Sports Personality of the Year 2019 Winner Odds & Predictions

Stokes a dead-cert for SPOTY success?

Novelty Betting & Other Events Betting

The BBC announced the shortlist for the Sports Personality of the Year 2019. The bookmakers all seem to agree that it will be England’s cricket hero Ben Stokes who is going to walk away with the prize. Stokes is the 1/5 odds-on favourite to win SPOTY 2019* (betting odds taken from Bet365 on November 26th, 2019 at 6:11 pm).

Sports Personality of the Year 2019 Winner Odds*

Ben Stokes 11/5
Dina Asher-Smith 8/1
Raheem Sterling 20/1
Lewis Hamilton 28/1
Alun Wyn Jones 20/1
Katrina Johnson-Thompson 50/1
* (betting odds taken from Bet365 on November 26th, 2019 at 6:11 pm).

SPOTY 2019 Betting at Bet365

Stokes justifiable favourite

When it comes down to the voting, it’s going to be hard to look past Stokes for a lot of people. It was a remarkable summer that the England all-rounder had with bat and ball for his country. He was struggling for a little bit of consistency at the Cricket World Cup, but then he peaked at the right time for his country.

Lewis Hamilton Top 3 Finish
7/4

William Hill

In the World Cup Final against New Zealand, he was the one who held his nerve as England, batting second, looked to deliver on home soil. While the rest of the batting line up were falling around him, Stokes held a country’s hopes on his shoulders. It boiled down to England having to score 15 runs off the final over to land the win. They had two wickets in hand.

It was two dot-balls by New Zealand bowler Trent Boult. But then Stokes picked up on a lengthy delivery to smash a six, leaving England at 233/8. Then came the big talking point. Stokes hit the next delivery to mid-wicket and as Stokes was scampering back for a second run, the ball was inadvertently misdirected by his bat and the ball went to a boundary. Four extra runs were awarded on top of the two that had been run. England took a run each from their final two balls to tie the match.

Super Over – Super Stokes

Despite his huge effort saving the game, Stokes was sent out to bat the Super Over with Jos Buttler. The pair tallied up 15 runs. New Zealand then needed two runs from the final ball of their Super Over response but had Martin Guptil run out, giving England the win on a tiebreaker. The match hinged on Stokes’ 84 not out from 88 deliveries. It was one of the great batting performances and given the situation in a World Cup Final, it was something that was so special it was going to be hard to top.

But this is Ben Stokes and he produced another remarkable innings during the Ashes series. England were trying to bat things out at the Headingley Test just to stay in the Ashes. When Stokes was joined at the crease by spin bowler Jack Leach 73 runs were needed to win. It looked only a matter of time before England fell. But somehow Stokes stuck in there and he had other ideas, smashing 135 of 219 balls to give England a win by one wicket.

So there it is. Stokes. A World Cup winner. A summer of heroics. Who tops that?

Dina Asher-Smith

It was a big year for 23-year-old sprinter Dina Asher-Smith. She became the first-ever Briton to win a gold in the 200m at the World Championships. She also picked up a silver in the 100 and in the 4x100m relay too. But despite being Britain’s golden girl of athletics at the moment is that enough to get her the SPOTY title? Probably not. If she delivers gold at the Olympics next year, 2020 could be her moment.

Raheem Sterling

Sterling has grown into arguably England’s best current footballer. He has been praised highly for his conduct in standing up to racism and for his performances on the pitch with Manchester City. He helped the Citizens land back to back Premier League titles earlier this year. But the Nations League Finals were a bust for England and only five footballers have been crowned SPOTY winner. So the odds are stacked against him.

Lewis Hamilton

Strangely, Hamilton is behind Asher-Smith and Sterling with bookmakers. He has just wrapped up his sixth Drivers World Championship in F1 and it was thanks to some brilliant drives under pressure as well this season. F1 has been a lot more competitive this year, but still, the cool head of Hamilton in his Mercedes has won through. He’s one of the greatest, most successful British sportsmen ever and is dominant this sport. Is he going to get the recognition? Probably not. If that record-equalling seventh title happens next year, he may get closer to adding to his 2014 SPOTY title.

Alun Wyn Jones

A stalwart of Welsh rugby and it has been a great year for him. He helped Wales, despite playing with an injury, land the Six Nations earlier this year. Wyn Jones was crowned the player of the tournament as well. He battled and put himself on the line belligerently against South Africa in the Rugby World Cup Final. Still, it’s unlikely, despite probably drawing a huge share of the votes from Wales, that he will get the title. If he were to do so, he would be only the second rugby star ever to do it.

Katarina Johnson-Thompson

Just as Doha was a big success for Asher-Smith, it was a gold-winning event for Heptathlete Katarina Johnson-Thompson too. The British star seemed to overcome some personal demons in the sport as she took gold as well as setting a new British record at the same time. It was something special from her, but again, it could be the Olympic success that is more highly regarded, to get her closer to any SPOTY title.

SPOTY 2019 Betting Tip

There’s obviously little value in backing Strokes to win outright, which we think is exactly what is going to happen. The Top 3 Finish market does offer a little bit of value, especially on Lewis Hamilton at 7/4* (betting odds taken from Bet365 on November 26th, 2019 at 6:11 pm).

There’s a chance that he could do enough to edge one of Sterling, Asher-Smith or Wyn Jones to get there. It would be Jones, because of a huge Welsh vote likely coming his way, that is another good option at 6/4* (betting odds taken from Bet365 on November 26th, 2019 at 6:11 pm) to consider