Charles Barkley’s 7,500-1 Odds Draw Bets as Stars Vie for American Century Championship Title
Meta Description: See the latest American Century Championship odds. Charles Barkley is a 7,500-1 long shot, while Pavelski, Fish, Curry, and Romo are top contenders.
Basketball Hall of Famer Charles Barkley, renowned for his unconventional golf swing, is once again the ultimate underdog at this week’s American Century Championship in South Lake Tahoe, Nevada. Despite coming off a career-best performance last year, Barkley faces staggering 7,500-1 odds, a figure that has surprisingly attracted a small but hopeful contingent of bettors.
The Long Shot: Betting on Barkley
Even with his monumental odds at Caesars Sportsbook, a handful of wagers have been placed on Barkley to win the entire 90-player tournament. This flicker of interest comes after he secured a personal-best 58th-place finish in the previous year’s event, showing signs of improvement. The sportsbook has set the over/under for Barkley’s final standing this week at a pragmatic 65.5.
The novelty of a Barkley victory isn’t lost on oddsmakers. “We have seen a handful of tickets on Barkley to win it all, but we may see those tickets on eBay soon,” the lead golf oddsmaker for Caesars Sportsbook joked in a statement.
Pavelski Leads a Crowded Field of Favorites
While Barkley provides the human-interest story, the battle for the trophy is expected to be a tight contest among recent champions and seasoned competitors. Retired hockey star Joe Pavelski enters the tournament as the betting favorite at +220, narrowly edging out the champions from the past three years.
The field is packed with elite talent, leading to what oddsmakers describe as relatively even betting action spread across the top contenders. The leaders heading into the event include:
- Joe Pavelski: +220
- Mardy Fish (2024 Champion): +240
- Tony Romo (2022 Champion): +350
- Stephen Curry (2023 Champion): +425
[Chart showing the betting odds for the top 5 contenders at the American Century Championship]
This condensed leaderboard highlights the competitive balance at the top of the field, with former tennis pro Mardy Fish, CBS analyst Tony Romo, and Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry all posing a significant threat to Pavelski’s favorite status.
Star-Studded Lineup Fills the Ranks
Beyond the primary contenders, the American Century Championship boasts a deep roster of notable figures from sports and entertainment. Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers holds respectable odds at 45-1.
Further down the list, other celebrity participants include:
- Actor Alfonso Ribeiro (175-1)
- Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (275-1)
- ESPN analyst Jason Kelce (350-1)
- Comedian Larry the Cable Guy (2,000-1)
