Both Teams to Score (BTTS): A Guide to the Market
Learn how the BTTS market is settled, what can make both sides score and why a match favourite is not automatically a good BTTS-No choice.
Both teams to score, usually shortened to BTTS, is a football market based on whether each side scores at least once. It focuses on goals at both ends, rather than which team wins.
Understanding the settlement rules is straightforward; judging whether both teams are likely to score takes more context. A strong favourite may still concede, while a match with two attack-minded sides can remain goalless at one end.
What does BTTS mean, and how is it settled?
A BTTS Yes selection is successful if both teams score at least one goal. For example, in a hypothetical 2-1 result, both teams have scored, so BTTS Yes is successful. In a hypothetical 1-0 result, only one team scores, so BTTS No is successful.
The final score determines the outcome, not the number of goals alone. A 3-0 result has several goals but only one scoring team, so it counts as BTTS No; a 1-1 result counts as BTTS Yes. Football BTTS markets are generally settled on the match’s 90 minutes, including stoppage time, with extra time excluded unless the market rules state otherwise.
What can make a match likely to have goals at both ends?
Start by considering both teams’ ability to create chances and their vulnerability when defending. A side that attacks effectively but leaves space behind may create opportunities for its opponent as well as for itself. Defensive errors, difficulty dealing with pressure and weaknesses at set pieces can also contribute to goals at either end.
The likely match pattern matters too. A team that presses high or commits players forward can leave room for counter-attacks, while two sides willing to attack may produce an open contest. However, an attacking approach does not guarantee goals: chances still need to be created and converted, and a well-organised defence can limit them.
Why can a strong favourite be a poor BTTS-No bet?
A favourite can win comfortably and still concede. If the underdog scores once, BTTS No does not succeed, even if the favourite scores several goals and takes all three points. The market asks whether both sides score, not whether the favourite wins or dominates.
Consider a hypothetical 3-1 win for a favourite: the result is clear, but both teams have scored. To assess BTTS No, consider the underdog’s ability to create chances, the favourite’s defensive reliability and how the game might change if the favourite takes the lead. A favourite’s attacking strength on its own does not answer those questions.
How SharpTips helps you assess BTTS
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