In the 2017/18 Premier League season, Man City won one of the most convincing campaigns in the history of football, finishing 19 points clear of their closest contenders, Liverpool.
That’s was a record breaking lead, as was their ultimate points total of 100 – they were the first team ever to break into triple figures.
Almost as incredible as that achievement is the fact that not one but two bookmakers paid out seriously early on bets for City to win the league, doing so after just 16 games had been played.
The first was Paddy Power who decided to throw in the towel and pay out £500k+ on bets already made, and there were still 22 games left to play.
Man City were already leading by 9 points at the time, as well as being ahead on goal difference by +12.
Manchester United were their closest rivals, but once City beat them 2-1 at Old Trafford their lead was extended and United never looked like they could realistically catch up.
That’s when Betfred joined the early payout party and handed over their cash.
City ran away with the league ending with a goal difference of +79, a whopping +39 more than Man Utd in 2nd.
This shows you what an absolute goal machine the team was that season (106 scored), as well as having a solid defence (27 conceded), and proves the bookies knew what they were doing when they chose to pay out so early.
If anything Paddy Power and Betfred might have even saved themselves some money, as once they had paid out the market was closed, and no one would have been daft enough to bet on anyone else to lift the trophy at that point.
Paddy Power actually documented their meeting where the decision was made, in this behind the scenes vignette:
We’ve paid out on Man City to win the Premier League title. Here’s how we came to this momentous decision… #marketing pic.twitter.com/eSwBzt2LwO
— Paddy Power (@paddypower) December 7, 2017