It Ain't Over Yet
Just when spread bettors thought Chelsea had the title sewn up, along comes a weekend that blows everything open. Anyone that had bought Chelsea's outright championship index (60pts to the winner, 40pts to runner-up, 30pts to third-place, 20pts for fourth etc.) will have been sitting very comfortably on Saturday morning. Then Paul Scholes popped up with a 93rd minute winner against Manchester City, which was followed by Tottenham's 2-1 victory over the league leaders. Before Saturday's early kick-off, United could be bought at 40 points, now their spread is at 47-49. The battle for fourth also changed dramatically following the weekend's action, with Harry Redknapp's Tottenham leap-frogging Manchester City into fourth. There is another cracking round of Premier League fixtures this weekend as Spurs travel to Old Trafford and Manchester City are welcomed by Arsenal at the Emirates.
United sit just one point behind Carlo Ancelotti's team and victory over Tottenham will keep spread buyers of their championship index right in with a chance of a profit. Buyers of United's win index spread on Saturday will have noted that the team have already beaten Spurs twice this campaign. Sir Alex Ferguson's side came from behind to win the league meeting 3-1 at White Hart Lane and strolled to 2-0 win in the Carling Cup. Those tempted to sell United's win index or supremacy spread should be aware that Spurs have not beaten the home side since 2001.
Although that record won't inspire much confidence, spread buyers of Tottenham's win index will have seen the side end their long winless run against Arsenal last week while goal spread buyers will be pleased to see that the last league meeting at Old Trafford between these sides produced seven goals as United romped to a 5-2 win. However, spread sellers will be quick to point out that the previous league meeting here finished 1-0. Furthermore, during the 2008/09 season Spurs and United met on four occasions in all competitions, two of which ended goalless.
Spread bettors that had bought Arsenal's Premier League points spread, currently at 77-78, will have been gutted to see Wigan's late comeback at the weekend. The Gunners now welcome Champions League chasing Man City and buyers of their match supremacy spread will be encouraged to see that the side have beaten City on the last four occasions that they've met in North London. Spread punters brave enough to sell the Gunners' win index should note that Man City have never beaten them in the Premier League, only managing two draws in twelve league meetings.
Punters that enjoy a spread bet on total bookings will be interested to see that the last three league meetings between the Gunners and City have accumulated five yellow cards. Buyers of the spread will hope for a repeat of the meeting in 2005 when the referee issued eight yellows that afternoon. Goal minutes buyers for this fixture will be banking on a repeat of the corresponding match in September at Eastlands which made up 408 minutes on the spread.
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