Sure – maybe some sports betting fans only do it because their wives watch the show. Whatever the reason, American Idol draws plenty of action at the sportsbook year to year.
Here's a breakdown of the final four, complete with Bodog odds.
Lee Dewyze (EVEN)
I'm surprised to see that Dewyze isn't the stand-alone favorite to win at this stage. In fact, no two Idol contestants have ever both had even odds this deep into a competition. So why am I higher on Lee Dewyze than Crystal Bowersox? Because Lee is male. The voting reflects the viewing audience, which is primarily female. Three of the last four American Idol winners are male. So Lee has a solid shot.
Crystal Bowersox (EVEN)
She's considered the most talented artist of the final four and she thus deserves consideration in American Idol betting. Also, since there are three guys and one gal left, it's possible that she'll get the "girl power" vote and that the guys will split the votes between them. Don't count her out yet, though she'll still have to overcome the fact that she doesn't quite have a "pop" sound.
Casey James (10 to 1)
Here's my sleeper. Judges and fans alike didn't enjoy his awkward Sinatra rendition last week but he's much more marketable than the average-joe Dewyze. James has the rock-'n'-roll look about him that more commonly wins over the female viewers. If he picks the right songs going forward, he could surprise
Michael Lynche (15 to 1)
"Big Mike" is loveable but has been fighting elimination too often of late, landing in the bottom three and bottom two in consecutive weeks. It seems like the writing is on the wall for the big fella. If you want to take a risk, take it with James instead.
Today's free pick: Casey James +1000. He's an underdog for sure but history suggest he's the type of contestant who usually wins and he offers a great return on your investment compared to the other favorites. Take a chance on him.