American Idol: Early odds favor Ace Young, Katharine McPhee, Paris Bennett

American Idol goes to three nights this week.  First the girls compete, then the guys compete on Night Two.  On the third night, the loser will be revealed.  There were indeed 10 contestants listed at PinnacleSports.com (See Web Site Here) with 65 to 1 odds.  This means that for every $1 wagered, you would win $65.  A $100 bet on any of these contestants would result in a $6500 windfall should the contestant walk away as the next American Idol.

For now the big favorites pay out in the following fashion:  Ace Young pays $7 for every $2 bet, making him the favorite.  Katharine McPhee pays $4 for every $1 bet and Paris Bennett pays $5 for every $1 placed.  Bennett was mentioned as a big favorite early on but her chances appear to have slipped slightly down the pecking order.

Grey-haired Taylor Hicks - perhaps the sentimental favorite and one likely to attract the attention of slightly older viewers - is listed with odds of 10 to1. 

Kathy Kemp of AL.com writes:

Taylor Hicks, who, I'll betcha, will be among the breakout stars, and I'm not just saying that because he's local. A soulful, gray-haired 29-year-old with Joe Cocker-like tics, Hicks has personal style and a distinct, gravelly voice. Like 2003 winner Ruben Studdard and 2005 runner-up Bo Bice, also from Birmingham, Hicks comes across as polite, humble and Southern to the core. I can't wait to hear him cut loose for the judges.

Here is a little something about the finalists who are favored going into Week One:

ACE YOUNG – (25) From Los Angeles, CA (Auditioned in Denver) – Ace is the youngest of five brothers. Ace grew up in Boulder, CO, and began his singing career at age 9. He started performing at 11 in local malls and recreation centers. Ace lives in Los Angeles and works in sales and home remodeling.  Ace Young pays out $7 for every $2 bet.  Teenyboppers are likely to keep him deep into the competition despite his singing abilities (or lack thereof).

YOU CAN BET ON AMERICAN IDOL HERE

KATHARINE McPHEE – (21) From Sherman Oaks, CA (Auditioned in San Francisco) – Katharine was born and raised in Los Angeles.  She was exposed at an early age to the joy of singing by her mother, a vocal coach. After high school, Katharine attended the prestigious Boston Conservatory for one semester and majored in musical theater.  A beautiful angelic voice, McPhee is likely to make it to the top 5, plus being cute doesn't hurt.

PARIS BENNETT – (17) From Fayetteville, GA – (Auditioned in Greensboro) – Paris began singing at the age of 4.  She has performed in numerous concerts and has opened for many groups, including Bow Wow.  Paris is a skilled dancer in hip-hop, jazz and modern African dance.  She was the early favorite prior to last week's selection process.

CHRIS DAUGHTRY – (26) From McLeansville, NC (Auditioned in Denver) – Chris discovered his singing ability in algebra class. A gifted guitar player and songwriter, Chris has already recorded a CD with his band Absent Element.  For the past three years, Chris has been a service advisor for a car dealership in Greensboro, NC.  In 2000, Chris married his wife Deanna and became a stepfather of two.

KELLIE PICKLER – (19) From Albemarle, NC (Auditioned in Greensboro) – Kellie is a waitress who currently lives in Albemarle, NC, and enjoys singing, dancing and shopping for shoes. Kellie has been singing for as long as she can remember, but only began performing for crowds four years ago.  Kellie's payout odds are 8 to 1.

TAYLOR HICKS – (29) From Birmingham, AL (Auditioned in Las Vegas) – Taylor is a blue-eyed soul singer who has played every honky-tonk imaginable. A talented writer and harmonica player, Taylor enters the competition with almost 29 years of singing experience, as he has been singing since he could crawl.

YOU CAN BET ON AMERICAN IDOL HERE

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