-0, 0-2, 2-2 – they are better paid because they do not happen so frequently. We’re in the 10/1 to 15/1 bracket for the majority of games.
Move up to full-on goal-fest scores like 4-3 or 5-2 and the odds become really tempting. Course, when did you ever see Arsenal and Spurs hand out seven goals between them?
The bookmakers are not dim, though. They know which scores are most likely based on the teams. When Liverpool play a struggler against relegation, 2-0 and 3-0 will be shorter than when they play City. The market adjusts for differential quality, home record, defensive strength – all that good news.
Other bettors believe in laying the same score in a number of games. The logic being that 1-0 happens so frequently in football that, if you have enough games, you’ll eventually get a winner that will cover your losses. Something like playing roulette but with relatively better odds.
Others prefer the scattergun approach – backing various disparate scores during one match to cover all bases. Problem is, you are weakening your bet and need a reasonably-priced winner in order to make any sort of profit.
Cup ties create interesting possibilities through giant-killings or thumpings on the horizon. Where Premier League teams are facing non-league opposition, 5-0 could quite possibly offer fair value based on the disparity in class.
The psychological element matters too. Punters love backing exciting scorelines like 3-2 or 4-1 because they sound entertaining, even when the odds suggest they’re unlikely. Meanwhile, boring results like 0-0 often offer surprisingly good value because nobody wants to back them.
Smart correct score betting probably refers to taking into account how matches tend to unfold rather than just taking figures that look pretty. Defensive teams eking out 1-0 wins, attack-minded teams participating in 2-1 thrillers, etc.
Weather also becomes relevant. Horrendous weather makes for tough, low-scoring games where 1-0 becomes even more likely than usual.
Is correct score betting not worth the fuss? Depends what you want really. If you’re after consistent returns, best avoided most likely. But if you enjoy the odd punt on delicious odds and don’t mind losing more often than not, it can add proper excitement to watching football. Just don’t expect to get made up doing it.
