Odd or Even Goals betting is a football market where you predict whether the total number of goals scored by both teams will be an odd or an even number.
For example:
- A 2-1 result contains 3 total goals, so Odd wins.
- A 1-1 result contains 2 total goals, so Even wins.
- A 0-0 result contains zero goals. Zero is an even number, so Even wins under standard Odd/Even rules.
The final winner of the match does not matter. Only the total number of goals used to settle the selected market matters.
What Does Even Mean in Sport Betting?
In Sport Betting, Even means that the relevant total finishes on an even number: 0, 2, 4, 6, 8 and so on.
For a standard football Odd/Even market, you are predicting whether the combined number of goals scored in the match will be odd or even.
Here are some simple examples:
| Final score | Total goals | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 0-0 | 0 | Even |
| 1-0 | 1 | Odd |
| 1-1 | 2 | Even |
| 2-1 | 3 | Odd |
| 2-2 | 4 | Even |
| 3-2 | 5 | Odd |
No goal usually counts as Even. This means that a 0-0 score is treated as an even outcome for the standard market.
Always check the exact market description shown on your betslip, because SportsBook also offers Odd/Even markets for individual teams, halves and other match periods.
What Does Odd Mean?
Odd means that the relevant total finishes on 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 or another odd number.
If you select Odd for the total goals market:
- 1-0 = Odd
- 2-1 = Odd
- 3-0 = Odd
- 3-2 = Odd
A score such as 2-0 would instead be Even because the match contains two total goals.
Is 0-0 Odd or Even in Betting?
0-0 is Even.
Zero is mathematically an even number because it can be divided by two without a remainder.
This is also important in practical betting because some new bettors assume that no goals means that neither Odd nor Even can win. For standard football Odd/Even markets, that is normally not the case.
How Odd or Even Goals Betting Works
The market normally gives you two selections:
Odd — the final total is 1, 3, 5, 7, etc.
Even — the final total is 0, 2, 4, 6, etc.
Suppose Arsenal plays Chelsea.
If the match finishes:
Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea
the total is:
2 + 1 = 3
Three is odd, so an Odd selection wins.
If the match finishes:
Arsenal 2-2 Chelsea
the total is:
2 + 2 = 4
Four is even, so an Even selection wins.
Does Extra Time Count?
For football, settlement rules depend on the exact market and bookmaker.
Many standard football markets are settled using regular time, including stoppage time, unless the market specifically states that extra time is included.
This is why you should check the rules attached to the market before placing a bet, particularly for knockout competitions.
Penalty shootouts are normally separate markets rather than part of the standard match Odd/Even total.
Home Team and Away Team Odd/Even
Some sportsbooks also offer Odd/Even markets for an individual team’s goals.
For example, if the home team finishes with:
- 0 goals → Even
- 1 goal → Odd
- 2 goals → Even
- 3 goals → Odd
The away team’s goals do not affect a Home Team Odd/Even selection.
Sportsbook lists separate Home Team Odd/Even and Away Team Odd/Even football markets.
First-Half Odd or Even Goals
Odd/Even betting can also apply to only one half of a match.
For a first-half market:
0-0 at half time → Even
1-0 at half time → Odd
1-1 at half time → Even
Only goals scored during the specified period count toward that particular market.
Odd/Even vs Over/Under Betting
Odd/Even and Over/Under may appear similar because both use the total number of goals, but they answer different questions.
In an Odd/Even bet, you predict whether the final total is mathematically odd or even.
In an Over/Under bet, you predict whether the final total will finish above or below a line such as 2.5 goals.
For example, a 2-1 result contains three goals.
That means:
- Odd = winner
- Over 2.5 = winner
But a 3-1 result contains four goals:
- Even = winner
- Over 2.5 = winner
One market does not automatically predict the other.
Are Odd and Even Bets 50/50?
There are only two possible classifications for a completed total — odd or even — but that does not mean a bettor receives a risk-free 50/50 proposition.
Bookmaker odds include a margin, and football scores are not produced by a simple coin toss.
Past results may describe what has already happened, but a run of Odd or Even results does not guarantee that the same pattern will continue.
For that reason, statements such as “a team is due an Odd result” should not be treated as reliable predictions.
Can You Use Statistics for Odd/Even Betting?
Statistics can provide context, particularly data such as:
- expected total goals;
- team scoring rates;
- defensive performance;
- home and away results;
- player availability;
- recent tactical changes.
However, historical Odd/Even sequences alone have limited predictive meaning.
For example, a team producing five Even totals in a row does not mean the following match must also be Even — or that Odd is now “due”.
Past results should therefore be treated as information, not as a guarantee of the next outcome.
Common Odd/Even Betting Mistakes
One common mistake is forgetting that zero is even.
Another is confusing Odd/Even with the match winner. A team can win 3-0 and the correct Odd/Even result is still Odd because there were three goals.
It is also important not to confuse Odd with odds. “Odd” in this market describes a number such as 1, 3 or 5; “odds” describe the price offered by the bookmaker.
Finally, increasing your stake after a loss does not change the probability of the following result and can quickly increase the amount of money at risk.
Final Takeaway
Odd or Even Goals is one of the simplest football markets to understand: add the goals scored by both teams and determine whether the result is an odd or even number.
The most important details to remember are:
0 is Even, 1 is Odd, 2 is Even, 3 is Odd, and so on.
Betting involves financial risk. No strategy or historical pattern can guarantee a winning result, so only stake money you can afford to lose.
