The sports betting market has evolved over the years, having transformed from offering only a few bet types to the availability of a wide variety of options. One of the latest markets that has become quite popular amongst football bettors recently is clean sheet betting, which involves wagering on whether a team will concede a goal. Due to its simplicity and potential for significant payouts, clean sheet betting has become a go-to option for many bettors today.
In this article, we will delve into the clean sheet betting market, exploring everything beginners need to know about it.
What is a Clean Sheet in Sports Betting?
A clean sheet is a term in sports that refers to a team making it through a game without conceding any goals. For example, if a sports match ends with a final score of 2-0, the home team has not only won the game but also kept a clean sheet (i.e., conceded no goals). Similarly, if a game ends in 0-0, both teams have managed to keep a clean sheet. However, if a game ends with 1-1 final scores, none of the two teams has kept a clean sheet as they both conceded a goal to the other team.
Clean sheet betting is a lucrative market that revolves around this concept. It involves predicting whether a team will manage to achieve this feat or not during a sports game. This betting market is particularly popular in football, as many games tend to end with clean sheets. However, you can find it offered in many other sports in other forms. For instance, you can find the option offered on online cricket betting websites as a bowler achieving a “maiden over,” which parallels the concept of not letting the opponent score.
A major upside of clean sheet betting is that it can be lucrative with bigger odds, especially when you bet on the no clean sheet option. After all, the aim of any competitive sports team is to beat the opponent by scoring as many goals as possible. So, keeping a clean sheet is typically hard to achieve, hence the bigger reward.
How Does Clean Sheet Betting Work?
Generally, most clean sheet betting markets will come with two options on each team in a matchup: a “yes” and a “no.” Betting on the “yes” option means that you believe the selected team will manage to end the game without conceding any goals. The best part is that the selected team doesn’t even have to win the game for you to win the bet. As long as the game ends with a 0-0 tie or the team wins with a final score of 1-0, 2-0, 3-0, or similar, you will win the bet and get a payout.
On the other hand, the “no” option means that you believe the selected team will not finish the game with a clean sheet and will concede one or more goals. With this option, it doesn’t matter who wins the match – your bet will win if the game ends with the selected team conceding one or more goals.
Factors to Consider in the Clean Sheet Bet Market
Research is key to any successful sports betting, and the clean sheet market is no exception. You can’t just decide to place a bet on a match ending with a team scoring no goals based on your gut instincts. Instead, you need to assess the teams and players involved in any matchup based on the following factors:
- Goalkeeper’s form: The goalkeeper is the ultimate last line of defense in football games and can influence the chances of clean sheets. As such, before deciding on a clean sheet bet, you must assess the team’s goalkeeper’s form, stats, and history. Elite goalkeepers have better chances of keeping clean sheets than subpar ones.
- Defensive strength: You will agree that there’s very little a keeper can do to prevent conceding a goal if his team’s defense is weak. So, you must assess the teams’ form before making a betting decision. A team with solid defense, strong players, and great tactics will often finish with clean sheets. Conversely, teams with poor defensive form often concede one or more goals.
- Opposing team’s attacking strength: You also need to assess the opposing team’s attacking strength and goal-scoring potential. An opposing team with strong form and a reputation for scoring high goals can influence the chances of even the strongest teams to keep a clean sheet.
- Suspension and injury news: The absence of one or more key players can influence the chances of a clean sheet in games. So, make sure to stay updated on suspensions or injuries of players, especially defenders or goalkeepers.
Pros and Cons of Clean Sheet Betting
Like most betting markets, clean sheet betting comes with several benefits that punters can look forward to. Conversely, it also comes with quite a few drawbacks. Let’s check out these pros and cons.
Pros
- The bet market is fairly simple
- Odds can be favorable, especially for underdogs
- Provides in-play betting opportunity
- Offers a unique betting experience that’s unlike traditional wager
Cons
- It’s a high-risk market as more games end without a clean sheet than with
- The odds available for favourites can be very low
- Not all sportsbooks offer this market
Closing Thoughts
Clean sheet betting is a uniquely fascinating bet type that goes beyond the conventional sports market we are used to. It’s a straightforward option that involves predicting whether or not a team can end a game without conceding a single goal. Whether you are a seasoned bettor or a newbie, the market is worth exploring.
