What Are Football Betting Odds and How Do They Work?
Betting Odds Explained
The betting odds you find on OddsPortal represent the likelihood of a specific event occurring during a match, with those prices provided straight from our trusted betting partners. Those football odds can be presented in three formats:
- Fractional (e.g., 5/1): Common in the UK, these show the ratio of profit relative to the stake.
- Decimal (e.g., 6.00): Popular in Europe, these indicate the total payout, including the stake.
- Moneyline (e.g., +500): Favoured in the US, positive numbers show underdog odds, while negative numbers show favourites.
For example, if Manchester United were odds of 2/1 to win and you placed a single bet of £10, you’d win £20 profit and £30 in total if your prediction is correct at the end of the game.
Factors Influencing Football Odds
Several variables affect football betting odds, including:
- Team Form: A team that has been performing consistently well all season or is on a winning or unbeaten run will likely have their odds shortened over time..
- Player Injuries: The best player on a team being absent can lengthen a team’s odds.
- Historical Data: Head-to-head results can shape odds if one team for example has been unable to beat their opponent over quite a few meetings between the two.
For example, if Real Madrid are up against Barcelona, Real Madrid’s odds could drop significantly if one of their star players is unavailable.
Find the Best Football Odds Today on OddsPortal
OddsPortal compiles prices from multiple online betting sites across our available markets after comparing those football odds, helping you find the best value for every bet. You can find all of today’s football matches on the linked page, with football betting odds for our select markets available when you select your preferred match or matches.
Be sure to also check live odds for upcoming matches, which adjust in real-time based on team news and in-play developments.
If you are new to football betting, you can sign up with any of our recommended sports betting offers and earn bonus funds to use on football odds.
Popular Football Betting Markets
There are several football betting markets available with OddsPortal, and some of the most popular ones available are listed below. Be aware that certain markets may not be offered for all competitions, with outright betting only available for select tournaments.
- 1x2
- Over/Under (Totals)
- Both Teams to Score (BTTS)
- Handicap
- Outrights
Top Football Bookmakers
Looking for reputable betting sites? OddsPortal connects you to a global network of trusted football bookmakers. Check odds, claim exclusive offers, and enjoy seamless account creation directly through our site.
You can head over to them straight from our site when you click on any of our football betting odds, and discover the multitude of markets that they offer. Additionally, if you are signing up as a new player then you might be able to claim an enticing welcome offer to get you started on the football odds they are offering.
Check out our bookmakers page to find the list of football betting sites available to you, showing all of our partners that have betting odds for the sport.
Understanding Live Football Odds for Real-Time Bets
What Are Live Odds?
The live football odds we provide change dynamically as a match unfolds, influenced by on-field events such as goals, red cards, injuries, and even tactical changes. This means you can adjust bets mid-game, or find some value based on the events you are seeing or the scoreline with the best odds clearly highlighted for you.
How to Use Live Football Odds
The same betting markets that you could bet on pre-match, are also available with live odds on OddsPortal, and some of the options suggested below could present the best value in-play.
- 1X2: Bet on the outcome of specific periods in the game if you see one team is particularly dominant coming towards the end of either half.
- Total Goals: Adjust your over/under bets based on the current scoreline.
- Double Chance: You may think that one team that’s behind might score and level the game, but also potentially go on to find a winner. The double chance market covers both possibilities for you.
It can be frustrating to find football games aren’t on TV and you need to find another way to track the scores, which is why OddsPortal has made sure to have live odds and scores available for you that update immediately.
Access Football Fixtures, Results and Standings
Football Fixtures with Betting Odds
Our site presents you with all of the upcoming fixtures on the main page for each league or cup competition, while the betting odds for the 1X2 market are also displayed with the best price.
By selecting individual fixtures on OddsPortal, you can clearly see a breakdown of football betting odds from our recommended online betting sites and the optimal value highlighted for you in yellow for each market.
Moreover, for each individual fixture you choose to look at, you will find head-to-head records between those two teams in that same competition and their recent form.
Football Results & Scores
You can stay up to date with the most recent football scores for your favourite leagues and tournaments with our football results page which directs you straight to the page you are looking for.
Among these results is the scores for completed football games, updated immediately after its conclusion, as well as the closing odds which can be analysed to find value bets.
Football Leagues & Cup Standings
Our football standings page lists all of the competitions that we offer on our platform and a direct link that takes you to their table or bracket.
For knockout competitions like the FA Cup for example, you will find a bracket displayed instead of a standings because the tournament involves no group stage or need for a table.
League standings are incredibly influential in making betting decisions on football odds, with the table demonstrating the most dominant teams of the season, and which teams are motivated by a chase for the league title or qualification for a European place for example.
Moreover, you can filter the standings page available to you on OddsPortal to check for just home and away records, plus a table of form for recent matches.
Coverage of Top Football Leagues and Key Tournaments on OddsPortal
Top Domestic Leagues
This site offers markets and football odds for all of the top leagues around the world, with comparisons available for the same selection of markets on all of them.
You can discover the upcoming games and betting odds for the top five European Leagues, which is the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga, and Ligue 1 on our platform and take in the excitement of the highest level in world football.
The Premier League and Bundesliga are renowned for high-scoring games, meaning the over/under market could be the best play. Meanwhile, La Liga, Serie A, and Ligue 1 has much more unpredictability and tighter affairs, which may see you favour the 1X2 market each matchday.
Major International Tournaments
International football becomes most popular at the time of a major tournament, and can often lead to even those who have never bet before placing some wagers on the football betting odds.
The most popular international tournaments are undoubtedly the World Cup, Euros and Copa America, while there are plenty of others also available on OddsPortal.
Domestic & International Cup Competitions
Cup competitions traditionally bring the most unpredictability, especially the domestic cups like the FA Cup which has seen teams from non-league defeat Premier League teams on occasion.
Additionally, you can also track the progress and discover football betting odds for major cup competitions like the Champions League, Europa League, and many more.
Take Control of Your Football Betting Strategy with OddsPortal
Football betting odds are more than just numbers; they’re your gateway to profit on winning bets, and we want to help you secure that. It doesn’t matter whether you are betting on the English Premier League, FIFA World Cup, or your favourite domestic cup, understanding how football odds work is the first step to success.
Start comparing the best football betting odds today with OddsPortal and bookmark your favourite leagues to track live odds, and make data-driven decisions to enhance your betting experience.
FAQs About Football Betting
Can I Bet on Football Games Live?
It will depend on the league or competition because some online bookmakers may not have live football odds for smaller leagues and competitions. But for the top leagues in Europe, all online betting sites offer live odds that let you adjust your bets during the game or find value based on the proceedings.
What Types of Football Bets Are Most Profitable?
Well-researched bets give you the best chance of being most profitable when betting on football, but there is no guarantee of any bet being more profitable than others. The higher the football betting odds are means the more profit you will make, but it also means the possibility is less likely.
Which Football Leagues Offer the Best Betting Markets?
The English Premier League, La Liga, UEFA Champions League and other similar major competitions have extensive betting options because they are the most popular. On the international stage, the World Cup and Euros will also have an extensive list of football betting markets to choose from.
