Bets of the Week 22.11.2022

In this feature Spreadex Sports look at five bets/markets to look out for in the week ahead. This week, we will look at some of the best World Cup bets and prices*!

*the below prices are indicative and may be subject to fluctuation

FOOTBALL - 2022 world cup

1. Outright winner favourites Brazil open their campaign against Serbia, a side they faced in the 2018 group stages and failed to beat. After leapfrogging Portugal to gain the automatic qualification spot in their qualifying group, they will be full of confidence of upsetting the odds here - or at least matching their draw from 2018. In terms of Brazil, much of their hopes will rest on the shoulders of the talismanic Neymar, who needs just two goals to match Pele's all-time scoring record for the national team. Will he get on the scoresheet here (and potentially match or break the record) in this match? We have Neymar Player Goal Mins at 30 - 33 on the spreads, and his Anytime Goalscorer fixed odds price is 10/11, while he is 16/5 to score first and 23/5 to score two or more!

2. Another national talisman has already made his mark in this World Cup - Wales' Gareth Bale. Bale scored a crucial equalising penalty in his side's opening match against USA, and Welsh hopes of qualification may be decided as they take on Iran, who shipped six goals in a demolition by England in match one. With a clearly shaky defence further weakened by the absence of the injured number one choice keeper, can Bale continue to be an inspirational figure and lead Wales all but through to a knockout stage spot with a win? We have Bale Player Goal Mins at 23 - 26 on the spreads, and his Anytime Goalscorer fixed odds price is 13/10, while he is 7/2 to score first and 7/1 to score two or more!

3. After England's excellent opening match, one of the big surprises was that captain and main striker Harry Kane did not get on the scoresheet amongst the six goals scored. He did lay on an excellent assist but moving forward throughout the tournament he will be keen to get back to putting chances away rather than creating them. Kane was the Golden Boot winner in 2018 and no other player has finished as top goalscorer in two or more World Cups. With Bukayo Saka currently leading the squad total with two goals, Kane is available at an attractive 11/5 to finish as England's top scorer in the tournament.

4. After the first huge shock of the tournament took place earlier on Tuesday with Saudi Arabia's 2-1 win over one of the tournament favourites Argentina, the odds have swung massively. With a price of 7/1 just to qualify from the group before kick-off, the Saudi Arabians are now available at 7/2 to top the group. They are 10/11 to progress either from first or second, or at 4/5 to still exit - for those that believe the result against the Argentines was a pure anomaly. Interestingly, the last three teams who have beaten Argentina at the World Cup have either won the tournament or reached the final. While that trend shouldn't - theoretically - continue here, the Saudis have announced themselves as the surprise package in Qatar (so far at least). Where do you expect their journey to end?

5. And finally, another one of our special England Player Markets. Man Utd's Marcus Rashford has been a fairly peripheral figure in recent times for the Three Lions. In fact, he hadn't touched a ball for the national side since his heartbreaking penalty miss in the Euro final last summer. He returned with a vengeance in Qatar though, coming on for twenty minutes against Iran and managing to get on the scoresheet for a morale-boosting goal. If England are to go far in this tournament, Rashford will likely be one of the key impact substitutes tasked with causing havoc for teams on the break with his pace. But how many minutes will he rack up in the tournament? With 20 banked already, his spread currently stands at 100 - 130. Will he exceed that total, or not feature as much as expected?

Note - Spread Betting losses can exceed deposit