The Point Spread or Moneyline in Soccer Betting

Moneyline

Usually the moneyline is how odds for soccer are posted. The moneyline is called 1X2. With the moneyline in soccer you have 3 betting options, which are betting on the home team to win (1), betting on the draw or tie (X) and betting on the away team to win (2). There are other types of moneyline bets, but this is the general one most used often. The odds for a Champions League game would look like this:

Barcelona – 1.8
Chelsea 4.1
Draw 3.4

Barcelona is posted first so they are the home team in this example. To win this bet you have to pick the team that wins the game or you have to pick the draw if that is the outcome. If you bet on Barcelona and the game ends 2-2 you will lose the bet. This can be hard to deal with for a lot of soccer bettors, as around 1/3rd of soccer matches ends in a draw. You must remember that the game at the end of regulation time is the final wagering outcome. Therefore, if the score at the end of the game is 1-1 it is the final score. If there is extra time needed, for a Cup game or the teams are tied in aggregate for example, it does not matter. If these two teams in the example have to play extra time and Barcelona scores and ends up winning 2-1, and you bet on them, you still lose the bet, as the final score at the end of regulation was 1-1.

Asian Handicap

Many soccer bettors, especially in North America, do not like losing wagers on a draw. This is because there are virtually no ties in football and none in hoops. Soccer betting is huge in Asia and the bookies in the continent created a type of wagering, which is referred to as the Asian handicap. The Asian handicap is not as easy to understand, but it is really just a point spread. An example of an Asian handicap bet would look like this:

Barcelona +0 1.909
Chelsea +0 2.100

This is just like the moneyline bet, but the draw is taken out of the equation. If you make an Asian handicap bet and the game ends in a draw the bet will be a push and you will get your original bet back. You have to remember that since the draw is taken out of this bet type you have a better chance to win, but the odds you get because of this will not be as good. The propositions are listed with the spread along with the money line, even when there is none, as is the case in this example (+0'). There are other propositions, such as .5, and .25, but that is much like other bets in the moneyline such as the 1x or 2x. That is getting into more advanced soccer betting.

If you want to win more money or bet on a draw then use the money line, but if you want to be safe with a lower chance of losing but with a lower payout then use the Asian handicap.

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