When it comes to sports betting, it doesn’t get any bigger than betting on football. But if you’re someone who likes the safer options like match winner or BTTS, then look away now… as this is for those who are after the adrenaline rush of high-risk, high-reward bets. These bets give you the chance to enjoy some serious returns—sometimes from even a tiny bet—but they come with a lot less chance of winning, obviously.
So, if you’re someone who likes a bit of a risk, then here are some of the highest risk, highest reward football bets to try out – and how to approach them.
Correct Score Betting
As the name suggests, this involves trying to predict the exact final score of a football match—for example, you could bet on 2-1 or 0-0. While it’s not that uncommon for punters to pick a winner, correctly picking the correct scoreline can be really difficult, which is why the odds are usually pretty nice.
So, for example, a typical 2-1 scoreline could come with odds of 8/1 to 15/1, while a less likely score like 4-3 could get you a payout of 50/1 – or even higher.
It’s a tough one, because there are literally so many variables that can change the outcome—injuries, a missed penalty, red cards, unpredictable goals, VAR decisions – all sorts!
If you are giving it a go, look for patterns in team performances. There are some teams that consistently concede the same number of goals, etc.
First Goalscorer & Last Goalscorer Bets
You could also bet on who you think will score the first or last goal in a match. Obviously, the star strikers like Mo Salah will come with shorter odds, so the real value lies in maybe going for a defender or midfielder who sometimes finds the back of the net.
Even if you go for the most obvious option, it can still be a risky one because even the most prolific scorers have their off days, and even then, the timing of goals can be very unpredictable.
Before you do anything, check the team line-ups and recent form. If a centre-back has been getting into attacking positions from corners lately, he could be worth a punt.
Scorecast and Wincast Bets
A scorecast is a combination of predicting the first goalscorer and the final score of the game—essentially making it a double bet. Then there’s a wincast, which is slightly easier as it involves betting on a player to score and their team to win.
So, for example, betting that Mo Salah will score first and Liverpool will win 3-1 is a scorecast. These bets can come with massive odds because you have to get both parts of the prediction right to win, so you’re combining two already difficult predictions into one.
Accumulator Bets – Accas
Accumulators basically involve combining a number of bets into one – and all of the selections will need to win for your bet to pay out. However, the odds multiply as well – meaning potentially massive returns.
A 10-leg accumulator with mostly short odds pays out massively from only a small stake. However, one loss on any leg ruins the whole bet, and the more games you include, the higher the risk.
As such, it’s probably best to limit the number of legs and do a lot of research on each selection. You might also want to think about mixing markets (e.g., over/under goals, BTTS, or match winner) for a decent balance.
Outright Tournament or League Winner – Long Shots
Betting on an underdog to win a league or tournament can offer absolutely massive payouts. Boylesports Premier League winner odds at the start of the season could pave the way for serious payouts… especially if an underdog wins! Leicester City’s 5000/1 Premier League title win in 2015–16 is definitely the most famous example – and saw some punters enjoy a very nice payday!
These bets can take months to settle and, for it to pay off, an unexpected team needs to do well consistently! So, look for value in teams with good form – and think about using a cash-out option if your long shot is doing well mid-season.
Remember, these bets can pay out big – but there’s definitely a lot of risk attached to them! So, always play responsibly, have fun with it – and be prepared to lose!
