Champions League Odds, Lines and Spreads

Champions League odds move regularly due to betting action, key injuries and more factors, but monitoring the Champions League odds board is key to finding the best bets available. Here are several Champions League betting terms to know:

Alternate lines

Every Champions League match has alternate lines, which are spreads and totals adjusted from the standard lines available at sportsbooks. For example, if the total of a match is set at 3.5 goals, sportsbooks may offer that match at 2.5 or 4.5 goals, and the juice for those alternate lines are adjusted as well. For spreads, an underdog of 1.5 goals on the standard line may even as a 1.5-goal favorite with a much higher potential payout, or as a bigger favorite for less potential profit.

American odds

American odds, which are the most common odds used in American Champions League betting, have money lines that show the amount of money needed to win $100 (favorite) or the amount that a $100 wager would pay (underdog). This is one of the three main types of betting odds.

Closing line

The closing line refers to the final odds available when a match begins. After a match begins, live odds will be available that reflect the flow of the match and will generally continue until the match is over.

Consensus

The consensus line is created by comparing match odds from the top sportsbooks. If a game has a consensus total of 1.5, it means that a majority of oddsmakers have the over/under for the match set at 1.5 goals.

Decimal odds

Decimal odds, which are also called European odds, represent another betting odds format more popular outside the United States. They represent the amount of money someone would win for every $1 wagered.

Favorite

The favorite, which is the team with the higher probability to win the match outright, either have a negative sign in front of their spread and money line odds, or have the lower positive money line among the two opponents.

Fractional odds

British (fractional) odds are another odds format used in sports betting. They are the ratio of the profit won to the stake, as a 4-1 underdog would pay $4 for every $1 wagered.

Futures

Futures markets offer a more long-term look at Champions League odds, as they consist of markets not settled by a single match, such as Champions League winner or teams to reach the knockout phase. Most sportsbooks update futures odds regularly, offering a way to take long-term positions and see how teams stack up in the eyes of oddsmakers and the market.

Home-field advantage

Home-field advantage refers to the edge a team has by playing at home in an environment largely consisting of its own supporters. This typically does not exist in the Champions League final, which is held at a predetermined location.

Hook

The hook refers to the half-goal attached to spreads and totals, which makes it impossible for Champions League betting results to end in ties.

Juice

Also known as vigorish or vig, the juice refers to the additional investment needed in order to win a bet on top of an even-odds payout of $1 won for every $1 bet. Using American odds, a line of -110 contains $10 of juice for every $100 wagered.

Line movement

Champions League odds can shift for various reasons, including injuries or wagers made by professional bettors. This is referred to as the line movement for a match.

Money line

The money line refers to the odds involving the winner of a match with no spread involved. Favorites have negative odds, while underdogs have positive odds in an American odds format, with a draw also possible in three-way betting (explained below).

Oddsmaker

Someone who sets betting odds and lines is an oddsmaker. Some oddsmakers create their own betting odds (originators), while other oddsmakers copy odds that are already in the market.

Over/Under

Also known as the total, the over/under is one of the primary sets of odds used for Champions League betting. Bets on the over/under will be settled based on how many total goals are scored in a match.

Pick ‘em

Matches are referred to as a “pick ‘em” if neither team is favored, which is represented by both teams having the same money line. These are projected to be the tightest of matchups and can be the most entertaining to watch.

Props

Champions League prop betting refers to wagers on a Champions League match that don’t involve the traditional spread, money line and total markets. Player props are one Champions League prop betting market available, which allows bettors to take positions on statistical categories like which players will score goals. Team props can involve the number of corners, shots on goal or other stats associated with a match.

Spread

The spread levels the playing field between two betting sides, as it is the number of goals the favorite is expected to win by. The favorite is designated by a negative spread (-1.5), while the underdog has a positive spread (+1.5), and each spread will also be listed with a price that represents how much potential profit is tied to each bet (similar to money line betting).

Three-way betting

Champions League matches are like any other and can end in a draw after 90 minutes, so bettors have the ability to bet the draw among money line options. In the knockout stage, three-way betting applies the money line to the 90-minute regulation part of the match, while “To Advance” markets are otherwise available for picking the winner of the match that will advance to the next round.

Tie no bet

“Tie No Bet” is a market that removes the potential of a draw deciding the outcome of a bet, with the stake of each bet returned to the bettor in the event of a draw after 90 minutes. With the draw option removed, potential payouts will typically be lower in “Tie No Bet” markets

Underdog

The underdog in a Champions League match is the team with the lowest projected probability to win. Underdogs are denoted by a positive number in the betting odds, or if both teams are positive, the largest positive number.

What are the types of Champions League betting odds?

The three primary types of betting odds are American (money line), fractional (British) and decimal (European). While the formats differ, they all present the same odds and offer the same payouts in each scenario. The probability of any outcome in a match can be converted to any of these odds formats. `Z¸XSA

How do I know which team is favored?

Favorites are typically priced with a negative sign in front of their spread or money line, while underdogs have a positive sign in front of theirs. If both teams have positive money lines, the team with the smaller positive number is favored, something that happens in close matchups when accounting for the potential of a draw. If a team is -1.5 on the spread, they are the favorite and would need to win by at least two goals to cover the spread. Their opponent would be +1.5, needing to lose by one goal (or win outright) to cover as an underdog.

Who sets Champions League odds?

Odds are originally set by oddsmakers, who are also called sports traders or bookmakers. Once positions are taken by bettors, these odds can shift to reflect the perception of the market. The odds can also be moved due to other factors such as injuries.

Why can I not find soccer odds for a game?

Sportsbooks can take matches off the board when developments occur that fundamentally change projections for the match, such as a star player suffering an injury. Oddsmakers usually re-post the updated line within a few hours, depending on the severity of the news. The odds are frozen so the sportsbook avoids taking large wagers on odds that do not reflect the adjusted outlook for the match.

What is the total?

This is another way to reference the over/under, which is the number of goals projected to be scored in a match. If a match has an over/under of 2.5 goals, bets on the Over will be successful if three or more goals are scored, while bets on the Under will win if two or fewer goals are scored. Over/under odds are also used for prop odds, such as total corners in the match.