Soccer Betting - Picks & How to Bet

Just like other major sports betting, soccer betting is straightforward. You can bet on which team will win the match, Over/Under, both teams to score, point spreads, and player props, to mention a few. But, there are several things you should consider if you want to bet safely. For starters, first, consider a good sportsbook offering better odds. You can choose one from the list above.

Why should you choose a good sportsbook? Well, it's pretty simple, a good betting site gives you the best experience. They will provide you with a wide range of markets for various bets and bonuses.

Regarding betting picks and bets, it's pretty important to understand what each sportsbook offers and how they work regarding betting picks and bets. This helps you get a hint on the best predictions to choose based on the operator's odds for the match. Below are explanations of each type of bet offered by the top sportsbooks.

Point spread

This exciting bet allows you to predict the range of goals between the matched teams in a soccer game. It simply means the number of points that the favored team has to win for your bet to be successful. If you choose the favorite, then for your bet to win, the favorite has to beat the underdog with a goal difference assigned. And if you choose the underdog, you get a win if it draws, wins, or loses but with the goal difference lower than the assigned.

Moneyline (who will win)

This is the most straightforward bet that requires you to predict a soccer match-winner. The margin of victory doesn't matter as long as your selection wins. So, even if your team wins by a massive nine goals or just a goal at the last minute, your bet is good.

Totals bet

Commonly known as Over/Under bet, totals bet is a prediction of the total points to be scored in a match. The sportsbook declares the number of goals a game will have at the final whistle. Then, the bettors place on whether the total scores will be above or below the set totals.

For example, in a match between Richmond Kickers and Tucson, sportsbooks may give a total bet of Over/Under 2.5. If you choose the 'Under' option, you predict that the match's final scores total will be below 2.5. And if you go for the 'Over' option, you believe that the two teams will score each other 2.5 times.

Futures

Predicting a league champions for the season is such an exciting yet challenging undertaking, especially with the competitive leagues like MLS, EPL, and the Spanish LaLiga. But, with enough team information on signings, the previous season's stats, and team budgeting, among other factors, you can get a perfect title contestant. Interestingly, the above sportsbooks allow you to predict your preferred title contestant for the futures bet. And if your prediction comes true, you have made the right bet.

You can bet when the season starts or as it progresses. But, odds are more generous at the start of the season. Besides, you can also place the futures as the season progresses to give yourself more hedge. For instance, you bet on Chelsea to win the UEFA Champions League Cup in 2022 as a future bet. Then, as the competition reaches the quarter-finals, you find that Manchester City is in good form and has also qualified. Here, you can place a second bet on Manchester City as a future bet to get more chances of securing a win.

Prop bets

Betting on soccer gives you many other options to place on, apart from those depending on the match's final scores. Examples of common prop bets you can find here include:

• The first team to score
• Number of yellow cards in the game
• Number of corners
• Player to score the first goal
• Will player A score a header?
• Half with most goals
• Odd or even goals
• Will players X and Y score the most goals?

In-Play bets (live bets)

Betting on a soccer match as it unfolds will always be an exciting experience. It may be safer to place on a game while watching each team's performance in real-time than betting on a match that has yet to kick off. But only the best sportsbooks offer this amazing betting option.

The betting sites often have the 'Live' game section, where different live sports are available for betting. So, while in the section, you can select a soccer match and open it to see the markets you can place on. The match scores are on the top of its markets in most sportsbooks. Besides, you get to watch the game in the live-stream section if you are lucky to find a sportsbook offering it.

Now that you have the top betting options, you need a few tips to get you started with soccer betting or perhaps a few pieces of advice if you are already betting. Why? Soccer betting may seem easy. But, it's quite a challenging endeavor for anyone. We often believe that your bet is bound to win for no particular reason. This can be deceiving. To place successful bets requires more than that. Here are a few common tips.

Consider small bets

The last thing you should do on soccer betting is to put all your eggs in one basket. Even with a good amount to spend on betting, it is safer to place small bets. So, instead of placing all your money on a single bet, divide the money, find several bets, and place a smaller amount for each.

Know soccer inside out

Before placing on a game, get a comprehensive understanding of the team you want to place on. The details are available in the various sports news outlets and internet sites. But, to be a good soccer bettor, you should watch as many soccer games as possible.

Bet with your brain, not your heart

Accepting that your favorite team is out of form and betting against it is tough. But remember that you are betting with money, and the statistics talk the truth and not your love for the team. So, use statistics while betting and not your inclination to a particular team.

Take the small returns

Many people claim they can make decent returns with soccer betting. But they will not be successful every time. That is the nature of the game. So, think of strategies that have higher chances of working instead.

Because of the many soccer leagues and competitions across the globe, sportsbooks allowing betting on them are very common. In the United States, betting on MLS is most popular. And for the other parts of the globe, placing on European leagues is most common.

So, with the many betting sites and sports to place on, it's hard getting satisfied that you are using the best soccer betting website. For this reason, some bettors resolve to do their research to find the best soccer betting sportsbook. But, this is a tremendous task that will require a lot of time to try every feature of the betting sites. The best soccer betting sites are based on various characteristics like security and licensing, payment options, user interface, mobile app, markets, and customer support quality.