easyodds.com Betting Update; X Factor With the Bookmakers Making Niki Their 11/4 Favourite

easyodds.com Betting Update; X Factor With the Bookmakers Making Niki Their 11/4 Favourite

LONDON, October 30/PRNewswire/ -- It might seem as if this year's X Factor has been on our screens for an eternity already, but with ten finalists left we are still many weeks away from finding out which act has the daunting task of following last year's winner Leona Lewis.

Leona took the competition by storm 12 months ago and after not being rushed into striking while the irons hot, Simon Cowell chose to take his time with her in a bid to make her a long-term superstar. A gamble that looks as if it's paid off! After singing live on the show a few weeks back and then releasing the first single, 'Bleeding Love', off her debut album she outsold the whole of the top five put together, including Take That and McFly, to go straight into number one last week.

So, are there any acts amongst this years hopefuls that can equal Leona? Well, so far judged on what we've seen the simple answer to that is NO! The finalists are, however, only two weeks into their live performances so surely must get better.

As we know the show is going head-to-head, like it does every year, with Strictly Come Dancing on the BBC, and already to boost the ratings we've had the normal rows between the judges, with Sharon Osbourne even walking out on the show last week because she had two acts in the bottom three. However, in typical X Factor style she's back, but with only two of her 14-24 girls left can she break her duck and win the show for the first time? Not a chance! Alisha Bennett has now been in the bottom two for the opening two weeks and it looks only a mater of time before she goes, with her odds of around 50/1 reflecting this. Emily Nakanda, her other runner, has also not had the best of reactions off the judges after her opening songs, but the fact she's the youngest in the competition might just keep her in a bit longer than she should, but even at around 40/1, to me those odds still don't look big enough.

Because of this, however, both figure prominently in the 'Next to go' market, along with Simon Cowell's Same Difference, but at around 12/1 solo artist Leon Jackson could be next for the firing line. To us he's looked nervous and a little out of his depth and although it's ultimately the public who vote if he's in the final two, it's hard to see Sharon having another act kicked out at this early stage.

The 'Winning Manager' market is an interesting one with all the judges; expect Sharon, looking to have at least one banker that should take them to the final three. Simon Cowell is blessed to have Hope and Futreproof, both, who have looked solid groups, sure to get the teeny bopper votes, while his other act, Same Difference, despite being outsiders in the betting, might just surprise a few people. Louis Walsh's ace up his sleeve is Niki Evans. She's belted out a couple of ballads in her opening performances, and can certainly sing but we just think she might just be a one trick pony and at around 3/1 in the outright betting looks too short. Despite hating his original audition Danni Minogue's trump card is the theatrical Rhydian Roberts. He's certainly a bit different, but there's no doubt he's a talented act and whether he goes all the way in this or not he looks set for a bright future on the stage. Because of these strong acts spread across three of the four judges the winning manager market is as tight as they come, with Louis, Simon and Danni all around the 2/1 mark, with Sharon seemingly already well and truly out of it around the 25/1 mark.

Overall the best bets at this stage to us look to be backing both Hope and Futureproof, both around 4/1 in the outright betting, in the view that at least one of Simon's decent looking groups will make it to the final three and therefore hopefully give punters a perfect trading opportunity if they wanted. While although short odds the 4/7 on offer for Rhydian Roberts being the top male in the 14-24 category looks an absolute steal. Love him or hate him, we think he's starting to win over the public after his initial arrogant and over confident performances. He's up against the shy looking pairing of Leon Jackson and Andy Williams, who have both, so far, not impressed the judges, and look some way behind Rhydian, so grab the 4/7 on offer, sit back and hopefully your winnings should be with you just before Christmas.

- All prices correct at time of writing.

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          Andrew Newton     Managing Editor     +44(0)20-7691-0660  

Source: Easyodds.com

Andrew Newton, Managing Editor, +44(0)20-7691-0660

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Profile: International Entertainment