Over / Under Goals Variations in Football Explained
Over/Under goals refer to whether the total number
Total goals like Over 3.5 and Under 0.5 are popular betting markets among football fans from countries like South Africa. It is easy to understand how they work and brings the joy of predicting the right result with knowledge and research.
For those new to football betting, it might seem like one is simply expecting a certain number of goals in a full football match, but there are more variations to consider. iGaming experts from BettingGuide have broken down what the betting market is about and the variations of Over and Under goals.
What Are the Over/Under Goals?
Over/Under goals refer to whether the total number of goals in a football match will be over or less than a specific number set by the bookmaker. If you wager on Over 3.5 goals and the total goals scored is 4 or more, you guessed it correctly.
However, whether extra time is included in the bet depends on the bookies. For example, Betfred South Africa states as follows:
All match markets are based on the result at the end of a scheduled 90 minutes play, unless otherwise stated. This includes any added injury or stoppage time but does not include extra-time, time allocated for a penalty shootout or golden goal.
Source: https://betfred.co.za/page/betting-rules/soccer
Over / Under Variations
Here is a list of the most commonly seen Over/Under goals variations on betting sites. They are mostly categorised by home/away teams and by specific periods in a match. You might also find slightly different terms for these variations depending on the bookmakers.
- Total Goals: You're betting on the total combined goals scored by both teams in the entire match.
- Home Total Goals: You're betting on the total goals scored by the home team in the entire match.
- Away Total Goals: You're betting on the total goals scored by the away team in the entire match.
- 1st Half - Total Goals: You're betting on the total combined goals scored by both teams in the first half of the match.
- 1st Half - Home Goals: You're betting on the total goals scored by the home team in the first half of the match.
- 1st Half - Away Goals: You're betting on the total goals scored by the away team in the first half of the match.
- 2nd Half - Total Goals: You're betting on the total combined goals scored by both teams in the second half of the match.
- 2nd Half - Home Goals: You're betting on the total goals scored by the home team in the second half of the match.
- 2nd Half - Away Goals: You're betting on the total goals scored by the away team in the second half of the match.
Why Are They Popular?
Over/Under goals markets are popular for several reasons. Firstly, it’s simple. You only need to guess the total number of goals. It appeals to both novice and experienced betting fans.
Low risk is another advantage of this market. Unlike betting on the outcome of a specific team winning or losing, Over/Under bets are less complicated to predict. For instance, even if your chosen team loses, you can still win your Over/Under bet if the total goals scored meet your prediction.
It’s fun. Many punters enjoy using statistics and trends to inform their decisions. Popular stats include teams' past performances, scoring patterns, and defensive strengths to make informed guesses about expected goals in a match.
The markets are easily accessible. Most bookmakers offer Over/Under betting across various sports, including football. Even if you move between several betting sites, you will most likely find these betting options available.
Betting Tips
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