Eurovision and betting odds

Unlike last year we don't seem to have a clear favourite this year - at least until the rehearsals start in a month in Oslo 2010. Norway was a clear favourite last year and went on to have a record breaking victory. Russia's Dima Bilan was also a hot favourite by the bookers before the big night in 2008 but in Helsinki 2007 even if Serbia's Marija Serifovic was a big favourite as well, she had to battle it out with Ukraine's Verka Serduchka all along. On the day of the final Verka was number one in the betting but Marija beat her in the real thing.

In 2006 Greece's Anna Vissi was the favourite until another Eurovision veteran Carola took over. Both were beaten in the voting though my Finland's Lordi, who also scored the biggest number of votes until then and the ladies finished 5th and 9th. The year before the Greek entry by Helena Paparizou kept the leading role she had in the bets also at the voting and won.

Another Greek entry, Sakis Rouvas was leading the betting most of the build up to the contest in 2004 but was beaten by Serbia-Montenegro's Lane moje and eventual winner Ukraine's Wild dances in the finishing line - exactly the same happened in the real voting.

The year before the Russian duo t.A.T.uand Spanish Beth were battling the bets but steady underdog Sertab Erener from Turkey took home the victory instead. Belgium came out of nowhere to claim the second place ahead of t.A.T.u and Beth finished only 8th.

Another Spanish entry, Rosa's Europe's living a celebration was the betting favourite with Germany's I can't live without music in 2002. Rosa ended 7th and Germany 21st while Latvia took a surprise win with I wanna. In 2001 another Greek entry Die for you was the pre-contest favourite while host country Denmark took over during the rehearsal week. Both were though beaten by Estonia, another shocker winner.

And Denmark started the shocker winner trio in the early 2000's when Fly on the wings of love came from nowhere and won ahead of betting favourites Once in a life time from Estonia and Don't play that song again from UK. They ended 4th and 16th.

So, if Azerbaijan, Germany and Israel are leaving the bets now, can they keep it up til the big night? When the rehearsals start the odds may change dramatically and you never know how people vote. The fan polls often have certain favourites than then fail miserably in the real thing. On top of that we have 50-50 juries again, how that will effect? I predict a close run and a lot of surprises, already in the semifinal stage.

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