Online gambling sites have deemed World Wrestling Entertainment professional wrestling "diva" Stacy Keibler the favorite to win the new season of ABC's Dancing with the Stars that premieres tonight at 8PM ET/PT.
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Given her previous dancing background -- the 26-year-old beauty began taking ballet, jazz and tap classes when she was only 3 years old -- both Pinnacle Sports and Oasis Casino deemed Keibler to be the show's favorite when they first began accepting wagering on the new season of the hit ABC ballroom dancing competition. However Keibler has emerged as an even stronger favorite since public wagering opened last week, with heavy backing from bettors resulting in Pinnacle Sports now deeming her an overwhelming 2-1 favorite (from 4-1) to be crowned the show's next dancing queen.
"Betting on reality series has become extremely popular with our customers and usually provides a very accurate predictor of who will become the eventual winner on the show," stated Pinnacle Sports representative Simon Noble. "In the past, our bettors have correctly backed the eventual winner of shows like American Idol and The Apprentice. Right now our bettors clearly believe Stacy Keibler will win Dancing With The Stars, with 27% of all bets and 70% of all money wagered being placed on the professional wrestler."
Trailing well behind Keibler with the second best 11-2 odds (according to Pinnacle) to win the competition is Tia Carrere, the just turned 38-year-old actress who like Keibler, has also previously worked as a model. Close behind Carrere at 6-1 odds is fellow actress Lisa Rinna, a 42-year-old probably best remembered for her role on Fox's Melrose Place.
Famously tanned actor and former The Family reality show host George Hamilton's initial 5-1 odds had placed him just behind Keibler for second place when Pinnacle's wagering first opened, however he now currently stands as a 9-1 Dancing with the Stars 2 longshot. Also tied with Hamilton at 9-1 odds is former 98 Degrees member (and soon-to-be Jessica Simpson ex-brother-in-law) Drew Lachey.
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Rounding out the pack of ten dancing celebrities are television journalist Giselle Fernandez at 10-1 odds, rap mogul Master P (subbing for his injured son Romeo) at 11-1 odds, Oscar winner Tatum O'Neal at 14/1 odds, former NFL star Jerry Rice at 19-1 odds, and ESPN anchor Kenny Mayne at 24-1 odds.