What does Over/Under 2.5 Goals mean is a commonly asked question in football betting. Why does it include half a goal? These are all questions asked by punters new to betting on football.
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The answer really is very simple. The reason why the .5 is included, is simply to make it a two way bet, rather than 3. Bizarrely this is supposed to simplify it.
If the bet was Under 3 goals, or Over 3 goals, the bookmakers would need to add a third option for when 3 goals precisely is scored. Adding the .5 eliminates the need for this.
Under 2.5 Goals Means
For Under 2.5 Goals to win, less than 3 goals have to be scored. This can be 0-0, 1-0, 0-1, 2-0, 0-2 or 1-1.
Over 2.5 Goals Means
In order for Over 2.5 Goals to win, 3 goals or more have to be scored in the match. This can be any number of goals, 2-1, 3-0, 6-0, anything, as long as 3 goals or more are scored. So, for example, 2-1 is Over 2.5 Goals.
The Over/Under 2.5 Goals market is a 90 minutes (plus injury time) only bet. This means extra-time in cup matches, etc, is not included.
Over/Under 2.5 Goals Predictions
As this is such a popular betting market, there is a heavy demand for predictions. Here at Football Gambler we have started offering free football betting tips in a number of different formats.
We have our free Premier League tips, and we also have a dedicated page for our Over/Under 2.5 Goals Predictions.
Our free Premier League tips are currently our main focus, but in time we will be putting more and more resources into our over/under 2.5 goals betting predictions soon. Ultimately we will be looking to make them the best free tips on the net.
Over/Under 2.5 Goals Spread Betting
The main spread betting firm out there for football is Sporting Index. They don’t have a specific Under/Over 2.5 Goals market, but they do have a Total Goals spread betting market that is generally based on the Over/Under 2.5 Goals market.
For example, on the average match you can Sell at 2.85 Goals, or Buy at 3.05 Goals. Selling at 2.85 Goals would be a bet on Under 3 Goals, while Buying at 3.05 would be a bet on 4 goals or more. This is pretty much trading the Over/Under 2.5 market, but with a different bet title.
Over Under 2.5 Goals Explained
Over/Under 2.5 Goals is one of the most popular bets in football outside of match winner bets.
The odds on this market are usually fairly even, making it a 50/50 spread, or very close to it. This is what makes it so popular. A typically priced market with a bookmaker would see the odds like this….
Over 2.5 – 10/11
Under 2.5 – 10/11
Whereas on a betting exchange like Betfair, it is more likely to be…..
Over 2.5 – 2.00
Under 2.5 – 1.99
Over/Under 2.5 Goals Accumulators
Due to the popularity of over and under betting, and the fact that the odds on the 2.5 goals market are fairly similar, this market represents a good opportunity for accumulator bets.
The opportunity to pick out 4 to 5 matches every weekend with odds of roughly 10/11 is very strong, and this sort of 5 match accumulator bet would pay around 22/1. This bet could also be used in a trixie bet, or a yankee bet.
Using 3 matches at even money in a trixie bet would see you only needing 2 matches to come in, for you to at least get your money back. Get all 3 right, and it represents a good profit.
If you like the sound of an accumulator bet using this market, bookmakers like Paddy Power and Betfair have a dedicated over/under 2.5 goals coupons, to make placing your acca bet easier.
Over 2.5 Meaning
Another way of describing over 2.5 goals, at least on google searches, is over 2.5 meaning. If you see the phrase over 2.5 meaning, it is basically someone asking, what is over 2.5 goals.
So it is the same as above, over 2.5 meaning, is a match with 3 goals or more scored in it. It is solely a betting term, you never hear the guys on Match of the Day saying a match that finished 2-1 had more than 2.5 goals in it.
Under 2.5 Meaning
Likewise, with overs (above), if you see the phrase under 2.5 meaning, it is the same thing as Under 2.5 goals. It simply means, a bet on either 0, 1, or 2 goals to be scored in a match.
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Premier League Betting
One of the most popular betting leagues in the World is the Premier League, and betting on overs and unders in this league is massive.
Matches that involve the likes of Manchester City tend to have a lot of goals in them. Odds on Over 2.5 goals would be very short in these fixtures.
It’s when we look at matches involving teams like Burnley, Bournemouth, Leicester, etc, that we start to see more value in this market. I tend to look at matches where overs is around 5/6, which would mean that unders would be a similar price. These are the matches where we can get real good value, and can look at putting together a decent accumulator.