February 2019
SUPERBOWL
Four sacks, seven TDs, 57 points, and a sixth Tom Brady ring
Friday 1st February, 2019 – Super Bowl LIII will see the New England Patriots win their sixth Lombardi Trophy with a nail-biting 29-28 victory over the Los Angeles Rams, according to spread betting firm Sporting Index.
16 games, one divisional round and one conference championship later, the New England Patriots will make their third consecutive Super Bowl appearance when they face the Los Angeles Rams this Sunday in Atlanta, and the traders at Sporting Index are expecting 57 points between the sides this Sunday, 17 less than last year.
A total of seven touchdowns is predicted for Sunday as the curtain comes down on the NFL season, but the traders expect a cagey first quarter with only 11 points expected between the teams – 17 points are predicted in what should be a livelier second quarter.
The 10th minute of the match has been earmarked for the first touchdown of Super Bowl LIII, while the spread betting experts believe the first field goal will arrive in the 18th minute.
Despite Rams’ Aaron Donald having 20.5 sacks this season alone, Sporting Index have crunched the numbers and anticipate only four sacks in the entire match, although that is a considerable increase on last year’s singular sack.
All eyes will be on the Patriots’ star man Tom Brady, with one of the game’s all-time greats bidding to win an unprecedented sixth Super Bowl ring. The traders have predicted the Californian will attempt 37 passes and complete 26 of them.
Ed Fulton, trading spokesman for Sporting Index, said: “The NFL season culminates this Sunday in Atlanta and with Tom Brady as quarterback, the Patriots are favourites this year.
“Our traders aren’t expecting a high scoring match like last year, where 74 points were scored between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Patriots, and we expect 57 points on Sunday with the Patriots edging it 29-28.
“A cagey first quarter is on the cards, with just 11 points predicted, but we expect the game to open up a bit in the second with 17 points coming in the second.“
SUPERBOWL
Sporting Index stung for six figures after record lowest Super Bowl score
Monday 4th February 2019 – Sporting Index were left reeling after lucky Super Bowl punters stung the spread betting firm for £100k following New England Patriots’ 13-3 victory over the Los Angeles Rams.
The spread betting experts predicted a total of 57 points for last night’s NFL season finale, however a cagey affair ended with Tom Brady’s side battling out a win which only yielded 16 points in total.
The result left spread bettors who sold (bet lower) total points on cloud nine, and hit Sporting Index for six figures on a night to forget for the traders.
Ed Fulton, trading spokesman for Sporting Index, said: “Despite calling correctly that the Patriots would win a record sixth title from an early stage, last night’s Super Bowl wasn’t a good night for us due to it being such a low scoring match.“
“We expected the game to be fairly high scoring but plenty of our customers went against that and they were rewarded for their efforts with the lowest ever number of points in a Super Bowl.“
PREMIER LEAGUE
Premier League title to be decided on goal difference’s side
Tuesday 5th February, 2019 – The Premier League title could be decided on goal difference according to spread betting firm Sporting Index after Liverpool’s draw with West Ham left the door open for Manchester City to go level on points – and lead on goal difference – with victory over Everton tomorrow.
Jurgen Klopp’s men have passed up multiple opportunities to extend their lead at the top of the table, most recently with underwhelming 1-1 draws with Leicester and the Hammers, which has led Sporting Index to revise their predicted total points.
The traders now expect the title race to go down to goal difference on the final day of the season, with Liverpool and Man City both expected to land 92 points.
However, it’s Pep Guardiola’s men who currently have the better goal difference. The Etihad side have a five goal advantage over the Reds, and the Citizens will steal a march on the current league leaders with a win at Everton tomorrow night.
The Premier League was last decided on goal difference in 2012 when City’s Sergio Aguero scored in stoppage time against QPR to ensure the title made its way to the Etihad, rather than Old Trafford. Now Sporting Index believe history could repeat itself this year on the last day of the campaign.
Neville Burdock, head of trading at Sporting Index, said: ““Who knows where the Premier League title will end up this season? It certainly is starting to look too tight to call, after Liverpool failed to take advantage in recent matches.
