Championship Preview
The country's spread betting public can get stuck into another year of Championship action on Friday evening as newly promoted Norwich host Watford at Carrow Road. Spread bettors will be aware that the opening weekend doesn't settle the season; however it should give a clearer idea of how managers have prepared their sides over the summer.
While football fans eagerly await the Championship to get underway, the Sporting Index traders have been hard at work setting the league's total points spreads. Those punters that enjoy a bet on the outright points index will have seen that Middlesbrough are the current favourites with a spread of 74-76 points.
Spread bettors might be interested to know that Newcastle picked up 102 points last campaign on their way to promotion and West Brom took 91 points as runner-up. Buyers of Boro's spread this year will see the potential to make a healthy profit if they do clinch the title. Since 2000, no Championship winning side has taken less than 81 points - when West Brom beat Stoke to first place in 2007/08. Those playing the league's points spread should also note that three sides have reached over 100 points in the past ten years - Newcastle last season, Reading in 2005/06 and Fulham in 2000/01. The average points total for league winners in the same period is 95. Spread sellers of the most fancied sides' points in the Championship will be intrigued to know that the league features 17 clubs that have previously played in the Premier League. It could be a very competitive season with plenty of clubs taking points off each other.
Sporting Index predict that Bristol City will just squeeze into the play-offs in May according to the team's ranking of sixth on the outright index. The Robins' spread supporters will be encouraged by the signing of David James. Those punters debating selling the spread will be interested to know that the fewest number of points needed to gain a play-off spot in the last ten years was 70, both last year and in 2007/08. Buyers of any playoff chasing side's outright index should be aware that the most points a sixth-placed side has reached is 75 - in 2006/07, 2005/06 and 2001/02. The ten-year average is 73 points.
The relegation battle will be one for spread bettors to keep an eye on this year with so many strong sides in the division. Sporting Index have placed Scunthorpe, Watford and Crystal Palace in the bottom three on their points index - they can be bought at 48.5, 52 and 54 respectively. Spread sellers of these sides' points will do well to look back at the points totals for bottom placed sides during the past ten seasons. The lowest total the bottom-placed side managed was Stockport's 26 points in 2001/02. Punters looking to buy the Iron's spread might like to know that the highest total a side has made and still finished last since 2000 was 39 points in 2008/09 and 2002/03. The average total in the past ten seasons for the last-placed club is 35 which will please spread bettors looking to sell the weaker club's points.
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