What a both teams to score bet actually is
A both teams to score (BTTS) bet asks one question: will each side score at least one goal? "Yes" wins at 1-1, 2-1 or 3-2. "No" wins at 0-0, 1-0 or 4-0. The final score, the winner and the number of goals beyond one each do not matter.
That simplicity is why BTTS is one of the most popular football markets, and also why it is hard to beat. Bookmakers price it constantly, the outcome depends on only two numbers, and the market moves quickly when team news changes either side's chances of scoring.
The useful starting point is not a tip but a base rate: how often does BTTS land in the league you are betting on?
How often both teams score: real league numbers
Across finished matches in the 12 months to 29 October 2026, FootyPulse's match data gives these BTTS "yes" rates:
- Eredivisie: 65.0% of 266 matches
- Bundesliga: 63.0% of 297 matches
- Superliga (Denmark): 59.3% of 150 matches
- Championship: 57.2% of 472 matches
- Eliteserien: 57.0% of 193 matches
- La Liga: 56.8% of 380 matches
- Premier League: 55.7% of 370 matches
- Allsvenskan: 54.3% of 173 matches
- Ligue 1: 53.0% of 296 matches
- Scottish Premiership: 52.2% of 209 matches
- Liga Portugal: 49.8% of 259 matches
- Serie A: 47.4% of 386 matches
Two things stand out. First, the spread is wide: in the Eredivisie both sides scored in almost two matches out of three, while in Serie A it was under half. A "BTTS yes" bet that looks attractive in Italy may be overpriced in the Netherlands, and the other way round. Second, no league sits far from 50%. That means BTTS prices usually cluster between about 1.60 and 2.20, and small differences in probability decide whether a bet is good or bad.
The team numbers that actually matter
League averages only set the scene. A specific match depends on the two teams, and four numbers do most of the work.
1. How often each side scores
Look at the share of recent matches in which each team scored at least once, not the average goals. A team that averages 1.5 goals but blanks in a third of its games is a worse "yes" candidate than one that averages 1.2 and almost always scores once. Split it home and away: plenty of sides score freely at home and struggle on the road.
2. How often each side keeps a clean sheet
The other half of the bet. A strong defence that keeps clean sheets in 40% of its home matches drags BTTS "yes" down, even against a team that usually scores. Our clean sheet screener shows the model's clean sheet chance for every upcoming match, which is the mirror image of one team failing to score.
3. Expected goals, not just goals
Goals are noisy over a handful of matches. A team that has scored in six straight games off very few chances is due to dry up; one that keeps creating chances but has been unlucky is due to start scoring. Expected goals (xG) is the better guide to which side is genuinely creating and conceding. Our team stats explorer puts these numbers side by side.
4. Game state and motivation
BTTS depends on how a match unfolds. A favourite that goes 2-0 up often sits back, which can open the door for a consolation goal and make "yes" land late. A team that only needs a draw may defend deep for 90 minutes. Cup ties with extra time, dead rubbers at the end of a season and derbies all shift the picture in ways a season average cannot capture.
How to check if a BTTS price is fair
Every price has an implied probability: divide 1 by the decimal odds. BTTS "yes" at 1.80 implies 55.6%; at 2.00 it implies 50%. Because the bookmaker builds a margin into both sides of the market, the two implied chances add up to more than 100%, so take the margin out before you compare:
- Convert both prices: "yes" at 1.80 is 55.6%, "no" at 2.00 is 50.0%. Together they make 105.6%.
- Divide each by the total: 55.6 / 105.6 = 52.6% for "yes" and 47.4% for "no". Those are the bookmaker's fair chances.
- Compare with your own estimate. If the numbers above lead you to think both teams score 58% of the time, "yes" at 1.80 has a small edge. If you think 50%, it does not.
The goals screener does this sum for you: for every upcoming match it shows each team's recent record, the model's probability and the price, so you can see where the model and the market disagree. Our guide to bookmaker margin explains why the margin matters so much on two-way markets.
A worked example
Suppose a Premier League match where the home side has scored in 9 of its last 10 home games and conceded in 7 of them, and the away side has scored in 7 of its last 10 away games. A rough estimate:
- Chance the home side scores: about 85%.
- Chance the away side scores: about 65%.
- If the two were independent, both scoring would be 0.85 × 0.65 = 55%.
That is close to the league average of 55.7%, which is a useful sanity check: this is an ordinary match, not a standout BTTS spot. At a price of 1.70 (an implied 58.8%) the bet is slightly overpriced; at 1.95 (51.3%) it starts to look worth considering.
Goals are not fully independent, since an early goal often opens a match up, but the simple multiplication is a sensible first estimate. A model that uses each side's expected goals, like the one behind our mathematical predictions board, handles this more precisely.
Common BTTS mistakes
- Trusting a short streak. "Both teams have scored in their last five matches" sounds strong but proves little. In a league where BTTS lands 55% of the time, a run of five happens by chance far more often than people expect.
- Ignoring the "no" side. BTTS "no" is often the better bet in low-scoring leagues and in matches with a clear favourite at home. Serie A, at 47.4%, is a league where "no" deserves a look.
- Stacking BTTS in accumulators. Five BTTS legs at 1.80 each look like easy money, but each carries the bookmaker's margin, and the margins multiply. Our guide to accumulator mistakes covers why.
- Forgetting the line-ups. A striker's injury or a rotated attack can move a team's scoring chance by ten points or more. Check team news before kick-off.
BTTS and related markets
BTTS combines naturally with other goal markets. "BTTS and over 2.5 goals" removes the 1-1 result, so it pays more but needs an open game. "BTTS and win" pairs a goal market with a result. These combinations can be useful, but they are priced with a larger margin than single markets, so check the price carefully. For the total-goals side, see our over and under markets on the goals screener.
Responsible gambling
BTTS is a fun market to follow because it stays alive until the last minute, but that also makes it easy to chase. Set a budget before you start, stake consistently and never bet to win back losses. If betting stops being enjoyable, free help is available from BeGambleAware.