What the Heck Does “1 1/2, 2” Mean in Soccer Betting?

Ever see a soccer betting line that looks like this: 1 1/2, 2 ? If you’re new to gambling or just new to soccer gambling, you might be wondering what this means. Is it some kind of code? Do I need a secret decoder ring to figure it out? Relax, it’s not nearly as complicated as it looks. 

What 1 1/2, 2 means in soccer betting and why it’s used

The “1 1/2, 2” you see in soccer betting lines is actually two separate numbers that are related to the spread. The first number (1 1/2) is the amount of goals that the favorite needs to win by in order for bettors who took the favorite on the spread to win their bets. The second number (2) is the amount of goals that the underdog needs to lose by in order for bettors who took the underdog on the spread to win their bets. 

For example, let’s say that you’re looking at a betting line for a match between Manchester United and Arsenal. The line looks like this: Manchester United -1 1/2, 2; Arsenal +1 1/2, 2. This means that if you bet on Manchester United, they will need to win by at least 2 goals for you to win your bet. If you bet on Arsenal, they can lose by up to 1 goal and you will still win your bet. 

The reason why the spread is listed as “1 1/2, 2” instead of just “2” is because there is no way to score half a goal in soccer. So if Manchester United only wins by one goal, then those who bet on them do not win their bets (because they did not meet the spread), but those who bet on Arsenal still do (because Arsenal only lost by one goal). That’s why the spread must be listed as two separate numbers.

Summing Up

Now that you know what 1 1/2 , 2 means in soccer betting, you’re ready to start putting some money down on your favorite team! Just remember to always gamble responsibly and never bet more than you can afford to lose. Good luck!