Both teams to score (BTTS) is one of the most popular football betting markets in Ireland. Rather than predicting who wins, you simply predict whether both sides will find the net before the final whistle. It is binary — yes or no — and it settles on the final 90-minute score, not on extra time or penalties.
How BTTS works
A BTTS Yes bet wins if both teams score at least one goal each, regardless of the final scoreline. A 1–1, 2–1, 3–2 or 4–3 all count as BTTS Yes. A 1–0 or 2–0 (clean sheet for one side) counts as BTTS No. The market does not care about the winner — a team can be thrashed 5–1 and the bet still wins if both sides scored. Odds for BTTS Yes in an average Premier League match tend to cluster around 1.7–2.0, reflecting that both teams score in roughly 50–55% of top-flight matches.
BTTS statistics by league
BTTS Yes rates vary significantly by competition. The Premier League and Bundesliga have historically shown BTTS Yes rates above 50%. Serie A and many lower leagues tend to be lower, reflecting more defensive styles. Cup competitions, especially later rounds, tend to show lower BTTS Yes rates as stakes increase and teams become more cautious. Checking current-season BTTS rates for specific teams rather than whole leagues gives more useful data: some teams concede in almost every home match; others have clean sheet streaks that make BTTS No worth considering.
BTTS in accumulators
BTTS accumulators are common on weekend football cards. Five BTTS Yes legs at around 1.75 each produce an accumulator price near 16.0. The appeal is obvious: you do not need any team to win, only both sides to score. The practical concern is that BTTS Yes fails in roughly half of all matches, so hitting all five legs requires the same discipline as any other accumulator. Some punters mix BTTS Yes and No legs to find value where they believe the market overestimates scoring likelihood in a specific fixture.
BTTS and goalscorer markets combined
Some bookmakers offer combined markets such as BTTS & Over 2.5 goals, or BTTS & a specific team to win. These combination markets typically offer better odds than the individual components would suggest when priced separately, because the correlation between the events is not always correctly priced. BTTS & Over 2.5, for example, has a logical overlap: if both teams score, at least two goals exist, and the probability of a third is elevated. Bookmakers are aware of this, but mispricing does occur in less-watched fixtures. 18+ — Gambling Awareness Trust: 1800 753 753.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. BTTS markets settle on the 90-minute result only. Goals scored in extra time or penalty shootouts do not count. A match that is 0-0 after 90 minutes (before extra time) would be BTTS No.
In a typical Premier League or Championship match, BTTS Yes is usually priced between 1.65 and 2.10. The exact price depends on team form, defensive records, and the fixture. Derby matches between high-scoring sides may be priced below 1.65 for BTTS Yes.
Yes. BTTS No wins if either or both teams fail to score. It is typically priced around 1.80-2.10 in an average fixture, reflecting roughly the same probability as BTTS Yes. In matches where a strong defensive team faces a low-scoring side, BTTS No can be priced shorter.
The Premier League and Bundesliga have historically shown BTTS Yes rates above 50%, making them popular choices. However, individual team and fixture research is more reliable than league-wide statistics for identifying value.
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