What is Match Offsides Betting?
This market focuses on the total number of offsides recorded during a match — either by a single team or by both teams combined.
Bookmakers offer various lines like:
- Total Match Offsides (Over/Under)
- Team Offsides (Over/Under)
- First Half Offsides
- Most Offsides (Which team will have more)
How Offsides Are Counted
An offside is awarded when an attacker is in an offside position at the moment the ball is played to them and becomes involved in play. Referees (with VAR help) decide these, and each decision adds to the stats.
If your bet is on “Over 4.5 Match Offsides”, you’re backing the combined offside count of both teams to be 5 or more.
If it’s “Under 4.5”, you’re betting on 4 or fewer.
Example with a Team (Manchester City vs Wolves)
Let’s say the market looks like this for a Premier League game:
- Total Match Offsides Over/Under 4.5
- Over 4.5 = 1.80 odds
- Under 4.5 = 1.90 odds
- Team Offsides (Man City) Over/Under 2.5
- Over 2.5 = 2.00 odds
- Under 2.5 = 1.75 odds
Scenario:
- Man City known for high attacking possession but shorter passes (less likely to be caught offside often).
- Wolves play a deep defensive line, encouraging Man City to play in front of them.
Outcome:
Man City end the game with only 1 offside, Wolves with 3 offsides (on the counterattack).
- Total Match Offsides = 4
- Under 4.5 wins
- Man City Under 2.5 wins
Key Factors That Influence Offside Counts
| Factor | Effect |
|---|---|
| Playing Style | Direct/long-ball teams or teams using fast wingers get caught offside more often. Possession teams with intricate passes tend to have fewer offsides. |
| Defensive Line | High defensive lines (like Liverpool’s) increase offside counts for opponents. Deep blocks decrease them. |
| Match Context | A team chasing a goal late may push more forward runs → more offsides. |
| Refereeing / VAR | Strict VAR checks can lead to more offsides counted than previously. |
Popular Match Offsides Markets
- Total Match Offsides (Over/Under)
- Team Total Offsides
- First/Second Half Offsides
- Which Team Has More Offsides
Example markets:
- “Arsenal Over 2.5 Offsides”
- “Over 5.5 Match Offsides”
- “Liverpool Most Offsides”
Betting Tips
Research Team Styles:
- Teams like Liverpool or Bayern play a high line → opponents more offsides.
- Teams like Man City or Barcelona tend to have fewer offsides due to slower buildup.
Look at Head-to-Head History:
- Some matchups regularly produce high offside counts due to style clashes.
Consider Game State:
- Underdogs playing counter-attack football often rack up offsides.
- Favourites dominating possession may draw offsides from opponents trying to break out.
Check Lineups:
- Speedy forwards (e.g., Mbappé, Rashford, Darwin Núñez) = more offside risk.
First Half vs Second Half:
- In second halves, especially if one team chases goals, offsides can spike.
Quick Examples of Bets
- Match: Liverpool vs Aston Villa
- Bet: Over 5.5 Match Offsides
- Reason: Liverpool’s high line + Villa’s quick forwards → historically 6–9 offsides combined.
- Match: Real Madrid vs Getafe
- Bet: Getafe Over 2.5 Offsides
- Reason: Getafe will counter often against Real’s possession game.
Would you like me to make a visual table of the top teams and their average offsides per game (good for spotting betting value)?