It is no news that football or soccer, as some people would call it, is the most watched sport in the world. With over 4 billion fans, the sport is played by more than 270 million people globally (especially in Europe, South and Central America, and Africa).
But while the players are making their money on the field in an attempt to score into their opponent’s goal, people have devised means to make money watching the sport as well. It turns out that having a good knowledge of soccer can bring in some returns if you know how to.
Here, you will learn ways to make your soccer knowledge pay by improving your sports prediction strike rate. Even if you have been struggling to make accurate predictions for your stakes, this article will help you fine-tune your sports knowledge to your advantage.
These points will apply to any other sports aside from soccer, including American football, and basketball.
5 Ways to Convert Your Sports Knowledge to Profit
1. Check the head-to-head stats
Head-to-head stats (H2H) is a historic record showing you past encounters between two particular teams. How often have the teams met in the last five years, and is there a pattern in the results? The more you study this data, the more information you will have for your next prediction.
Check if the home team always wins, or if there is a noticeable trend of a player scoring against the opponent team. These findings can provide helpful information that can lead you to better choices. Also, look out for changes in players or formations and the resulting outcome.
2. Look at the teams’ recent form
Suppose we are looking to predict the result of a Manchester Derby to be played at Old Trafford, you want to check the recent forms of both teams. Is Man City on a winning run? Are they scoring goals for fun, blowing their opponents away, and bagging points? These make them invincible and worth staking for.
A lot of factors contribute to a team’s form; the coach, the formation or tactics, as well as players’ rating. If for example, Man City has struggled to finish off in their last six games, that could help you predict the next outcome, their winning margin, handicap, or final score.
3. Look at injury news
The trends, head-to-head scores, and recent form don’t count if you aren’t up to speed on the latest injury news. Does the home team have an entire squad to choose from when selecting a starting eleven? How about their away team, do they still need several vital names? If so, you can tell that a home win is more likely.
The best way to get the latest and most reliable injury news is by checking the official club website and social media fields. You will find the latest team news and players missing through injury or suspension, and this can help you pick sides.
4. What are the odds
When you’ve decided on the team you expect to win and the market that appeals most, it’s time to get the best odds. The leading online sportsbooks offer odds on several markets, but each firm has a different price. You want the most generous offer each time you gamble.
Check any betting odds comparison app for a list of quotes from leading bookies. The biggest offer is in bold, making it easier to find. The bookie with the largest price is the one you should bet with, and that’s true each time you gamble. Accepting anything less than the best is simply handing yet another advantage to the traders, who already hold the aces.
5. Look out for promotions
The last but not least way to improve your sports prediction is to check for available promotions. If one sportsbook offers a bonus that enhances your chances of landing a winner and profit, you want to act swiftly to secure your share.
The leading football betting sites and soccer gambling apps offer generous odds, eye-catching promotions, and memorable specials.
The most popular promo offered by bookies is the welcome bonus when you join the betting app, deposit funds, or place a bet. This is to encourage you to place your first bet, but as usual, you should be cautious about betting if you are not ready for it.
The most popular leagues to place bets on
The English Premier League is the highest level of professional soccer in the United Kingdom and has been confirmed as the most-watched and best-loved soccer league worldwide. It attracts hundreds of thousands of supporters each week and millions annually, contributing billions to the UK economy.
The EPL has become integral to British culture but it obviously not only for fans living in Great Britain. Soccer fans worldwide celebrate the return of the league each year.
There’s a gulf in class compared to the Scottish Premiership or Major League Soccer. The Premier League is where the top players ply their trade, putting on a show for fans at packed arenas like Old Trafford in Manchester, Liverpool’s Anfield, or Stamford Bridge in the capital.
The EPL is definitely the most bet-on soccer league worldwide, with followers wagering on the winner, both teams to score, first scorer, handicap, totals, and more, but other similar but less popular leagues across Europe include the Spanish La Liga, German Bundesliga, French Ligue 1, and Italian Serie A.
Conclusion
Making your soccer knowledge pay via sports prediction requires you to be up-to-date and careful in your analysis based on what you know already. If you are not keen on the trends, you will miss out on important cues that can improve your predictions.
This article showed you five major ways to make money from accurate sports predictions. In addition, prediction also makes the game more enjoyable, anticipatory, and suspenseful. But it can be very frustrating if you lose your bet.
My personal advice for gamblers is to only use the money they can afford to lose when gambling. Free bonuses by some betting apps can help up your money for your next bet. Calling the outcome is no mean feat, but it is achievable.
Bet responsibly!