Every possible score in a match has a probability. Added together, they make 100%. The odds are just the price the market puts on each one.

From odds to probability

The math is simple:

implied probability = 1 / odds

OddsImplied probability
2.0050.0%
7.5013.3%
22.004.5%

Reading the score matrix

A score matrix crosses each team's goals. Every cell is the chance of that exact result — 0-0, 1-0, 0-1 and so on.

  • Low probability cells are Lay candidates.
  • High probability cells are Back candidates.
  • Either way, what decides is the comparison with the odds.

A stat that confirms what you already believed isn't analysis. It's confirmation bias with numbers.

The most common mistake

Looking only at average goals. A match with 2.3 xG says little about the specific chance of 0-1. To trade scores, you need the number per score.