With the NHL and NBA in full swing and March Madness only a few weeks away, you might think the sporting calendar is already chock a block this time of the year. But baseball fans worldwide have something truly special to look forward to this year - the inaugural World Baseball Classic (WBC).

The tournament will be an 18-day affair held from March 3 March to 20 March with sixteen countries participating. The WBC is the first international baseball tournament that Major League Baseball (U.S.) players will be allowed to take part in, and up to 60% of those players will be present.

Canbet Sports Manager Xavier Read expects fairly strong interest in the event: "We know our North American customers will show enthusiasm for this, but baseball is becoming more and more of a global sport. " Read added: "Because some of these lesser known teams may also have big stars playing for them, the betting should be interesting."

The 16 team tournament is divided into four pools, played at different locations. Pool A will take place in Tokyo, with the Japan team being the Asian powerhouse and favorite the pool (Japan is -275 to win Pool A at Canbet). The U.S. is an overwhelming favorite at -2500 to win Pool B - with Canada ( 850), Mexico ( 1200) a good value in the pool. After the pools finish, the semifinals and championship game will be played at PETCO Park in San Diego, California.

As could be expected, the U.S. team, lead by pitcher Roger Clemens, is the current betting favorite at 155 to win the overall tournament with the Dominican Republic not far behind at 185. Venezuela is the only other team with single figure odds at 13/2, so that leaves Cuba, Canada, Japan, Mexico and other strong teams available at good prices at Canbet.

Long shot punters may want to take a chance on Australia, the biggest price on the board at 500 to 1 (along with South Africa and China, also at 500 to 1).

For more information and a full list of WBC odds, please see Canbet.