I don't know about you, but when I think "hot dog eating contest" I think Joey Chestnut.
I mean, why wouldn't I? He won it for the eighth consecutive time last year. Sure, folks are quick to point out that he failed to top his other wins, with "only" 61 hot dogs eaten last time around. Only?
I interviewed Chestnut on my radio show last year and asked him what his secret was. His response, from what I recall, is that he really didn't have a secret, but "the less biting the better." In other words, swallow the suckers whole.
(For those of you not in the know, The Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest is an annual exhibition of face-stuffing that is set to take place once again on July 4.)
So, how will Chestnut make out at the legendary Coney Island this weekend? Early odds are that he will best last year's tally, but by only 4-5 dogs.
The over/under at BookMaker is 66.5 with BookMaker seeing him reach 67 hot dogs eaten. This is specifically the male category.
As for the contest as a whole, he is the favorite (obviously), coming in at -1000 on the leaderboard. Most other competitors are looking at +600.
It is important to note that last year's second-place finisher, Matt Stonie, wasn't all that far behind, having eaten 59. His odds are veering closer to Chestnut's as we speak. Further, I wouldn't underestimate a guy named Stonie at a hot dog eating contest.
This will change drastically as we get closer, so keep it here at BookMaker, and place your bet at the right time. Chestnut first won the Nathan's Hot Dog eating Contest in 2007 with - would you look at that? - 66 dogs. He set a record in 2013 with 69.
Chestnut has told the press, folks should "go with the over."
With a total prize purse of $40,000 on the line, the Independence Day contest is no joke. It is truly a fateful 10 minutes in front of a roaring crowd.
There is a female category too.
OVER 37.5 -155
UNDER. 37.5 +125
Sonya Thomas ate 40 back in 2012, and her over/under is right there (technically 40.5). She won the inaugural woman's event at that same number. A woman named Juliet Lee was far behind, at 29.
But Nevada's Miki Sudo is the favorite, taking home the Nathan's belt last year by consuming 34 hot dogs in 10 minutes, or 3.4 dogs per minute. The 29-year-old is currently the fourth-ranked eater in the world and the top-ranked female, according to Major League Eating. Only Chestnut, Stonie and Tim Janus rank higher.
That said, beware of Thomas, who holds the record on the women's side of the competition with 45 hot dogs and buns consumed in the span of 10 minutes.
The women's competition is set for 11 a.m, with the men's at 12:40. Ladies before gentlemen, right?
Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest odds were first released by BookMaker. Cash in on futures odds to win the most notorious eating event in the world by opening an account at BookMaker now! Now you can wager live while the show unfolds with BookMaker's live betting option.
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