In many cases, the two teams meeting on a soccer pitch don’t have the same quality level. Several elements are responsible for this disparity in caliber. Some of the more prominent ones include financial backing and historical dominance. Situational factors like player injuries and home-field advantage also wield considerable influence here. A good sports punter should account for these variables accurately. They need to do so, resulting in losing their wager. It is where handicap betting comes in to help.
What Is Handicap Betting In Soccer?
From time to time, two teams with a comprehensive quality gap will meet on the field. In this instance, who’ll take the day here is immediately apparent. Just as you’ve easily identified the winner before the kick, your online sports bookie has also done the same. That’s why the odds they’ll put on the favorite to win will usually be so small that you might as well not bother taking that action. To encourage bettors to still bet on such prominent games, bookies introduced the concept of handicap betting.
Handicap betting is a virtual figure set by a sportsbook to help bridge the skill and performance gap between obvious favorites and underdogs. Taking a handicap bet puts the choices at a disadvantage and gives the underdogs a virtual edge. It creates optimal ground for finding value and helps bettors benefit more from that betting round.
Types Of Soccer Handicap Betting
There are three types of handicaps that bookies offer punters in soccer betting. In no particular order, they are:
#1 – The Level Handicap
It is the type of handicap bet that an online sportsbook offers when the two teams meeting doesn’t show a discernible difference in abilities. Both teams will start the match with 0 goals, as there will be no award for a no-handicap bias. Bettors should find value by predicting which side will score more goals. The main benefit of this handicap type is that it helps punters eliminate the possibility of a draw.
#2 – The Single Handicap
This betting market is employed when there’s a perceptible difference between the two sides facing off. In this instance, the team perceived as superior will be awarded a fitting goal disadvantage by the sportsbook.
#3 – The Split Handicap
It is for a small but detectable difference between the two teams meeting in a football fixture. Because the disparity is almost negligible, punters get to split their wager over two handicaps instead of just one.
Side Spreads – Asian Handicap Table
Betting the Favourite
|
Betting the Underdog |
||||
Handicap |
Your Team’s Result |
Bet Result |
Handicap |
Your Team’s Result |
Bet Result |
0 | win | win | 0 | win | win |
draw | push | draw | push | ||
lose | lose | lose | lose | ||
-0.25 | win by 1 or more | win | +0.25 | win by 1 or more | win |
draw | lose half | draw | win half | ||
lose | lose | lose | lose | ||
-0.5 | win | win | +0.5 | win | win |
draw | lose | draw | win | ||
lose | lose | lose | lose | ||
-0.75 | win by 2 or more | win | +0.75 | win or draw | win |
win by 1 | win half | lose by 1 | lose half | ||
draw or lose | lose | lose by 2 or more | lose | ||
-1 | win by 2 or more | win | +1 | win or draw | win |
win by 1 | push | lose by 1 | push | ||
draw or lose | lose | lose by 2 or more | lose | ||
-1.25 | win by 2 or more | win | +1.25 | win or draw | win |
win by 1 | lose half | lose by 1 | win half | ||
draw or lose | lose | lose by 2 or more | lose | ||
-1.5 | win by 2 or more | win | +1.5 | win or draw | win |
win by 1 | lose | lose by 1 | win | ||
draw or lose | lose | lose by 2 or more | lose | ||
-1.75 | win by 3 or more | win | +1.75 | win, draw or lose by 1 | win |
win by 2 | win half | lose by 2 | lose half | ||
win by 1, draw or lose | lose | lose by 3 or more | lose | ||
-2 | win by 3 or more | win | +2 | win, draw or lose by 1 | win |
win by 2 | push | lose by 2 | push | ||
win by 1, draw or lose | lose | lose by 3 or more | lose | ||
-2.25 | win by 3 or more | win | +2.25 | win, draw or lose by 1 | win |
win by 2 | lose half | lose by 2 | win half | ||
win by 1, draw or lose | lose | lose by 3 or more | lose | ||
-2.5 | win by 3 or more | win | +2.5 | win or draw | win |
win by 1 or 2 | lose | lose by 1 or 2 | win | ||
draw or lose | lose | lose by 3 or more | lose | ||
-2.75 | win by 4 or more | win | +2.75 | win, draw or lose by 1 or 2 |
win |
win by 3 | win half | lose by 3 | lose half | ||
win by 1 or 2, draw or lose |
lose | lose by 4 or more | lose | ||
-3 | win by 4 or more | win | +3 | win, draw or lose by 1 or 2 |
win |
win by 3 | push | lose by 3 | push | ||
win by 1 or 2, draw or lose |
lose | lose by 4 or more | lose | ||
-3.25 | win by 4 or more | win | +3.25 | win, draw or lose by 1 or 2 |
win |
win by 3 | lose half | lose by 3 | win half | ||
win by 1 or 2, draw or lose |
lose | lose by 4 or more | lose | ||
-3.5 | win by 4 or more | win | +3.5 | win or draw | win |
win by 1, 2 or 3 | lose | lose by 1, 2 or 3 | win | ||
draw or lose | lose | lose by 4 or more | lose | ||
-3.75 | win by 5 or more | win | +3.75 | win, draw or lose by 1, 2 or 3 |
win |
win by 4 | win half | lose by 4 | lose half | ||
win by 1, 2 or 3, draw or lose |
lose | lose by 5 or more | lose | ||
-4 | win by 5 or more | win | +4 | win, draw or lose by 1, 2 or 3 |
win |
win by 4 | push | lose by 4 | push | ||
win by 1, 2 or 3, draw or lose |
lose | lose by 5 or more | lose |
3 Best Tips For Soccer Handicap Betting
The best tips for operating in this space are:
- Always analyze the stats carefully before placing a wager.
- Compare the odds offered by multiple bookies first before deciding.
- Know which games to and not to use handicap betting for.
Conclusion
If you’re still using the traditional 1X2 betting market, stepping up to handicap betting can be good for you. It still keeps your wagers safe and offers you more than decent returns.