In Asian handicap betting, one of the more common lines you’ll see is 1.5 (one and a half goals), also called “one and a half goal handicap” or in Vietnamese “kèo 1 trái rưỡi.” This line is used when one team is expected to be significantly stronger than the other—giving the underdog a head start of 1.5 goals. Knowing soccer prediction for saturday how to correctly interpret and bet on it is critical if you want to make sound wagers.

What Does a 1.5 Handicap Mean?

When a match is offered at a –1.5 handicap for the favorite:

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The favorite must win by at least 2 goals for bets on the favorite to win.







If the favorite wins by exactly 1 goal, draws, or loses, then those who bet on the underdog win.



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Conversely, the underdog will be +1.5 (receiving 1.5 goals). That means:

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If the underdog wins, draws, or loses by 1 goal, the underdog bet wins.







Only if the underdog loses by 2 or more goals does the bet on the underdog lose.



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This makes the 1.5 line a strict which is the most accurate soccer prediction site line: there is no “push” (refund) possibility, because you can’t have exactly 1.5 goals in real life.

How to Read the 1.5 Handicap Odds in a Betting Market

On a typical Asian handicap board, you might see something like:

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Team A: –1.5 with odds 1.90







Team B: +1.5 with odds 1.92



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This means Team A is the favorite football prediction app and must win by at least two goals for a bet on them to succeed. If Team A wins 2–0, 3–1, 4–2, etc., then the bettors on –1.5 get paid. But if Team A wins 1–0, the underdog +1.5 bettors win. If the match is draw or the underdog wins, bets on the underdog win.

So when you see “–1.5” next to a team, that team is the one “giving the handicap” (they must overcome 1.5 goals). The other side “gets” the handicap advantage.

When Is the 1.5 Handicap Common?

The 1.5 handicap often appears when:

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There is a clear mismatch between teams (one is much stronger).







Bookmakers expect a comfortable win for the favorite, but want some protection.







Bettors are likely to back the favorite heavily, so the line is set more aggressively to balance risk.



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It’s a popular line because it gives clarity—either the favorite really dominates (2+ goal win) or the underdog bets win.

Example Scenarios

Let’s walk through some match scenarios under –1.5:

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Favorite wins 3–1 → bettors on –1.5 win







Favorite wins 2–0 → bettors on –1.5 win







Favorite wins 1–0 → bettors on –1.5 lose (underdog +1.5 wins)







Draw → underdog +1.5 bets win







Underdog wins → underdog +1.5 bets win



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Because 1.5 is a “strict” handicap (no possibility of push), the outcome is always clear—there’s no refund scenario.

Pros and Cons of Betting 1.5 Handicap

Advantages:

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Clear outcome: either win or lose, no push scenarios to confuse things.







Good for underdog coverage: If you believe the favorite may not dominate by 2 goals, betting underdog +1.5 can provide safer cover.







Value when odds are generous: If the favorite is overestimated or vulnerable (absent key players, bad form), there could be value in underdog side.



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Disadvantages:

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Requires strong dominance: Betting on the favorite is riskier, since only a big margin (2+ goals) suffices.







Less forgiving: One-goal wins, draws, or losses all result in a loss if you’re on the favorite.







Odds margin matters: Because 1.5 is a challenging line, bookmakers may set odds carefully or skew heavily to reduce risk.



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Strategies & Tips When Betting 1.5 Handicap

To increase your chances, consider these strategies:

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Analyze recent win margins

<span style="white-space: normal;"> If a favorite has recently won multiple matches by 2+ goals, it may be more likely to cover &ndash;1.5.</span>







Check lineup and injuries

<span style="white-space: normal;"> If the favorite is missing key strikers, or defenders are injured, they might struggle to score heavily or keep a clean sheet.</span>







Review head-to-head history

<span style="white-space: normal;"> If in past encounters, the stronger team usually only wins narrowly (by 1 goal), using &ndash;1.5 is riskier.</span>







Evaluate context and motivation

<span style="white-space: normal;"> In cup matches, goal difference might matter; in league games, sometimes teams ease off late. Motivation (e.g. Claiming a title, avoiding relegation) can push teams to dominate more aggressively.</span>







Watch the odds movement

<span style="white-space: normal;"> If you see &ndash;1.5 odds shortening (i.e. Favorite side odds dropping), that may signal confidence from bettors or insider information. Enter early if you believe value remains.</span>







Don&rsquo;t overbet

<span style="white-space: normal;"> Because 1.5 handicaps are strict, even good picks can fail. Always manage your bankroll carefully.</span>



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How This Line Compares to Nearby Lines

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&ndash;1.0 Handicap: If the favorite wins by exactly one goal, it&rsquo;s a push (refund). More forgiving.







&ndash;1.25 Handicap: A split line combining &ndash;1.0 and &ndash;1.5; half your bet behaves like &ndash;1, the other half like &ndash;1.5.







&ndash;1.75 and beyond: More aggressive lines requiring even bigger margins.



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Using &ndash;1.5 demands greater confidence in your pick than &ndash;1 or &ndash;1.25, but usually offers better odds (higher payout) because of the increased risk.

Final Thoughts

The 1.5 (one and a half) handicap is a popular and intense betting option in the Asian handicap market. It demands that the favorite wins convincingly (by 2+ goals), or the underdog +1.5 bets prevail. It offers clean outcomes (no pushes), but also stricter risk.

If you&rsquo;re confident a team will dominate, &ndash;1.5 can yield better returns than safer lines. If you doubt they will win by 2, then backing the underdog +1.5 may offer safer coverage. The key is to base your decisions on data&mdash;recent results, strength, context, injuries&mdash;and not on emotion or bias.