TOP 10 SPORTS SPREAD BETS of 2014

2014 was another action-packed year of sport - and for betting. Some of the big stories in the sports world also made for moments to savour - or to forget - for punters.

Take a look at our top ten spread betting moments of the year below to gain betting inspiration for 2015!

Germany v Gibraltar, European Championship qualifier

10. FOOTBALL

Date: 14/11/14
Market: Germany Corners Squared
Make-up: 400
Potential profit x stake: 227

Most people will list Germany’s unforgettable 7-1 World Cup semi-final drubbing of hosts Brazil in their top 10 sporting moments of 2014, but for spread betters it was this slightly more low key European Championship qualifier that stood out.

Germany sauntered to a 4-0 win but also took 20 corners during the game meaning spread betters who bought Germany Corners Squared at 173 made 227 times their stake when the market made-up at 400. Sellers on the spread were left feeling well and truly cornered themselves having lost 239 times their stake.

The end of the Ashes

9. CRICKET

Date: 05/01/14
Market: Mitchell Johnson Bowler Series Index
Make-up: 445
Profit x stake: 230

The year started off with Australia completing a 5-0 Ashes whitewash thanks to a comprehensive 281-run win over a beleaguered England side in the final Test in Sydney.

It was another forgettable moment for English cricket fans. But not for spread betters who got on Mitchell Johnson’s series bowling performance. Johnson took 37 wickets at the cost of 517 runs at an average of 13.97.

Punters who bought his Bowler Series Index (10 points per wicket plus 25 point bonus for every five-fer) at 215 made 230 times their stake when the market made up at 445.

Sellers were left as shaken as the England batsmen by the antics of the marauding, moustachioed Aussie.

Mercedes win the 2014 Constructors’ Championship

8. FORMULA 1

Date: 23/11/14
Market: Mercedes 2014 Constructors’ Points
Make-up: 701
Potential profit x stake: 245

It was known before the start of the 2014 F1 season that Mercedes had adapted best to the new rules and had the dominant car with the best engine. Commentators knew they would be good. But did they know they would be that good?

Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg swept all before them taking 18 out of 19 poles and 16 out of 19 race wins.

Spread betters who bought on Spreadex’s Mercedes Constructors’ Points spread at 456 made 245 times their stake when Mercedes eventually finished on 701. Sellers of the spread were left feeling the pits as they lost more than 250 times their initial stake.

Chicago @ Green Bay

7. NFL

Date: 09/11/14
Market: Touchdown Yardage
Make-up: 420
Profit x stake: 305

Aaron Rodgers broke a host of records with six first-half touchdown passes as Green Bay Packers beat Chicago Bears 55-14.

Rodgers tied the team touchdown pass record with Matt Flynn, matched the NFL mark for a half set by Oakland’s Daryle Lamonica in 1969 and recorded his 16th scoring pass of 70 yards or more.

Spread betters who bought Touchdown Yardage at 115 also had a great day making 305 times their stake when the market made up at 420. Sellers hit the endzone with this particular bet.

FC Ural v CSKA Moscow, Russian Premier League
6. FOOTBALL

Date: 27/09/14
Market: Goalscorers’ Shirt Numbers
Make-up: 400
Profit x stake: 329

One of the most popular football spread betting markets for Spreadex clients is Shirt Numbers – the shirt numbers of goalscorers in a game, aggregated.

So when Ural and CSKA went head to head in this Russian Premier League game with players wearing shirt numbers as high as 88, 89 and 90 our traders knew there was potential for cargange.

Sure enough CKSA won 4-3 with the goals coming from Manacharyan (10), Smolov (90), Erokhin (89), Dzagoev (10), Eremenko (25) and brace for Doumbia (88).

Punters who bought Shirts at 71 made 329 times their stake while sellers were left to get a bit shirty themselves.

