American Century Championship Overview
This week, South Lake Tahoe, Nevada, plays host to the American Century Championship, where former NBA player Charles Barkley enters as an extreme long shot among the contenders.
Charles Barkley’s Odds
With odds at an astonishing 7,500-1, Barkley is being seen as an unlikely candidate to take home the title, despite having just achieved his best performance in the event by finishing 58th last year. Bettors have taken note of his surprising placement in 2022, prompting a handful to place bets on him to win. However, Caesars Sportsbook’s lead golf oddsmaker, Anthony Salleroli, humorously suggested they might soon find those bets listed on eBay.
Finishing Position and Betting Favorites
The sportsbook has also set an over/under for Barkley’s finishing position this year at 65.5, reflecting the cautious optimism surrounding his performance. Last year’s champion, Mardy Fish, hopes to successfully defend his title, but Joe Pavelski, a former NHL player, leads the betting odds to win at +220.
Following closely are Fish himself at +240, Tony Romo, the CBS NFL analyst and ex-quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys, at +350, and NBA superstar Stephen Curry at +425.
Balanced Betting Interest
Salleroli noted that the betting interest among these frontrunners is nearly balanced, showing a mix of enthusiasm for Pavelski, Fish, Curry, and Romo. Both Romo and Curry have previous victories in the tournament, having won in 2022 and 2023, respectively.
Diverse Field of Participants
The competition features a diverse field of 90 participants, including athletes from various sports and entertainment sectors such as:
- Aaron Rodgers (45-1)
- Actor Alfonso Ribeiro (175-1)
- Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (275-1)
- ESPN commentator Jason Kelce (350-1)
- Comedian Larry the Cable Guy (2,000-1)
