If I have learnt anything at all about trading football matches over the years, it is this. Always look beyond the odds. One of the most basic flaws in any strategy is always assumption! To assume is to venture forth without authority - so ALWAYS have a justifiable reason why you would take up any position when trading on a football match. Profitability is one thing, stupidity is another!

Bookies love mug punters! They would take bets on odds-on shots with glee all day long, because they know that punters are always susceptible to the ’sure thing’ in their own minds. They think, ah… this is an odds on shot, it can’t be beat! WRONG, it can. There are circumstances that come into play during any sporting event that as punters we have absolutely no control - and these circumstances can quickly change the whole shape of a football match or horse race within a split second.

We saw that with Sunderland vs Stoke recently - Sunderland were lack-lustre and did not play like an odds-on team should until the very dying minutes of the match to simply settle for the draw.

Backers of Detroit City recently, while not an odds-on shot but pretty short in the betting, were backing this horse based on hype, not facts. If they had of studied the facts and stats they would probably not have had their money on him in the first place. The only people who made money from Detroit City were the layers and traders who knew the facts and acted on them!

Always do your own research thoroughly - you would be amazed at the edge you will quickly develop as a punter once you know what to look for! Especially in football matches, and even more so in the lower leagues! Stats are crucial, and they often speak volumes about a team or contestant - but often reading between the lines of the stats can reveal some real gems that suddenly make an outsider a real value bet, and the ’sure thing’ a definite lay!

There is alot to be said for specialization - know your sport! By actively researching betting opportunities with this degree of knowledge you soon pick up on things that the bookie really does not want the average betting shop punter to know - things that allow for traders like you and me to setup winning positions time and time again on Betfair, while the mugs are holding their fixed odds coupon for the ’sure thing’ and crying into their beer cans at the end of the 90 minutes looking at a potential 1 goal defeat by a 9/1 shot, and loss of the weekly housekeeping money!

Develop the ‘bookie mentality’ and you will often find that things you never would have thought of as a punter suddenly motivate you to action as a trader.

Opportunity + Managed Risk = Reward

If you find yourself always questioning the odds, then you are making progress! Discovering WHY a team or contestant is the price they are is half the battle won. The other half of the equation is to turn those odds to your advantage both before and during the event.

There may even be times when you find the ’sure-thing’ really is unbeatable! Done that many a time and lumped on to very good effect.

Information and Strategy - are the keys to success. Finding value is the key to profiting from that success.

If you are looking for a comprehensive guide to successful football trading, then take a look at Football Trading Profits (http://www.betortrade.com/ftp/) - a comprehensive guide to finding value, football trading and profitable strategies that will see you winning time and time again. Discover HOW to put the odds in your favour!

Haydn Ellen is webmaster of http://www.betortrade.com - A comprehensive Betting Portal providing articles, news, Betting Exchange Trading Systems, Betting Bots, and Betting Systems for Horse Racing, Football Betting, Sports Betting, Online Poker and Betfair Games.