How to read soccer odds: 1X2, handicaps and totals

Soccer odds look different from football or basketball odds: three outcomes instead of two, handicaps in quarter goals, totals like 2.25, and prices often quoted in decimal. This guide reads every number on a soccer board.

The match result: 1, X, 2

The main soccer market has three outcomes: the home team wins (1), the match is drawn (X) or the away team wins (2). It is the three-way moneyline. Because the draw is a real result and happens in roughly a quarter of matches in the big leagues, the two teams’ prices are longer than in a sport with no draws.

Decimal and American prices

Much of the soccer world quotes decimal odds: the total return per $1 staked, stake included. US books show American odds. They carry the same information:

decimal ≥ 2.00: American = (decimal − 1) × 100 · decimal < 2.00: American = −100 / (decimal − 1)

• 2.10 → +110, 3.40 → +240, 3.60 → +260.
• 1.95 → −105 (−105.26 exactly), 1.90 → −111, 1.65 → −154.
• Implied probability is simply 1 / decimal: 2.10 implies 47.62%, 3.40 implies 29.41%.

For the American side of the story see how to read American odds; the odds converter does any conversion for you.

Bets settle after 90 minutes

Match result, handicap and goal totals bets settle on regulation time: 90 minutes plus whatever stoppage time the referee adds. In a cup or Champions League knockout tie that goes to extra time or penalties, a 1–1 after 90 minutes is a draw for these bets, whoever goes through. Markets such as “to qualify” or “to advance” are separate and do include extra time and penalties.

Handicaps: Asian and three-way

An Asian handicap gives one team a head start in goals (or half and quarter goals) so that the draw disappears and there are only two sides. Whole-goal lines can push; half-goal lines cannot; quarter-goal lines split your stake across the two neighboring lines. On vigged the soccer spread column is the Asian handicap. The Asian handicap guide works through every line with exact payouts.

Some books also offer a three-way (European) handicap, where the handicapped draw is a third outcome. It is a different market and is priced differently: do not compare its prices with an Asian line.

Goal totals: 2.5, 2 and 2.25

• Over/under 2.5: three or more goals is over, two or fewer is under. No push.
• Over/under 2: exactly two goals is a push and the stake comes back.
• Over/under 2.25: half the stake goes on 2 and half on 2.5. Exactly two goals: over 2.25 loses half and refunds half; under 2.25 wins half and refunds half.
• Over/under 2.75: half on 2.5 and half on 3. Exactly three goals: over 2.75 wins half and refunds half.

Because a quarter line refunds part of the stake on one score, a 2.25 total is not directly comparable with a 2.5 total at another book. Compare prices on the same number, or compare each against its own no-vig price.

Draw no bet and double chance

Draw no bet removes the draw: your team wins, you win; a draw refunds the stake. It is the same bet as an Asian handicap of 0, and it can be priced from the 1X2 market — see draw no bet explained. Double chance covers two of the three outcomes (1X, X2 or 12) at a shorter price.

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