Oddsmakers Install Ace, Katharine as 'Idol' Favorites

Zap2It.com | February 17, 2006

Katharine McPhee, American Idol 5

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With "American Idol" moving into its public-voting phase next week, online bookies have begun laying odds on the 24 semifinalists. If the oddsmakers are right, we could be headed for an Ace Young-Katharine McPhee showdown sometime in late May.

Online gaming site PinnacleSports.com has the 25-year-old Young as the early favorite, with odds of 7 to 2 to become "Idol's" first male champion since 2003. McPhee is right behind at 4/1, and another early favorite, 17-year-old Paris Bennett, is a 5/1 chance to take home the title.

British bookie Paddy Power, meanwhile, has McPhee, a 21-year-old from Los Angeles, and Bennett as co-favorites at 5/1, with Young, Chris Daughtry, Taylor Hicks and Kellie Pickler close behind at 7/1.

The two oddsmakers disagree sharply on the chances for Jose "Sway" Penala and Melissa McGhee. Paddy Power has Penala at 8/1 and McGhee at 14/1. Their odds are much longer on Pinnacle's board, though, with Penala at 29/1 and McGhee among a group of longshots at 65/1. Neither seems to like the chances of 16-year-old Kevin Covais, who sits at the bottom of the list on both counts.

"American Idol" begins its semifinal rounds on Tuesday (Feb. 21) with performances by the 12 female singers. The guys follow on Wednesday, and two from each group will be sent home during a live results show Thursday. The process repeats for two weeks after that to determine the final 12.