Soccer Picks & Predictions

All you need to know for your soccer picks

Our soccer betting experts are hard at work to provide you with the most reliable match picks and free soccer betting tips.

Looking to increase your winning ratio and increase your bankroll? Want to know how to make more accurate match picks? Keep reading for our top tips on how to do all of these. 

How to tell if a soccer pick is reliable?

Before exploring our top tips for crafting a successful soccer wager, it's important to be able to determine your pick’s reliability. This process involves comparing odds from multiple sportsbooks against the actual probability of the predicted result. 

For example, let’s say you’re looking to make MLS predictions and place a bet on a match between the LA Galaxy and the Seattle Sounders, where the Galaxy are the favorites. Given their superior squad and strong recent form (in this example), the most reliable pick would be an LA victory. If you see that the sportsbooks offer odds at +150 for a Seattle (implying a loss for the Galaxy) then betting on Seattle would not be a reliable bet. It’s important to carefully analyze the probabilities before placing a soccer bet! Continue reading for our top tips on how to make informed soccer bets.

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Our top 5 tips for making successful soccer picks

Here are the top 5 tips to consider when making a soccer pick according to our soccer betting experts. Our specialists apply these tactics to all of their picks on matches across multiple leagues.

Tip #1: Take full advantage of sportsbook bonuses

Before we jump into analyzing an actual soccer pick, you should already be registered with the top online sportsbooks. Using sportsbook bonuses such as the FanDuel welcome bonus, the DraftKings welcome bonus, the BetMGM bonus, the Caesars Sportsbook bonus, or the BetRivers welcome bonus, will enable you to maximize your winnings from the get go. The main goal of a match pick is to place your bet with a sportsbook, using a welcome bonus will score you some extra cash to add to your bankroll. 

Tip #2: Take note of team motivation

Let’s take a look at how instrumental a team’s motivation can be in determining their performance on the pitch. Factors such as competing for the playoffs, qualifying for the Champions League, or avoiding relegation are potent motivators. 

On the other hand, there are several factors that may negatively affect a team’s dynamics. Common issues such as contract disputes, new signings, and disputes between teammates or coaching staff can all influence motivation levels and therefore, overall performance. The motivational dichotomy between two teams on the pitch can be a deciding factor in a match’s outcome. 

In soccer, a combination of high motivation and positive team dynamics is often a winning formula. In the case of domestic cup competitions, underdogs with high spirits and determination can surprise larger clubs who may be focusing on their marquee weekend matchup. Similar upsets can be seen in international tournaments like the FIFA World Cup where less favored nations deliver stunning performances and upset tournament favorites. 

Important changes in personnel such as a club appointing a new coach can also sway a team’s performance in the short term, referred to as the “new manager bounce”. Conversely, a team may struggle if it’s evident the players have lost faith in the coach. Keeping these factors in mind will help you make reliable soccer betting picks. 

Tip #3:  Stay up to date with soccer news 

Staying up to date with the latest team news can make the difference in placing a successful bet. Ideally, bets should be placed as close to kickoff as possible, or at least after the lineups are announced (typically one hour before kickoff). Important factors like injuries, suspensions, and coaching decisions can significantly impact the match’s outcome. This impact is multiplied for the teams who have smaller rosters and may have to rely on inexperienced players to fill the gaps. Analyzing a team’s performance with and without key players can provide valuable insights into the match result. 

Likewise, evaluating a team’s form is equally important. Bettors should always consider the home and away form as well as recent performances to gauge momentum. However, stay vigilant in determining what constitutes as good form.

For example, if a team like LAFC secures a massive win against a team at the bottom of the table but has struggled against similarly matched opponents in recent matches, their form might still be considered unstable. These nuances are key in making informed sports betting picks and a more accurate assessment of a team’s current standing.

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Tip #4: Analyze the teams’ strengths 

Our fourth expert tip for soccer bets is to consider the unique attributes of the teams playing in the match you’re looking to place a wager. Certain teams are known for their strong home-field advantage, while others excel on the road. Those teams with smaller rosters almost always run into issues beginning at the mid-season level. Especially if these teams are competing in multiple competitions during the same season, i.e. CONCACAF or Champion’s League. 

You should also always consider the history of matchups between teams as this can shed light on potential outcomes. Patterns tend to emerge over time, with some teams consistently performing well against certain opponents, and poorly against others. This dynamic remains true even as teams swap rosters. On a similar note, always take note of derby matchups as these matches always bring a special energy (e.g., NYCFC vs NY Red Bulls, Man Utd vs Liverpool). These matchups can either inspire teams to elevate their level of play or lead to a collapse. Keeping the historical performances and psychological factors in mind is key for making an accurate soccer bet.

Tip #5: Check if the odds are attractive

Our final tip is to always evaluate the odds provided by the sportsbooks on a particular bet to make sure you’re getting the most value from your bet. This involves cross-checking the odds with the probabilities you’ve set for a potential outcome on a match. You can calculate the implied probability using this formula: for positive odds use 100/(odds+100) x 100 or for negative odds, use odds/(odds-100) x 100. 