“We predict the Reds and City will finish on 92 points each, which would mean superior goal difference will decide who this year’s champions will be. Currently, that looks like it could be City given they have a five goal advantage over Jurgen Klopp’s side.
“There are plenty of matches between now and May for that to change, but given Manchester City’s ruthlessness against other sides, you’d have to say they are favourites.“
PREMIER LEAGUE
Wolves set to be most successful promoted side since Ipswich
Monday 11th February, 2019 – Wolves could become the first promoted team in nearly 20 years to clinch a European spot – since Ipswich claimed fifth in 2001 – according to spread betting firm Sporting Index.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side are on track to claim 56 points – which should be enough to secure a qualification spot for the Europa League next season – after a whirlwind return to the Premier League.
Should the Midlands side do so, they will be the most successful promoted side in the Premier League since Ipswich finished fifth in 2000/2001 to claim a UEFA Cup spot on 66 points. Reading finished eighth in 2007 on 55 points, but Wolves are set to go one better than the Royals.
Wolves host relegation battlers Newcastle in the Premier League tonight, with Rafa Benitez’s charges just one place above the drop zone.
Neville Burdock, Head of Trading at Sporting Index, said: “While Wolves splashed the cash to make sure of Premier League safety this season, nobody predicted that Nuno Espirito Santo’s side would do this well, and they can now be considered serious contenders for a European spot this season.
“We think they can be the most successful promoted side in the Premier League since Ipswich and their fantastic season of 2000/2001. We predict Wolves will finish in seventh on 65 points.“
FA CUP
FA Cup 5th round to see 13 penalties following scrap of replays
Friday 15th February, 2019 – A total of 13 FA Cup penalties are expected to be taken in the 5th round of the tournament according to Sporting Index, following the decision to end replays at this stage of the tournament.
As the competition enters the latter stages this evening, the leading spread betting firm predicts 13 spot kicks to be taken over the various matches with nine of those expected to be converted.
The decision to scrap replays from the 5th round stage onwards means that the ‘magic of the cup’ could come to life with more penalty shootouts, however the traders at Sporting Index think there will only be one in this round.
Five penalties were scored during the batch of 4th round games alone and Sporting Index think that there will be nine more successful spot kicks to come over the course of matches this weekend.
VAR will be used in Chelsea’s match at Stamford Bridge against Manchester United, while the technology will also be available for referees officiating the Brighton v Derby match at the Amex.
Neville Burdock, head of trading at Sporting Index, said: ‘With the 5th round stage commencing this evening, we can expect more of the excitement and suspense synonymous with the magic of the FA Cup, especially since replays are now scrapped from this stage onwards.”
“Penalties are big part of the drama, making or breaking teams’ plights in the competition and, after seeing five scored during the previous round of the tournament, we are expecting the FA Cup total penalties taken to be 13 in this round, especially due to VAR being in play.“”
HARRY KANE
Friday 22nd February, 2019 – As Harry Kane returns to Tottenham’s squad this weekend following a spell on the sidelines, Sporting Index predict the England captain is on course for 19 Premier League goals – which would be his lowest tally since his first season in England’s top flight back in 2014/2015.
Kane has hit 20+ Premier League goals in his last four seasons, but an ankle injury has meant he has missed the last four league matches, which could mean he will fail to hit 20 or more goals for the first time since his debut season with Spurs.
The No.10 is currently on 14 league goals, and the spread betting experts expect the frontman to finish on 19 when the season draws to a close in May.
Sporting Index believe Mohamed Salah will clinch the Premier League Golden Boot for a second successive season on 26 goals, with Sergio Augero scoring 25 and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang on 22.
Neville Burdock, head of trading at Sporting Index, said: “If Kane had avoided injury, we’d be looking at a neck-and-neck race between him, Mohamed Salah and Sergio Aguero for the Golden Boot. However, his time on the sidelines has meant that it’ll be difficult for him to catch the other two as the season enters the latter stages.“