Kelly may have the voice, but Justin's funky hair, confident air and legion of
teenage girl fans give him a slight edge to win a recording contract when the
Fox television network crowns its first American Idol tonight, a Las Vegas
oddsmaker said.
The hunky Justin
Guarini is the 5-to-6 favourite to win the first edition of Fox's summer
hit American Idol: The Search for a Superstar, said John Avello, director of
race and sports operations at Bally's and Paris Las Vegas.
Kelly Clarkson, known more for her soulful voice than on-stage moves, is an
even-odds bet in the contest that has captured people's attention.
Avello said Justin was the No. 2 favourite at 5 to 2 odds when the field of
contestants was whittled to 10. Kelly was No. 3 at 4 to 1.
"Justin just had this girl thing going," Avello said. "He had the
look, he had the hair, the smile. The girls were screaming every time he got up.
He had that star thing about him that girls really like," he said.