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How the public is betting the 2021 Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog-Eating Contest

We take a look at the odds for this year’s Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest.

By Collin Sherwin Updated
People wait near a “stop the spread of germs” sign at Nathans Famous at Coney Island on Memorial Day in the Brooklyn Borough of New York on May 31, 2021 in New York City. On May 19, coronavirus pandemic restrictions were lifted making Memorial Day the first holiday weekend without any restrictions in over 15 months. Much of the three-day holiday weekend was rained out with temperatures dropping to the 50s and 60s. Photo by Alexi Rosenfeld/Getty Images

The biggest day in competitive eating is here, as the 2021 Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest returns to the Coney Island restaurant known around the world for their famous frankfurters.

But this year there are two competitors that are light years ahead of the rest, and the odds reflect how big a favorite they are to take home the mustard and pink belts representative of the champions of Major League Eating’s biggest event.

Joey Chestnut has won 13 of the last 14 contests, and downed 75 hot dogs in 2020, 33 more than his nearest competitor. And with seven-time champ Miki Sudo in the field, Michelle Lesco is now the chalk to become the third-different woman to take home the trophy.

And yet somehow, the betting splits for the incoming favorites could not be wider.

Odds to win the 2021 Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest from DraftKings Sportsbook:

Men’s Contest

Joey Chestnut: -3335 (89% of handle, 14% of bets)
Any other contestant: +900 (11% of handle, 86% of bets)

Women’s Contest

Michelle Lesco: -835 (49% of handle, 4% of bets)
Any other contestant: +450 (51% of handle, 96% of bets)

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