It’s the 4th of July, and that means Joey Chestnut is going to eat a disgusting amount of hot dogs.
The chestnut has become a niche celebrity after dominating the competitive food world for the past two decades. Chestnut has won 15 of the last 16 Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating contests. You wouldn’t think there could be a dynasty in the world of competitive eating, but here we are.
And since the event is loosely part of the sports world, sportsbooks offer odds on it. Chestnut is a massive -5000 favorite on BetMGM to win the contest again. This means that a bettor would have to wager $5,000 to win $100, and yet 83.1% of the money wagered on the event at BetMGM is on Chestnut. On the women’s side, eight-time champion Miki Sudo is also at -5,000.
If you have a great tip on a long shot in the men’s or women’s hot dog eating event, you’ve studied it way too much.
The most popular bet for the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest is over/under the amount of hot dogs eaten by Chestnut or Sudo. The total for chestnut is 72.5. For sudo, it’s 43.5. Last year, Chestnut ate 63, but was knocked over by a protester, whom Chestnut suffocated. Yes, it happened. Sudo ate 40 last year. Chestnut’s record is 76.
Whether you bet on the event or not, don’t try to match Chestnut’s hot dog total during the holidays.
Here’s a first look at Tuesday’s sports betting slate:
MLB Full Day
There’s a 15-game slate in Major League Baseball and it starts early. The Washington Nationals host the Cincinnati Reds and, as has become tradition on July 4th. The game starts at 11:05 a.m. in Washington. The Reds are slight -115 favourites.
Most Tuesday matches take place in the afternoon. One of the best matchups takes place in the Bronx, as the New York Yankees host the Baltimore Orioles. The Yankees pulled off a dramatic victory on Monday, and maybe that sparks something for them. The Yankees are -120 favorites.
Every time Ohtani pitches, it’s the highlight of the baseball calendar. Ohtani, the runaway favorite to win the AL MVP, will face the San Diego Padres on Tuesday. The Los Angeles Angels are +110 underdogs against the Padres, who will have Joe Musgrove on the mound. It’s rare to see the Angels as an underdog when Ohtani starts, but Mike Trout left Monday’s game with a wrist injury. If he misses time, it’s a big downgrade for the Angels.
What is the best bet?
It seems wrong to bet against the Nationals on July 4, but I will take the Reds as a small favorite. Cincinnati has calmed down a bit since its 12-game winning streak, but the Reds are still the better team in this game.