The weekend will bring the announcement of the winner of the BBC Sports Personality of the Year. Roger Federer has already been given the title of the Best Overseas Sports Personality this year for his tremendous season on the ATP Tour, having added more Grand Slam titles to his career. That was a record fourth time that he was voted in for the award.
The shortlist of 12 Sports Personalities for the main Sports Personality of the Year award will be lining up on Sunday evening in Liverpool to see who gets the award and the betting at Betfair shows that it is expected to be going to boxer Anthony Joshua. Back in April Joshua produced a stunning performance to stop Wladimir Klitschko in what was on the of the greatest heavyweights fights in history. The WBA and IBF Champion looks a look at 1/8 to take the ward.
Lewis Hamilton is the only other Personality in single figures ahead of Sunday’s award ceremony. He claimed his fourth F1 Drivers title this year after having been under severe pressure for the best part of the first half of the season, when Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel looked as if he would be running to the title. This year’s title made Hamilton the most successful Formula 1 driver ever and beat Michael Schumacher’s Pole Position record along the way. Hamilton was a SPOTY winner in 2014.
The prominence of those two have pretty much left the rest of the field trailing in their wake. Harry Kane, Mo Farah and Jonathan Rea are around the 33/1 mark with Betfair heading into the weekend. Kane, of course, has had a brilliant year with Tottenham, but his goals have yet to help the Lilywhites to titles. Mo Farah bowed out of track competition this year with his third world 10,000 gold title. He switches over to road racing now, but really his chance at this SPOTY award really was last year after his Olympic successes.
Motorcycle star Jonathan Rea is among the pack of the strongest outside chances as she made it three successive World Superbike titles this year, winning the title with five races to go. The Northern Irishman is closing in on the all time record of wins held by Carl Fogarty as well. The shortest priced female in the Sports Personality of the Year 2017 betting is cricketer Anya Shrubsole who was pivotal in England’s success at the Women’s Cricket World Cup, taking 6-46 in the final over India.
Sports Personality of the Year 2017 betting Odds
Anthony Joshua 1/8, Lewis Hamilton 7/1, Mo Farah 33/1, Harry Kane 33/1, Jonathan Rea 33/1, Chris Froome 40/1, Adam Peaty 801, Jonnie Peacock 150/1, Anya Shrubsole 250, 400/1 bar
