How to Read Live Football Odds: Match Odds, Back and Lay Explained
To read live football odds, look at the decimal price in the blue Back column (betting that an outcome happens) or the pink Lay column (betting that it doesn't). A price of 2.50 returns 2.50 for every 1 staked if a back bet wins. Divide 1 by the price to see the implied chance: 2.50 means 40%.
Key facts: football odds on CricPlus (as of October 2026)
- Odds are shown as decimal prices in exchange style: Back in blue, Lay in pink, with the amount available at that price underneath.
- The home list shows the 1 / X / 2 columns: home win, draw, away win.
- Football Match Odds apply to regular time plus stoppage time. Extra time and penalty shoot-outs are not included under CricPlus rules.
- Prices update live during the match, and a market can be suspended at any moment, for example after a goal or a VAR check.
- Each market shows its own minimum and maximum stake.
What do decimal football odds mean?
A decimal price tells you the total return for each unit you stake, including the stake itself. If you back a team at 3.00 with a stake of 10 and it wins, you get 30 back: 20 profit plus your 10 stake. If it loses, you lose the 10.
The quick formula is:
- Return = stake × price
- Profit = stake × (price − 1)
How do I turn odds into implied probability?
Divide 1 by the decimal price and multiply by 100. This gives the market's implied chance of the outcome. It's a useful check: if you think a team's real chance is lower than the implied figure, the price doesn't offer you value, however attractive it looks.
| Decimal price | Implied probability | Profit on a 10 back stake |
|---|---|---|
| 1.50 | 66.7% | 5.00 |
| 2.00 | 50.0% | 10.00 |
| 2.50 | 40.0% | 15.00 |
| 3.00 | 33.3% | 20.00 |
| 4.00 | 25.0% | 30.00 |
| 6.00 | 16.7% | 50.00 |
| 11.00 | 9.1% | 100.00 |
Implied probability is the market's view, not a forecast you can rely on. Football is low scoring, and one goal can turn a match. A 1.50 favourite still fails to win about one time in three by its own implied figure.
How does the 1 / X / 2 match odds market work?
Match Odds is the main football market. It has three outcomes:
- 1: the home team wins
- X: the match ends in a draw
- 2: the away team wins
On the CricPlus home list, these appear as the 1, X and 2 columns next to each fixture. Open the match page to see the full Match Odds market with Back and Lay prices for each outcome.
Under CricPlus rules, football Match Odds bets apply to the full regular time, including stoppage time. Extra time and penalty shoot-outs don't count. So in a cup tie that is level after 90 minutes plus stoppage time, the draw (X) wins, even if one team goes through on penalties.
If you add up the implied probabilities of all three back prices, the total is usually a little over 100%. For example, 2.10 / 3.40 / 3.80 gives 47.6% + 29.4% + 26.3% = 103.3%. The extra few percent is the market's margin. The closer the total sits to 100%, the tighter the prices.
What is the difference between a back bet and a lay bet?
A back bet is a bet for an outcome. You win if it happens. A lay bet is a bet against an outcome. You win if it doesn't happen, and you take the role the bookmaker normally plays.
| Back (blue) | Lay (pink) | |
|---|---|---|
| You are betting that… | the outcome happens | the outcome does not happen |
| If you are right | you win stake × (price − 1) | you win the backer's stake |
| If you are wrong | you lose your stake | you pay the liability |
| Maximum loss | your stake | stake × (price − 1) |
Laying a draw, for example, means you win if either team wins. That covers two of the three outcomes, but the trade-off is that your possible loss can be much larger than your possible win.
How do I work out the liability on a lay bet?
Liability is the amount you stand to lose if the outcome you laid does happen. The formula is:
Liability = lay stake × (price − 1)
Worked example. You lay the home team at 3.00 with a stake of 100.
- If the home team does not win (draw or away win), you win 100.
- If the home team wins, you pay the backer's profit: 100 × (3.00 − 1) = 200. That 200 is your liability.
Now compare laying the same team at 6.00 with a stake of 100. Your liability is 100 × 5 = 500, while your possible win is still 100. This is why laying long prices is risky: the bigger the price, the bigger the amount at stake for the same possible win. Always check the liability figure before you confirm a lay bet, and only lay amounts you can afford to lose in full.
Why are there two prices and an amount under each one?
In exchange-style odds, each outcome shows a best Back price and a best Lay price side by side. The Back price is normally a little lower than the Lay price, for example back 2.10 and lay 2.12. The gap is the spread. A narrow spread usually means plenty of activity on that market.
The smaller number under each price is the amount available at that price. If you ask for more than is available, only part of your bet may be matched at the price you see. Before you place a bet, check this figure along with the minimum and maximum stake shown for the market.
Why do live football odds move or get suspended?
Live prices change as the match unfolds. A goal, a red card, an injury or simply the clock running down will move the odds.
Markets are suspended when something important happens or is about to happen, such as a goal, a penalty or a VAR review. While a market is suspended you can't place bets on it. Under CricPlus rules:
- If a goal is cancelled by VAR, bets matched between the time the goal was scored and the end of the VAR review are voided.
- If a red card is cancelled by VAR, bets matched after the VAR review began are voided.
- If a market is suspended because of a technical error and does not resume, it is settled on the result at the time of suspension, and bets placed before the suspension stand.
The rules also warn that live scores, timers and video come from third-party feeds and may be delayed or inaccurate. Other users may see events sooner than you do. Treat the on-screen score as a guide, not a guarantee. You can read every clause on the CricPlus match odds rules page.
How do I read odds safely and sensibly?
Reading odds well is about understanding risk, not finding a sure thing. There's no system that guarantees profit. Before any bet:
- Turn the price into an implied probability and ask whether you agree with it.
- For lay bets, check the liability, not just the stake.
- Decide your budget for the session in advance and stop when it's used.
To practise reading prices, open the live football odds on CricPlus.Support and work out the implied probability of each 1 / X / 2 price without placing a bet. Once you are comfortable with Match Odds, our guide to football markets such as over/under, both teams to score and correct score explains how other markets are settled.
Frequently asked questions
What does 2.00 mean in football odds?
A decimal price of 2.00 means you get back twice your stake if a back bet wins, so a stake of 10 returns 20, including 10 profit. Its implied probability is 50%. It's sometimes called "evens".
Is it better to back or lay in football?
Neither is better in itself. A back bet risks only your stake. A lay bet often wins more often because it covers more outcomes, but its possible loss (the liability) can be much larger than its possible win. Choose based on the risk you can afford.
Do football match odds include extra time and penalties?
No. Under CricPlus rules, football Match Odds bets apply to regular time plus stoppage time only. Extra time and penalty shoot-outs are not included, so a match level after regular time settles as a draw.
Why can't I place a bet on a live football match?
The market is probably suspended. Markets are suspended during key moments such as goals, penalties and VAR reviews, and reopen with new prices if play allows. Also check that your stake is within the market's minimum and maximum.
What happens to my bet if a goal is disallowed by VAR?
Under CricPlus rules, if a goal is cancelled after a VAR review, bets matched between the time of the goal and the end of the review are voided. Bets matched before the goal stand as normal.
What is the number under the odds?
It's the amount available to be matched at that price. If your stake is larger than the amount shown, only part of your bet may be matched at that price.
18+ only. Play responsibly. Betting involves risk of loss. Set deposit and time limits and never bet money you can't afford to lose. Free, confidential help: GamCare (gamcare.org.uk), Gambling Therapy (gamblingtherapy.org), GambleAware (gambleaware.org). Check the laws where you live.