"Both teams to score" (BTTS) is a market where you predict whether each side will score at least one goal in the match. The final score and the winner do not matter.
It is one of the easiest markets to understand: you do not need to pick a winner or the total number of goals. You only answer the question "will each team break through the opposing defence at least once?". Below is how the market works, how to estimate its probability and which data is worth checking.
How the BTTS market works
The market has two outcomes:
- Yes — both teams scored (1-1, 2-1, 3-2);
- No — at least one team failed to score (0-0, 1-0, 0-2, 3-0).
As a rule, only regular time plus stoppage time counts, not extra time or penalty shoot-outs — but check the rules of your bookmaker. A 4-0 win and a 0-0 draw are both "No" for this market.
Turning odds into probability
Odds of 1.80 on "Yes" imply a probability of roughly 1 / 1.80 ≈ 55.6%. That number includes the bookmaker's margin, so the "Yes" and "No" probabilities add up to more than 100%. With odds of 1.80 and 2.00 the sum is 55.6% + 50% = 105.6%; dividing each figure by that sum gives "clean" probabilities of 52.6% and 47.4%. If your own estimate is clearly higher than the market's, the bet may be worth a look; if it is lower, skip the match.
What data to check
- Home scoring and away conceding. Full-season averages smooth out the picture: a team can score at home in almost every match and rarely score away.
- Chance quality, not just goals. A side that creates plenty of chances but has not converted them tends to score more in the coming matches — see what is xG. Conversely, a run of "both scored" games caused by goalkeeping errors is not necessarily sustainable.
- Head-to-head record. Useful when squads and playing style have not changed much; with a new coach or system, old meetings are a weak argument.
- Absences and line-ups. Without the first-choice goalkeeper or the main striker the probability shifts both ways: weaker defence means more chances to concede, weaker attack means fewer chances to score.
- Motivation and style. Teams that must win play openly; with evenly matched, cautious sides "No" becomes likelier, especially in decisive knockout games.
Common mistakes
- Backing "Yes" just because both teams scored in the last three games — the sample is too small.
- Ignoring the line-up: a single missing goalkeeper or centre-back can change the picture.
- Not comparing your probability with the price: even a frequent event can be poor value.
- Backing "Yes" in games with a clear favourite without checking whether the underdog can score even once.
How this works on xG.Football
The BTTS market appears in the odds block of every match page, next to 1X2 and totals. Dedicated BTTS predictions in Premium are selected by strict high-hit-rate conditions: the away team is the match favourite, both teams scored in head-to-head games at the home side's ground, the home side scores consistently at home and the away side has often conceded in recent matches. How the model works overall and how its accuracy is checked is explained in how the prediction model works, and past results are open on the prediction statistics page.
See today's probabilities and match data on the football predictions page. If a term is unclear, check the football betting glossary.
Quick recap
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What is BTTS | A market on whether each team scores at least one goal |
| Is 0-0 or 3-0 "Yes" or "No" | "No": one team did not score |
| What matters most | Home scoring, away conceding, chance quality and the line-up |
| How to know if a bet is worth it | Compare your probability estimate with the margin-free probability from the odds |