Sporting Index’s Biggest Spread Betting Make Ups of February

Our traders made thousands of predictions on a wide array of sporting events during February. Punters could then decide to buy if they thought the projections were too low, or sell if they thought the traders had been too ambitious. Some results went exactly the way the trading team expected, but others caught them cold. Here are the biggest surprises of the month:

A Slog Fest in South Africa

Market: Sixes Squared

Opening Price: 225-255

Result: 784

England and South Africa played out a thrilling T20 series last month. The Proteas won the opening match by a single run at Buffalo Park, and then Eoin Morgan’s men pulled level with a two-run victory in the second match. Both teams went into the final clash at Centurion knowing that victory would see them clinch the series, so the stage was set for another pulsating encounter. The hosts got off to a flying start, as openers Temba Buvuma and Quinton de Kock combined for seven sixes. Heinrich Klaasen drew gasps from the crowd by smashing 66 off 33 balls, and South Africa ended up setting Morgan’s men a massive chase of 223.

Jason Roy lasted just eight minutes, but Jos Buttler and Jonny Bairstow settled the nerves, hitting 57 and 64 respectively to give the tourists hope. They both fell, and then England’s position looked precarious after David Malan was removed for 11. Yet Morgan then took over. The captain put up 57 runs from just 22 balls, smashing seven sixes in the process, to carry his side over the line with just five balls remaining. It was the fourth highest run chase in T20 history.

One intriguing sports spread betting on cricket is Sixes Squared. It is a prediction on the total number of sixes in the match, but squared. Before the match, our traders predicted that the result of this market would fall between 225 and 255. However, there were 28 sixes in total, and 28 squared is 784. That is 529 above the price of 255 that punters could have bought at. Morgan hit seven, Klaasen and de Kock both managed four, and there were three for Bavuma and Bairstow, plus two apiece for Buttler, Ben Stokes and David Miller, and one for Roy.

Fury Tames Wilder in Las Vegas

Market: Fury by KO, TKO, Technical Decision or DQ

Opening Price: 13-19

Result: 100

Tyson Fury absolutely pulverised Deontay Wilder in their heavyweight title fight in Las Vegas on 22 February. He floored the American with a jab and a ferocious right hand in the third, and then pressed home his advantage with another knockdown in the fifth. The Gypsy King was the aggressor throughout the fight, and he battered his rival into submission with the most destructive performance of his career. Blood was streaming from Wilder’s mouth and ear by the time his corner threw in the towel in the seventh round, and Fury was crowned WBC heavyweight champion of the world.

To be fair to Fury, he told everyone exactly what he planned to do. The first fight between them ended in a controversial draw. Fury landed many more punches, and most commentators said he had done enough to win the fight, but the judges were split. The Gypsy King said he would not rely on a decision in the rematch. He switched trainers, developed a more aggressive style and promised to take the fight to Wilder and knock him out.

However, many boxing fans thought he would struggle to actually pull it off. After all, Wilder had never lost a fight, and he spent the build-up to the bout dismissing Fury’s “pillow fists”. Our traders set the likelihood of Fury winning by KO,TKO, Technical Decision or DQ at 14-20 when the market opened in December, and it had dipped to 13-19 by the night of the fight. In that market, the result would be 100 if he pulled it off and zero if he failed to do so. Fury did indeed win by a seventh-round stoppage, leaving the final result 81 higher than the buy price.

Bye-Bye Miss American Pie

Market: Wilder/Fury Supremacy Index

Opening Price: 4.5-7.5

Result: -28

Wilder was handed a Supremacy Index of 1.5-4.5 over Fury when the market opened back in December. That had increased to 4.5-7.5 by the night of the rematch, which was billed as the biggest heavyweight fight in 50 years. In the end, Fury delivered an absolutely dominant display and the final result in this market was -28, which is 32.5 below the sell price of 4.5. The crowd had been treated to an absolutely thrilling spectacle, so it really did live up to its billing.

The Gypsy King responded by leading the crowd in a rendition of Don McLean’s classic hit, American Pie. He defeated America’s finest heavyweight and returned to the summit of the division, but Wilder has now enacted a rematch clause and they are set for a trilogy fight. Make sure you check out the sports spread betting in the build-up to the event, as there will be plenty of exciting markets for you to choose from.

Favourite Backers Feel The Love at Southwell

Market: Favourites Index (Southwell)

Opening Price: 104-108

Result: 175

It was a Valentine’s Day to remember for anyone that bought on the Favourites Index at Southwell. There were seven races on the card that evening, and each victorious favourite earns 25 points in that market. It all began at 5.10pm, when 15/8 favourite Three Cs stormed to victory ahead of Equidae in the splendidly named Bombardier British Hopped Amber Beer Handicap, which took place over 1 mile. Brooklyn Boy, the 9/4 favourite in the 5.45pm race, then made it two out of two, before odds-on favourite Rodin clinched the next race.

Sandridge Lad went off at 8/11 to win the fourth race of the day and finished ahead of Robero and Zapper Class in a thrilling sprint. The next race had a 1/4 favourite, Arabian King, who ruled the race with an emphatic win. The penultimate race of the day went to 6/4 favourite Love Your Work. It was then up to Luscifer to complete the feat in the Bombardier “March To Your Own Drum” Handicap at 8.15pm, and Luscifer duly deliver, meaning that all seven favourites won their races. That resulted in a maximum make up of 175, which is 67 above the buy price.

Ready to pit yourself against our traders? You can find an industry leading selection of sports spread betting markets at Sporting Index.