2008 BBC SPORTS PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR AWARD - TOP TWO STRAIGHT FORECAST BETTING WITH WILLIAM HILL

List of 10 sportsmen short listed for BBC Sports Personality of the Year was released yesterday after a panel of 28 sports editors expressed their choices.

William Hills has come out with Straight Forecast betting on top two in this year awards after the final vote happens on 14th Dec 2008.

The list includes the top five names being favoured by the bookmakers till now. Lewis Hamilton, Rebecca Adlington, Chris Hoy, Joe Calzaghe, Andy Murray are all in the shortlist along with five other Olympic heroes, Nicole Cooke, Ben Ainslie, Christine Ohuruogu, Rebecca Romero and Bradley Wiggins.

William Hills are offering 6/4 for their favourite result of Lewis Hamiton to win and Rebecca Adlington being runners up. Second favourite result is Lewis Hamiton followed by Chris Hoy in second at 5/2.

This is followed by Adlingtone1st/Hamilton2nd at 10/3 and Hoy1st/Hamilton2nd at 6/1.

Andy Murray is favoured to be 2nd to Hamilton at 25/1 while Calzaghe is at 20/1 to be second to Hamilton.

Lewis Hamilton is being highly favored to become the BBC top personality this year and if that holds true it leads to correctly prediction the sportsmen who will come 2nd.

Betting Choice Tip : We believe that Rebecca Adlington can be backed to follow Lewis Hamilton in 2nd place this time due to her impressive 2 gold medals for Britain in Olympic swimming as well as breaking 19 year old world record of Janet Evans in 800 metres. What strengthens odds in her favour is the fact that she became the first British female swimmer since Anita Lonsborough in 1960 to win Olympic gold.

Hamilton is the favourite due to his dramatic last race win to become the 2008 Formula One Champion.

Andy Murray, might be a hot favourite for next year according to us. He is tipped to win a grand slam in 2009 and that would make him a strong contender in 2009. However, we don't believe Andy would be able to pull of a top 2 performance in the public voting on 14th Dec 2008.

Chris Hoy can be a dark horse due to his 3 cycling gold medals at this year's Olympic games.

Here are the complete odds as on 2nd Dec 2008 at William Hills for Sports Personality of the Year Straight Forecast Betting :

1st - Hamilton / 2nd - Adlington 6/4

1st - Hamilton / 2nd - Hoy 5/2

1st - Adlington / 2nd - Hamilton 100/30

1st - Hoy / 2nd - Hamilton 6

1st - Adlington / 2nd - Hoy 14

1st - Hoy / 2nd - Adlington 16

1st - Hamilton / 2nd Calzaghe 20

1st - Hamilton / 2nd - Murray 25

1st - Calzaghe / 2nd Hamilton 40

1st - Murray / 2nd - Hamilton 50

1st - Calzaghe / 2nd Adlington 80

1st - Adlington / 2nd - Murray 100

1st - Adlington / 2nd Calzaghe 100

1st - Calzaghe / 2nd Hoy 100

1st - Murray / 2nd - Adlington 100

1st - Hoy / 2nd - Murray 125

1st - Hoy / 2nd Calzaghe 125

1st - Murray / 2nd - Hoy 125

1st - Calzaghe / 2nd Murray 150

1st - Murray / 2nd Calzaghe 150