Both Teams to Score – or BTTS as you’ll see it written across betting sites – is one of the most straightforward football bets you can place. You’re simply predicting whether both sides will find the net during a match. That’s it. No worrying about who wins, what the final score is, or how many goals get scored in total.
If both teams score at least once, your bet wins. If either team fails to score, you lose. Simple as that.
How Does BTTS Work?
When you place a BTTS bet, you’ll be given two options: Yes or No.
Backing BTTS Yes means you think both teams will score. A 1-1 draw pays out just the same as a 4-3 thriller – as long as neither side draws a blank, you’re quids in.
Backing BTTS No means you reckon at least one team will fail to score. This covers 0-0 draws, 1-0 wins, 2-0 wins – any scoreline where one or both teams don’t manage to get on the scoresheet.
Worth noting: BTTS bets only count goals scored during the 90 minutes plus injury time. Extra time and penalty shootouts in cup competitions don’t factor in.
BTTS Bet Types
The basic Yes/No market is just the starting point. Most bookmakers now offer several BTTS variations that let you combine it with other outcomes:
BTTS & Win – You’re predicting both teams will score and picking which side wins. So if you back Arsenal to win and BTTS, you need an Arsenal victory with both teams scoring. A 2-1 Arsenal win lands; a 1-0 Arsenal win doesn’t.
BTTS in Both Halves – A trickier proposition where both teams need to score in each half separately. High risk, high reward – odds often stretch beyond 10/1.
BTTS & Over/Under Goals – Combines both teams scoring with a total goals line. BTTS and Over 2.5 is particularly popular since if both teams score, you’re already at two goals minimum.
First Half BTTS – Both teams must score before the half-time whistle. These carry bigger odds because first halves tend to be lower-scoring.
What to Consider Before Placing a BTTS Bet
Research makes all the difference with BTTS betting. Here’s what to look at:
Recent form – How often have both teams been scoring lately? Check each side’s goals per game over their last five or ten matches. If both are averaging over a goal per game, that’s a decent indicator.
Defensive records – Teams that struggle to keep clean sheets are prime BTTS candidates. Look for sides that concede regularly, regardless of whether they’re winning or losing games.
Head-to-head history – Some fixtures just tend to produce goals. Rivalries and derbies often see more open, attacking football. Check how many of the last few meetings between the teams have seen both sides score.
Home and away splits – A team’s BTTS record can vary massively depending on where they’re playing. Some sides are rock solid at home but leak goals on the road, or vice versa.
League trends – Certain competitions are more suited to BTTS betting than others. The Premier League historically sees BTTS land in around 50-60% of matches, while more defensively-minded leagues might see lower percentages.
When BTTS Betting Works Well
BTTS tends to be a solid option when two evenly-matched sides meet, particularly if both have decent attacking options but questionable defences. Mid-table clashes where neither side has much to play for often turn into open affairs.
It’s also worth considering late in games. If a team is protecting a 1-0 lead and sitting deep, the opposition will be throwing everything forward – creating space for counter-attacks that could see that crucial second goal arrive.
When to Avoid BTTS
Cup finals and high-stakes knockout games can be cagey, with teams prioritising not conceding over attacking freely. Similarly, matches involving newly-promoted sides or teams in relegation scraps can be tight, nervy affairs where goals are at a premium.
Teams with exceptionally strong defences – or facing opponents with blunt attacks – are obvious ones to steer clear of for BTTS Yes bets.
BTTS betting won’t make you rich overnight, but it’s an accessible market that keeps you interested right until the final whistle. Do your homework, pick your spots carefully, and it can be a reliable addition to your betting strategy.
