Pandora Hughes
Inter had a tough start to the season but going into 2022 they have asserted their quality and are the favorites to land Serie A for the second year in a row.
Who do Bettors Favor?
In what has been a thrilling half-season so far, the futures markets at the best online sportsbook sites have fluctuated wildly. Napoli were the initial market leaders but by November, Inter’s resurgence had seen a notable shift in the betting. They are now the strong favorites at -400 across most leading sportsbooks, while the markets rate Milan, Atalanta and Napoli as their main rivals.
| Serie A Winner |  |  |  |
| Inter Milan | -400 | -400 | -400 |
| AC Milan | +550 | +500 | +550 |
| Atalanta | +900 | +900 | +900 |
| Napoli | +1100 | +900 | +1100 |
| Juventus | +2000 | +2000 | +1100 |
| Roma | +10000 | +15000 | +10000 |
| Lazio | +12500 | +15000 | +12500 |
Serie A Winner Betting
The appointment of Simone Inzaghi as Inter manager was not welcomed in all quarters, but he has gradually won over the skeptics and is on course to mastermind a remarkable title defense. Despite the loss of key players, Inzaghi has got his team playing the sort of free-flowing football that was rarely seen under the coaching of Antonio Conte. They’ve lost only once this season and have won 10 out of their last twelve in an unbeaten run that has set them up perfectly for the title.
Up until the end of November, everything was going Napoli’s way. Their attacking brand of football was sweeping all before them and a narrow loss to Inter represented their only slip. Then injury struck. Victor Osimhen, their key striker, was the main absentee, forced out with a broken cheekbone but there were many others. Osimhen may be ready to return, but COVID-19 and AFCON 2021 call-ups have conspired to decimate the squad anew, and right now, hanging on for a top-four spot looks like Napoli’s aim.
Like Napoli, Milan had an explosive start to the season, going twelve games undefeated and while they haven’t continued to harvest points at the same rate, they remain fairly consistent and the most likely challenger to Inter’s dominance. Still, their habit of dropping points against top-five rivals could ultimately prove to be costly in the race for the Scudetto.
Which Team is a Good Top Four Bet in Serie A?
Can Napoli halt their slide and finish in the top four? They are already down to third and have a number of teams close behind. Given the way that they have been playing in recent games and their prolonged injury crisis, they don’t look a good bet at around -300.
Fellow top four challengers Atalanta are a more solid option, as they have shown a remarkable ability to dispatch lesser opposition while boosting their goal-scoring record along the way. Still, they are also a short price, so at longer odds, it could pay to opt for Juventus. After a poor start, Juventus have been improving steadily and have gradually closed the gap on the top four. Though they have left it too late to catch Inter, a Champions League qualification spot looks a good bet.
Betting on Serie A Relegation
At first glance, the issue of relegation from Serie A appears to be settled. Salernitana, Genoa, and Cagliari are four points adrift at the bottom, and all three face tough battles for survival.
Look a little closer, however, and there are indications that they could yet climb out of trouble. Both Salernitana and Cagliari earned valuable wins in their latest Serie A outings, and while Genoa’s loss to Spezia was disappointing, prior to that they had earned creditable draws against Sassuolo and Atalanta so certainly have the ability to extract unexpected points.
The problem they face is that the teams immediately above the drop zone are also showing signs of form. Venezia haven’t won since November, but that run of seven games includes fixtures against each of the top five, so their form isn’t quite as bad as it may seem. Spezia have picked up seven points from their last four and Sampdoria have shown a consistent ability to beat teams in the bottom third. While there could yet be changes in the order at the bottom of the table, there is no obvious betting play right now.
Serie A Golden Boot Futures Betting
Those who thought Dusan Vlahovic would be unable to repeat his excellent 2020/21 performance this time round have been proven wrong decisively. The young Serbian striker finished as the fourth-highest scorer last season but with two of the three who finished above him leaving the league, there was an opportunity to be had this time and the Fiorentina man has grasped it with both hands.
Still, he will face some tough competition if he wants to hold onto the lead. Three-time Serie A top scorer Ciro Immobile is close behind him, as is Dusan Zapata, but the real danger could be from Inter’s Lautaro Martinez. With his side top of the league and looking in unstoppable form, he will have plenty of opportunities to close the five-point gap and could be the best bet at +800.
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