For example, if Sporting KC and Houston Dynamo are playing tonight and FanDuel is offering odds at +120 for an SKC victory and Houston at +160, here are the probabilities:

• For a Sporting KC victory at +120: 100/(120+100) x 100 = 45.455%
• For a Houston Dynamo victory at +180: 100/(160+100) x 100 = 38.462%

So in this hypothetical matchup, FanDuel is telling bettors that SKC has a 45.45% chance of winning with Houston sitting at a 38.46% chance. If after your analysis of the matchup, using the previous tips we provided here, you decide that Houston has a better chance of winning than this, you’ve found your value bet in the Houston Dynamo.

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Why should you use our free soccer expert match picks?

Using these 5 tips to your advantage will give you an increased chance of boosting your profitability on soccer picks. Add to that the expert soccer picks available for free on our site and you have a huge leg up on the competition! Keep in mind that all of the top leagues have their own idiosyncrasies and what works in the MLS might not work in the Premier League or La Liga bets. 

Our team of experts at SportyTrader conduct thorough analyses of numerous soccer matches every day, using a combination of stats, algorithms, and extensive experience to make their top picks. On our platform you’ll find picks for both today’s soccer matches and tomorrow’s soccer matches. Hundreds of thousands of users rely on SportyTrader for their moneyline betting tips, over/under picks, BTTS picks, halftime or fulltime picks, double chance picks, and more. Take full advantage of these picks to make informed bets on the beautiful game!

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Our Soccer Picks of the Moment

Premier League Soccer Prediction: who to bet on in 2024-2025?

The 2024-2025 edition of the Premier League is shaping up to be another exciting and intense one. And, according to the odds offered at the start of the season, Manchester City are once again the sportsbooks' favorites for the title. And, according to the predictions of our Premier League experts, it's the Citizens who could once again be crowned champions.

Indeed, it's hard to see rivals such as Liverpool and Arsenal going the distance, even if the Gunners have come close in the last two seasons. However, it was always City who came out on top... Our Premier League prediction: Manchester City champion of England 2024-2025!

Premier League prediction - odds on the favorites for the English title

• Arsenal +120
• Man City +175
• Liverpool +340
• Chelsea +2100
• Tottenham +8000
• Aston Villa +10000
• Man Utd +16000
• Brighton +16000

Odds taken from fanduel.com.

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La Liga Soccer Prediction: who to bet on in 2024-2025?

When it comes to Spain and the La Liga title, Real Madrid are the favorites among sportsbooks ahead of the season kick-off. Real Madrid boast a superb squad, which has been greatly enhanced by the long-awaited signing of Kylian Mbappé.

Carlo Ancelotti, along with Jude Bellingham, Vinicius, Courtois, Camavinga, Rüdiger and the French national team captain, is the favorite in our La Liga experts' predictions. Will Real Madrid win a second consecutive title, and their 37th in the league? Our La Liga prediction: Real Madrid champion of Spain 2024-2025!

La Liga prediction - odds on the favorites to win the Spanish title

• Real Madrid -160
• Barcelona +125
• Atletico Madrid +1900
• Villarreal +16000
• Betis +16000
• Athletic Bilbao +19000
• Real Sociedad +23000
• Celta Vigo +23000

Odds taken from fanduel.com.

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Serie A Soccer Prediction: who to bet on in 2024-2025?

Let's move on to Serie A in Italy. And it's reigning champions Inter Milan who have the early-season sportsbook lead. And, as you can see from our Serie A experts' predictions, Inter Milan are looking like the 2024-2025 Serie A champions.

Although big clubs such as Juventus and AC Milan should try to challenge Simone Inzaghi and his men, we feel that Inter Milan have a clear advantage over their main pursuers, and have once again achieved a very interesting mercato. Our Serie A prediction: Inter Milan Italian champions 2024-2025!

Serie A Prediction - odds on the favorites to win the Italian title

• Inter -155
• Napoli +430
• Juventus +500
• AC Milan +800
• Atalanta +2500
• Lazio +5000
• Roma +5000
• Fiorentina +8000

Odds taken from fanduel.com.

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Bundesliga Soccer Prediction: who to bet on in 2024-2025?

And we finish with Germany and the Bundesliga! And, as usual, it's Bayern Munich who are the sportsbooks' favorite before the season kicks off. Last year, Bayer Leverkusen's surprise triumph prevented the Bavarians from claiming their 12th consecutive Bundesliga title.

This year, however, Bayern will be keen to reclaim their crown and prove to the whole of Germany that they are still the country's boss. In any case, according to the predictions by our Bundesliga experts, Bayern are the team to beat. Reminder of our Bundesliga prediction: Bayern Munich German Champions 2024/25!

BundesligaPrediction - odds on the favorites for the German title

• Bayern Munich -360
• Leverkusen +380
• RB Leipzig +2100
• Dortmund +3400
• Eintracht Frankfurt +6500
• Stuttgart +10000
• Freiburg +12000

Odds taken from fanduel.com.

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More help for better predictions?

Last but not least, SportyTrader offers you a number of tools to help you fine-tune your analysis of the match of your choice. For example, we offer you a soccer odds comparator, which will enable you to find the best values for your bets in just a few seconds.

Also, our Live Match system will enable you to follow soccer matches live, with a whole host of statistics and information. And, as if that weren't enough, we've also got a dedicated betting forum, as well as factsheets telling you how to sign up with the sportsbooks to place your soccer bets for tomorrow. With SportyTrader, your soccer picks of the day are written with precision!

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All images in this article are from the IMAGO website.