Tuesday, March 21, 2006

Katharine McPhee Closing in, But Chris Daughtry Still the Favorite to Win American Idol

PlayersOnly.com bettors have their eyes – and bets -- on the fairer foe

If PlayersOnly.com bettors have anything to say about it, the next American Idol will look better in a bikini than the current favorite. Players at the world’s sexiest sportsbook and casino are putting their money on the beautiful Katharine McPhee to win no matter how much support leader Chris Daughtry gets from the voting public and even difficult-to-please judge Simon Cowell.

“We took a lot of razzing last week when word got out that our players were putting their money on the most attractive contestants in the Amazing Race, despite the horrible odds,” said Tim Williams of PlayersOnly. “With American Idol, I’d have to say they seem to be listening more to their heads than their hormones.”

As contestants are eliminated each week, odds are adjusted. While Daughtry went from 5-2 to 2-1 after his performance last week, McPhee closed the gap, improving her odds from 4-1 to 7-2. Daughtry is taking 17.8 per cent of wagers and McPhee has 16.1 per cent.

Initial favorite Ace Young still has 11 percent of wagers at PlayersOnly.com, but his odds (5-1 last week) have plummeted to 9-1. As one of the show's early frontrunners, being one of the bottom three vote-getters last week came as a surprise to both the judges and the studio audience.

"I don't get it... I don't get it, not at all," vented judge Paula Abdul "I think America has to remember you have to vote for every single person you like, whether they are #1 or they are #12."

While the largest contestant in the group, Mandisa, is holding her own at odds of 8-1, PlayersOnly.com players aren’t showing much interest. Only 3.2 per cent of bettors are backing the talented but overweight contestant. No surprise there.

In a telephone interview on Howard Stern's Sirius satellite radio show last week, Judge Simon Cowell predicted the final three in this season's finals will be Chris Daughtry, Taylor Hicks and Kellie Pickler. He obviously hadn’t consulted the following odds currently posted at PlayersOnly.com:


American Idol Season 5 (FOX) - Who Will be The Winner

Contestant Odds Betting Trend
Chris Daughtry 2-1 17.8%
Katharine McPhee 7-2 16.1%
Mandisa 5-1 3.2%
Taylor Hicks 5-1 9.5%
Paris Bennett 8-1 10.9%
Ace Young 9-1 11.1%
Elliott Yamin 10-1 6.4%
Kellie Pickler 12-1 6.5%
Lisa Tucker 12-1 13.0%
Kevin Covais 60-1 0.2%
Bucky Covington 80-1 0.6%

Odds on American Idol, the American presidential race, the PGA, NASCAR and March Madness college basketball are all continually updated at PlayersOnly.com, the worlds sexiest sportsbook, casino and poker room.

Top NCAA Contenders Still Favorites Even After Round 2 Upsets

65% of SportingbetUSA.com bettors are still in the game, most still counting on the Huskies

Montana trounced resounding favorite, Nevada, and without experienced seniors, the Tar Heels made a shocking early departure. Albany may have given UCONN a bit of a scare, but the Huskies are still the top contenders for March Madness with odds of 2-1 they’ll take the NCAA Championship.

“Nevada fans are out of it, and North Carolina fans are still in a state of shock, but about 65% of the bettors at SportingbetUSA.com still have a chance of winning their NCAA tournament champions bet,” commented Tony Delgado, Manager of SportingbetUSA.com. “Of those bets, 16.6 per cent are riding on UCONN, 11.1 per cent on Duke, 7.9 per cent on Villanova and 5.6 per cent on Texas.”

Jim Calhoun has a talented squad. If the Huskies get down to business, they’re tough to beat, so odds makers have set their odds at 2-1.

The Duke Blue Devils are exhibiting the confidence and talent that have made them a Sweet Sixteen team for the past nine years. Their dominance over George Washington on Saturday solidified the odds ranking of coach Krzyzewski’s squad as a contender – current odds place them at 5-1.

As March Madness tournament turns into an all out battle, SportingbetUSA.com’s current odds on the Sweet Sixteen are:

Connecticut 2-1
Duke 5-1
Villanova 7-1
Memphis 8-1
UCLA 8-1
Florida 11-1
Texas 12-1
Boston College 12-1
Gonzaga 15-1
LSU 25-1
Georgetown 25-1
West Virginia 30-1
Washington 35-1
Wichita St 75-1
George Mason 100-1
Bradley 100-1