What is BTTS Betting?

BTTS stands for “Both Teams To Score”. It is one of the simplest and most popular football betting markets in Nigeria: you bet on whether BOTH teams will score at least one goal in a match. That is all that matters — the final score, the winner and the number of goals do not. If both teams find the net, your bet wins. If either team fails to score, it loses. This guide explains what is BTTS betting strategy, how to predict it, and how to use it properly with real examples in naira.

BTTS is a two-way market: the only options are BTTS Yes and BTTS No.

How BTTS Betting Works

BTTS Yes means you are betting that both teams will score at least one goal each. A 1–1, 2–1, 3–2 or 4–4 scoreline all win. A 1–0, 0–0 or 3–0 scoreline loses — one team failed to score.

BTTS No means you are betting that at least one team will NOT score. A 0–0, 1–0, 2–0 or 3–0 scoreline wins. A 1–1 or any scoreline where both teams score loses.

Own goals count. A goal is a goal, no matter who scores it — if a defender puts the ball in his own net, it still counts for that team’s tally in the BTTS market.

BTTS Worked Example — With Naira Stakes

Take Arsenal vs Chelsea. Your bookmaker offers BTTS Yes at decimal odds of 1.75 and BTTS No at 2.05.

• You stake ₦5,000 on BTTS Yes at 1.75. The match ends Arsenal 2–1 Chelsea. Both teams scored, so you win: ₦5,000 × 1.75 = ₦8,750 returned (₦3,750 profit).
• If the same match had ended Arsenal 2–0 Chelsea, Chelsea did not score, so your BTTS Yes bet loses the full ₦5,000.
• You stake ₦5,000 on BTTS No at 2.05 instead. The match ends Arsenal 2–0 Chelsea. At least one team failed to score, so you win: ₦5,000 × 2.05 = ₦10,250 returned (₦5,250 profit).

Notice that BTTS No usually pays more than BTTS Yes in a game between two attacking teams, because bookmakers expect goals. The odds tell you what the market thinks is likely.

How to Predict BTTS — A Step-by-Step Strategy

Guessing does not work for long. Follow these steps before you place a BTTS bet.

Step 1: Check Each Team’s Scoring Record

Look at the last 5–10 games for each team. A team that has scored in 8 of its last 10 games is a far better BTTS candidate than one that has blanked three times in a row. Do the same for clean sheets: a team that keeps clean sheets in half its games is a bad BTTS Yes opponent.

Step 2: Look at the Head-to-Head

Some fixtures produce goals almost every time. Check the recent meetings between the two clubs: if 4 of the last 5 meetings ended with both teams scoring, that is a strong signal. Our head-to-head records pages show the last five meetings for the biggest rivalries.

Step 3: Check Team News — Strikers and Defenders

A star striker returning from injury boosts BTTS Yes. A first-choice centre-back missing, or a goalkeeper suspended, does the same. On the other side, if a team’s main striker is injured and they are playing a side that defends deep, BTTS No becomes attractive.

Step 4: Consider the Match Situation

A team chasing a title or fighting relegation must attack, which opens the game up. A dead-rubber match between two mid-table teams with nothing to play for often produces a flat, low-scoring game. Cup games where the underdog sits deep are also poor BTTS Yes bets.

Step 5: Compare the Odds With Your Own Judgement

BTTS Yes at 1.50 means the bookmaker thinks both teams scoring is very likely — you need to be right two times in three just to break even. At 1.90 or above, the same bet only needs to land about half the time. The best BTTS strategy is not picking the most likely outcome; it is picking the outcome where the odds are better than the real chance.

BTTS and Over 2.5 Goals — What Is the Difference?

Beginners often confuse the two markets, but they are different bets:

• BTTS Yes needs both teams to score. A 1–1 draw wins, even though only two goals were scored in total.
• Over 2.5 goals needs three or more goals in total, no matter who scores them. A 3–0 win wins Over 2.5 but loses BTTS Yes.
• A 2–1 scoreline wins both markets. A 1–1 draw wins BTTS Yes but loses Over 2.5.

Combining them — BTTS Yes AND Over 2.5 goals — is a popular higher-odds bet. It needs a 2–1 scoreline or better. Our guide to Over/Under 2.5 goals betting explains the totals market in full.

Common BTTS Mistakes to Avoid

• Betting BTTS Yes on every big game. Manchester City vs Liverpool looks like goals, but the odds are usually so short (1.40–1.50) that one loss wipes out three wins.
• Ignoring defensive teams. A team that has kept 5 clean sheets in 6 games is telling you something — believe it.
• Chasing after an early goal. One team scoring in the 5th minute does not mean the other will score. The second goal often never comes.
• Putting BTTS in every accumulator leg. Each BTTS leg multiplies your risk. A 5-fold accumulator of BTTS Yes bets at 1.70 each needs all five to land — the chance of that is far lower than it feels. See our guide on how to calculate accumulator odds before you build one.
• Betting without checking team news. A rotated side in a cup game can ruin a BTTS bet that looked certain on paper.

When Is BTTS No the Smarter Bet?

BTTS No is underused by Nigerian punters, but it is often the value side. Consider BTTS No when a strong defensive team plays at home against a side that struggles to score away, when a key striker is injured, or when the weather and pitch conditions point to a scrappy low-scoring game. BTTS No odds of 2.00 or higher in those spots can be better value than BTTS Yes at 1.60 in an open game.

Frequently Asked Questions About BTTS

Does BTTS include extra time?

No. Unless your bookmaker states otherwise, BTTS is settled on the result after 90 minutes plus stoppage time. Goals in extra time or penalties do not count.

Do own goals count in BTTS?

Yes. Any goal counts, including own goals. If a defender scores an own goal, that counts as a goal for the opposition in the BTTS market.

What happens if a match is postponed?

Most bookmakers void the bet and refund your stake if the match is postponed and not replayed within the bookmaker’s stated window (usually 24–48 hours). Check your bookmaker’s rules.

Can I combine BTTS with other markets?

Yes. BTTS can be combined with match result (for example, Arsenal win + BTTS Yes), with Over/Under goals, and with other matches in an accumulator. Each combination raises the odds — and the risk.

Is BTTS a good market for beginners?

Yes — it is one of the best beginner markets, because it is simple to understand and you do not need to predict a winner. Just research both teams’ scoring and defensive records before you stake.

Image: Sports betting Kiosk Manager — Jean Marc Tcheuffa Zangue, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.