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The new Football League campaign gets underway this weekend and what better way to stay involved right through the season than to bet on the Season Points market. Sporting Index is, as always, offering a prediction on how many points all 72 Football League teams will end up with next May. Anyone looking for a shrewd bet before a ball has been kicked should take advantage of the free £200 per goal football bet on offer to all new Sporting Index clients** (details below). Below are some thoughts on the current spreads, to help you get started.

Long Haul

All eyes will be on the teams battling for play-off and promotion places in the Championship. Steve Bruce appears to be well positioned to lead the Blues back up at the first attempt, with few noticeable departures and money to spend following the sale of Heskey and Pennant. Sporting Index make Birmingham the favourites to head the table come the end of the season predicting a total of 76 to 78 points. However, the tough Geordie is under extreme pressure to deliver, and with the board watching his every move, punters may disagree and bet ‘low’ on this prediction.

The real focus will be on teams vying for the play-off positions and a 70-point total should see a side break into the top six this year. Both Sunderland and Crystal Palace have appointed former fan-favourites in Niall Quinn and Peter Taylor to guide them back into the big time. Their spread of 69.5 to 71.5 points for both should see them in the mix come May.

Wolves will also be popular with the punters with their spread set at 63.5 to 65.5 points. Having brought in the top-flight experience of Breen, Bothroyd and Clapham, Mick McCarthy will look to repeat his conquests of 2005 with Sunderland. At the opposite end of the table, there doesn’t seem to be much support for the three newly promoted clubs. Colchester have dithered in appointing a new manager, and have a prediction of 45.5 to 47.5 points. That suggests Geraint Williams will have a tough task of keeping The U's in the second tier of English football.

£200 Football Bet for New Clients**

Tempted to try your hand at spread betting? If so, Sporting Index is offering all new clients* a free football bet, to get the ball rolling:

Open a Sporting Index account*, place ten sports bets and claim a free £200 per goal bet on any live Premiership, Championship or League match. Each qualifying bet must be able to win or lose you £20.**

*Credit and suitability checks, **terms and conditions apply. See site for further details about an account with Sporting Index. Sports spread betting involves a high level of risk and you can lose more than your original stake. It is not suitable for everyone so please ensure that you understand the risks involved and only bet with money you can afford to lose.

For full details of these offers, and to open your Sporting Index account, click here

How Does the Season Points Market Work?

Let’s take the favourites Birmingham as an example. Sporting Index are predicting that Steve Bruce’s men will finish the season with 76 to 78 points. If you think they will finish on less than 76 points this season, bet ‘low’. Alternatively, if you think Brum will finish on more than 78 points, bet ‘high’. How much you win, or lose, depends on how right or wrong you are.

For example, the choice you have to make:

a) Will Birmingham get more than 78 points?
OR
b) Will Birmingham total less than 76 points?

Let’s say that you think St Andrews will be witnessing Premiership football next season and stake £10 per point on the outcome...

Let’s say you’re right and Forssell and co. fire the club to 85 points. You were betting on them to get more than 78 points, at £10 per point. You would therefore win (85 – 78) x £10 = 7 x £10 = £70.

However it could go the other way. Let’s say that Brum scrape into the play-offs and end the season with a total of 72 points. Because you bet “high” at 78 points, there is a shortfall of 6 points (78 minus 72). At a stake of £10 per point, this would result in a loss of (78 – 72) x £10 = 6 x £10 = £60.

For all the latest prices on this match, and to open your account, click here

Sporting Index is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. Please note that all prices are correct at the time of writing but are subject to change.

The information contained herein is for your general information and use. In particular, it does not constitute any form of advice or recommendation by Sporting Index Ltd and is not intended to be relied upon by users in making (or refraining to make) any specific decisions.