How to Bet Soccer

This post offers a high-level overview of how to bet soccer.

Understanding the fundamentals is critical when placing MLS, Serie A, EPL, La Liga, and Bundesliga wagers.

Read: How to Use Flat Betting For Wagering Success

Related: How to Use Parlay Cards at the Sportsbook

Here is an example of a soccer wager, let’s break it down.

General Overview and Tips

• Away team is always listed on top. In this example, Sporting KC is the road team.

• Minus (-) next to the number in the money line indicates the favorite; the plus (+) indicates the underdog.

• Bet # is most commonly referred to when verbally placing your wager at the sportsbook.

Wager Types

• Spread – When betting the point spread (aka line), the favorite must win by a stipulated number of goals. This means either laying points on the favorite or getting points on the underdog. In this example, Sporting KC (-1.5 -140) is the favorite and must win the game by more than 1 goal to cover the spread.

• Total – This refers to the total number of combined goals scored (i.e. over/under). If the game lands exactly on the set number, the wager is considered a push and those bets are refunded.

• Money Line – This is a bet on which team will win a game (regardless of score). Unlike most other sports, three-way wagering is offered in soccer to account for three possible game outcomes (win, loss, draw). Chicago is a +170 money line underdog. This means a $100 wager on Chicago money line wins $170 (collect $270 total). Conversely, a $100 wager on Sporting KC money line wins $135 (collect $235 total). Betting $100 on the game ending in a draw pays $200 (collect $300 total).

Additional Soccer Wagers

Screenshot: Soccer Wager Options on a Mobile App

• 1st Half – This is a wager on the outcome of the first half. In this example, the likely first half line is set to Sporting KC -.5 (point spread) and -140 (money line).

• Half Time – A half time line refers to the second half outcome of a game. For instance, if Sporting KC leads 1-0 at halftime, oddsmakers are likely to set a 2nd half line of Sporting KC -.5. This means Sporting KC must outscore Chicago by one or more goals in the 2nd half to cover the half time spread.

• Futures – Futures in soccer are for predicting division winners, conference winners, and league title winners. Total games won (O/U wins) is another popular futures wager offered at the beginning of the season.

• Live – Live wagering is a popular option for making in-game bets using your sportsbook’s mobile application (check availability). Live wagers offer adjusted spreads, over/under, and more based on the live score.

• Parlay – A parlay combines several teams into one bet. In a parlay, all wagers must win, or else the bet is a loser. As many as 10 teams (or more) may be used in a parlay. Totals (O/U goals scored) may be included in parlays. In the event of a rain-out, cancellation, or tie – the parlay is reduced to the next lowest number of games. For example, a four team parlay becomes a three team parlay in such an event.

• Props – A “proposition bet” is like a side-bet. Common prop bets in soccer include goals scored, saves made, and more. Prop bets offered vary greatly from sportsbook to sportsbook.