They say the first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem. So I'll admit it right here. My name is Mike and I have a problem. No, it's not the alcohol I'm worried about. It's American Idol betting.

Like any good gambler I'm looking for an edge. As soon as I realized I could get American Idol betting action - serious action - at sportsbooks like BoDog, Nine Sportsbook and Pinnacle Sportsbook, I've been looking for that edge. Reading about Idol, surfing the Net looking for Idol news and asking others for their Idol opinion.

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I realized it was reaching the problem stage when I mentioned to a 50-year-old male co-worker that you could actually wager on American Idol. Well our conversation quickly turned from gambling and became an impromptu analysis of the contestants themselves and we were soon joined by another 50-something male who joined the discussion.

Is Kellie Pickler really that dumb? Is Mandisa too fat to win? How is it that Randy and Paula like everyone and Simon is the only judge speaking the truth? How about the geeky kid from Long Island, Kevin Covias, You think this will get him laid?

Simon Noble, spokesman for Pinnacle Sportsbook, said that American Idol is easily the most popular entertainment event to bet on and is as popular as some sporting events. Wagers can be made from $1 to $10,000. "There is a reason why we increased our limits to $10,000 a wager during the last series as we've found that American Idol has attracted bettors of all levels. Whether it's a novice who follows the show or a professional trying to find an edge, American Idol has truly become as popular with bettors as many major sporting leagues," he commented.

OK. I'm not alone and I've long been of the opinion that where there is a competition there is a wagering opportunity, so I might as well take advantage of this, continue my research and make some dough.

Like any gambler I cannot count how many times I have lost a bet on a missed free throw or a 22-yard field goal and shouted MY GRANDMA COULD MAKE THAT!!!

Well here I have some control. I can actually spend 60 minutes following an American Idol broadcast trying to case a single vote for the person I most want to see advance. Hell, I'm no Reuben Kinkade, you remember him, the obnoxious agent to the Partridge Family, but I know talent when I see it. Well, at least I know who doesn't have talent.

Again, I'm not alone. In doing my Idol research I came across a chat room on this very topic. Wagering on American Idol. The discussion here focused mainly on whether Mandisa, currently 10-1 at most sites, was too big to be crowned this year's American Idol.

No doubt, this girl has pipes but she also has a huge ass and while a rotund Reuben Studdard won the competition back in 2003, I'd bet anything that a double standard in American culture will prevent this woman from becoming the next Idol. And let's face it, Has anyone seen this guy since?

A major reason for the popularity of American Idol betting, according to Noble, is the fact that people get to vote and follow their favorite contestant. "American Idol's format and popularity with viewers has definitely made it more attractive from a betting standpoint," Noble said. "The interactive voting process involves viewers in ways that other shows are simply unable to and makes them back a contestant throughout the competition."

I've come to the conclusion that a major tip in looking for an American Idol betting angle is listen to Simon Cowell. The other judges, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson, virtually never offer any criticism. Remember, it was Simon who was criticized for first raising the issue of Mandisa's weight and while Randy and Paula might not think it matters, Paula told Mandisa Wednesday that she "sung her butt" off so its apparently in her subconscious mind as well.

The Idol favorite right now is Chris Daughtry at 3-1, followed by Ace Young at about 3.5-1. Katherine McPhee is the favorite among women at 5-1.

The long shots are Kovais and Gedeon McKinney at 150-1 at Pinnacle Sportsbook or Will Makar at 100-1.

Most sites are offering wagering on whether the winner will emerge from the women or men and while the first and second choice in the betting are both male, the female prop is a slight favorite which appears to me to be a good bet because as a group the ladies appear to be much more talented.

Pinnacle has also expanded its wagering menu to include head-to-head match-ups such as "Who will last longer? Lisa Tucker -193 or Paris Bennett, +175" and individual props about who will reach the final four.

Daughtry is the overwhelming favorite here at -337, followed by Young at -194.

"We received such interest in the show during the last series that this season we did the unthinkable by offering wagering on who will win the show when the final 24 contestants were announced. Previously no sportsbook had offered betting before Idol reached its final round," Noble said.

Send questions or comments to mike@docsports.com.

Doc's Sports Handy Links:
American Idol Odds
World Baseball Classic Betting
World Cup Groups