What does BTTS mean? Both teams to score explained

BTTS means "both teams to score". You are betting on whether each team scores at least once, not on who wins.

• BTTS yes wins if both teams score at least one goal. 1-1, 2-1 and 3-2 all win.
• BTTS no wins if at least one team fails to score. 0-0, 1-0 and 3-0 all win.

The final result does not matter. A 1-1 draw and a 4-1 win are the same to a BTTS yes bet.

What counts and what doesn't

• Normal time only: most bookmakers settle BTTS on 90 minutes plus stoppage time. Extra time and penalties usually don't count.
• Own goals count for the team they are credited to.
• Abandoned matches are usually void unless the result was already settled. Rules vary, so check your bookmaker.

How we work out the chance

We estimate expected goals for both teams, then work out how likely each side is to score at least once. Multiply the two (with a small adjustment, because goals at one end affect the game at the other) and you have the chance that both teams score.

For example, for Crystal Palace v Newcastle on 25 October our model had expected goals of 2.2 and 1.8, which gave both teams to score a 69% chance.

Is the price worth it?

Turn the price into a chance by dividing 1 by the odds. A price of 1.50 implies 67%. If our chance is higher than that, the price is value; if it is lower, the bookmaker has the better of it.

On every match page we show our BTTS chance next to the best price, so you can see this at a glance.

Common mistakes

• Backing BTTS on favourites at home: a strong side at home often wins 2-0 or 3-0, which loses a BTTS yes bet.
• Long BTTS accumulators: five legs at 65% each have only about an 11% chance of all landing.
• Ignoring team news: a missing striker can change a side's chance of scoring a lot.

Please bet responsibly, and only with money you can afford to lose.