How to read BTTS (both teams to score)
PropsyTypera editors · 17 October 2026 · 7 min read
BTTS, or "both teams to score", is one of the most popular markets in football. We show what exactly it means, how to read the statistics in our tables and how to turn them into a sensible estimate of the chance.
What BTTS is
BTTS ("both teams to score") is a bet that both sides will score in the match, whatever the final result. There are two answers: Yes (each team scores at least one goal) and No (at least one team fails to score). The bet is usually settled after 90 minutes plus stoppage time, without extra time. Always check the exact rules with your bookmaker.
| Score | BTTS Yes | Over 2.5 goals |
|---|---|---|
| 0:0 | no | no |
| 1:0 | no | no |
| 1:1 | yes | no |
| 2:0 | no | no |
| 2:1 | yes | yes |
| 3:0 | no | yes |
Note that BTTS and Over 2.5 are not the same. A 1:1 draw gives BTTS without Over 2.5, and a 3:0 result gives Over 2.5 without BTTS. The two markets are related, but each describes something different.
How to read the statistics in a table
In our statistics tables each team shows the number of matches, in how many BTTS happened, and the percentage. A row such as "Team A: M 10, YES 7, 70%" means that in 7 of 10 matches of team A both sides scored. Three things matter:
- Home, away, overall. A team can have 80% BTTS at home and 40% away. For a tip on a match take the column that fits the venue: the home side from the "home" table, the visitor from the "away" table.
- Number of matches (P). 7 out of 10 is different from 70% out of 3 matches. The fewer matches, the less reliable the percentage.
- Two sides of the same thing. BTTS depends on whether a team scores and whether it concedes. That is why it is worth glancing at the "clean sheet" and "failed to score" tables too.
How to turn percentages into a chance
The simplest approximation is the product of the chances that each team scores:
Suppose the home side scored in 9 of its last 10 home matches (90%) and the visitor in 7 of 10 away matches (70%). Then 0.90 × 0.70 = 0.63, about 63%. It is also wise to adjust that down, because values from a few matches are always "sharper" than the truth: with a small sample it is better to pull the result towards the league average than to take 63% as certain.
Now compare it with the odds. At odds of 1.85 on "Yes" the bookmaker sees a chance of 1 / 1.85 ≈ 54%. Your 60% gives 0.60 × 1.85 = 1.11, so it looks like a value bet. Remember, though, that 60% is only an estimate: if the true chance were 54%, the value would drop to 1.00 (0.54 × 1.85 ≈ 1.00) and there would be no edge. That is why a margin for error in your estimate matters. More on this in the guide what is a value bet.
What else affects BTTS
- Absences. Missing a main striker lowers the chance that a team scores, and missing a goalkeeper or defenders raises the chance that it concedes.
- Opponent strength. A 70% BTTS rate built against weaker teams means less than the same against stronger ones.
- What is at stake. At the end of a season, in cup games and in derbies the tempo can differ from an ordinary round.
- A new manager and form. The last 5 matches say more about today's team than the whole season, but that is again a small sample.
- Style of play. Teams that attack on both sides finish with BTTS more often, and sides that park the bus less often.
A checklist before a tip
- Do I have at least a dozen or so matches of both teams, not 3?
- Am I looking at the right venue (home / away)?
- Have I checked "clean sheet" and "failed to score" for both teams?
- Do I know the line-ups and the absences of key players?
- Have I compared my chance with the fair odds (1 / chance), with a margin for error in the estimate?
Tips based on average goals and form are collected in the Daily tips tab, together with how they were settled in the Results tab.