Sports Personality of the Year Betting

One must feel some sympathy for Rory McIlroy (as much as you can for a millionaire dating Caroline Wozniacki). The Northern Irishman was part of the Ryder Cup winning team who helped produce the miracle in Medinah, throw in his US PGA Championship victory, the fact the player finished top of the money order on both the European Tour and the US Tour and firmly established himself as the number one golfer in the world. In any other year he would be a odds on favourite to win the Sports Personality of the Year award, this year he is a 125/1 (general) chance. Such has been the great year for British sport, here is a look at the runners and riders (hitters, swimmers, jumpers etc) in the mix for the award this year.

The strong favourite for the award is Bradley Wiggins at 2/5 (general). The Tour de France and Olympic time trial gold medal winner has been well supported since the 12 nominations were announced earlier this week. Wiggins heads the market from Mo Farah at 5/1 (general), Andy Murray 11/1 (bet365), Jessica Ennis 12/1 (Totesport/betfred) and David Weir at 40/1 (bet365/Coral). To me only one man can beat Wiggins and that is the double Olympic gold medal winner and hero of the track Mo Farah. Farah registered wins in the 5000 and 10,000 metres and also sparked the MO-BOT craze. If anyone can beat Wiggins and his sideburns then it is Mo. I think the best way to play this is to split the pair in the straight forecast market. You can get Wiggins and Farah at 13/10 (Skybet) and this looks a cracking price on these two who should be head on shoulders above the rest. You can then also have a little savour on Farah to win and Wiggins to come second at 5/1 (william hill).

In addition you can also take Farah at 10/11 (bet365) to win in betting without Wiggins which again looks very generous. His nearest rivals in this market are expected to be Andy Murray at 10/3 (ladbrokes) and Jessica Ennis at 7/2 (betfred).

The battle between the others seems to be for third place and bookmakers think it will be between Andy Murray and Jessica Ennis. paddy Power and Coral have both available at 5/6 for a top three finish and I would lean towards Ennis over Murray. The Scot has had a great year winning that elusive Grand Slam when claiming the US Open, reaching the final at Wimbledon and winning a gold medal in the Olympics. Ennis though is the one who will carry the female vote and the Heptathlon gold medalist should benefit from the public outcry over the lack of females on the list last year.

It was a great year for Paralympians and three of them have made the shortlist, David Weir, Ellie Simmonds and Sarah Storey though I can not see any of them winning the award. If you disagree then you can get 16/1 (Coral) that a Paralympian wins the award. Skybet meanwhile are offering 7/1 about a female winner. To be honest Ennis is the only one who can realistically win the award. The other four nominees (Katharine Grainger, Nicola Adams, Ellie Simmonds and Sarah Storey) should be satisified with their place on the nominations list in what has been an outstanding year for British sport.

BEST OF THE BETS

GOLD: Wiggins/Farah straight forecast, 13/10 (Skybet)
SILVER: Farah/Wiggins straight forecast, 5/1 (william hill)
BRONZE: Mo Farah to win in betting without Wiggins, 10/11 (bet365)

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28/11/2012     © Frixo 2024