James Rodriguez wins the Golden Boot at the 2014 World Cup

5. FOOTBALL

Date: 13/07/14
Market: James Rodriguez Tournament Goal Minutes
Make-up: 402
Profit x stake: 341

There were some great games, great goals and plenty of colour in the stands – yes it was largely a memorable World Cup from Brazil. Unless you’re an England fan, of course.

With Radamel Falcao injured, Colombia’s James Rodriguez stole the show to end up as Golden Boot winner with six goals and earn a lucrative move to Real Madrid.

Spread betters who bought his tournament goal minutes at 61 were also in the money as they won 341 times their stake. Any sellers would have been cringing every time the attacking midfielder found the net.

Grand National Meeting opening day, Aintree

4. HORSE RACING

Date: 03/04/14
Market: Multi-Mules
Make-up: 942
Profit x stake: 446

The Grand National is traditionally the big race of the year for punters across the land and in 2014 fixed odds punters who backed eventual winner Pineau De Re at 25/1 would have been left punching the air with glee.

However, for spread betters it was the opening day of the Grand National Meeting at Aintree that saw big profits for many.

Spreadex’s extensive choice of spread betting Card Markets features the likes of Multi Mules (winning horse racecard number multiplied by second placed horse racecard number for each race at a meeting, aggregated) and Squared Numbers (winning horse racecard number squared for each race at a meeting, aggregated).

So when results on day one included the likes of Warne (21) winning the 3.40pm with Tartan Snow (20) coming second followed by some other high racecard winners later in the day, it was a bumper payday for some horse racing spread betters.

Buyers of Multi-Mules at 496 made 446 times their stake when this market made up at 942 while buyers of Squared Numbers at 638 made 398 times their stake when this market made up at 1036. Sellers of these markets were left feeling anything but grand.

The Netherlands finish third in the 2014 World Cup

3. FOOTBALL

Date: 12/07/14
Market: Netherlands Total World Cup Goal Minutes
Make-up: 913
Profit x stake: 642

If James Rodriguez was the big surprise player of the World Cup then the Netherlands were certainly the surprise team of the tournament.

Drawn with then World and European champions Spain, dark-horses Chile and Australia, many thought the Oranje would struggle to get out of the group.

But a 5-1 trouncing of Spain followed by eventual elimination to Argentina in the semi-finals and then a third/fourth place play-off win over demoralised Brazil made it a tournament to remember for now-Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal’s side.

It was also a bet to remember for spread betters who bought Holland’s tournament goal minutes at 271 as they made 642 times their stake. For sellers the future was definitely not orange.

India v Sri Lanka 4th ODI

2. CRICKET

Date: 13/11/14
Market: Multi 4s
Make-up: 1363
Profit x stake: 733

Cricket is one of the most popular sports to place spread bets on with the ebb and flow of team or individual batsmen runs offering the perfect opportunity to open and close in-play bets.

However, there are also plenty of other cricket spread betting markets to bet on other than just runs with Multi 4s one of them (Team A 4s multiplied by Team B 4s).

When India won the fourth ODI against Sri Lanka by 153 runs in Novemember, the hosts hit 47 fours along the way (Rohit Sharma with 33 of them) while Sri Lanka hit 29 themselves.

Spread betters who bought Multi 4s at 630 made 733 times their stake while sellers were left feeling hit for six.

Northampton Saints v Wasps, Aviva Premiership

1. RUGBY UNION

Date: 10/05/14
Market: Northampton Multi-Points
Make-up: 1269
Profit x stake: 932

2014 was a great year for Northampton Saints as they bounced back from the heartache of defeat to Leicester Tigers in the 2012-13 final to beat Saracens 24-20 at Twickenham in May to lift the Premiership trophy.

Along the way there were some scintillating performances, notably the 74-13 trouncing of London Wasps on the final day of the regular season. Saints ran in 11 tries in total and with the half-time score 27-13 it meant their Multi-Points (first half points multiplied by second half points) came in at a whopping 1269.

Buyers at 337 made a huge 932 times their stake while sellers were left feeling well and truly stung.