Dancing With The Stars Season 24 Odds
12. SIMONE BILES, SASHA FARBER
Simone Biles (with pro Sasha Farber)
Pros and Cons: Much like Laurie Hernandez before her, Biles seems almost too easy a pick to win Season 24. But she's got a lot going for her: She was the universally beloved face of the Rio Olympics' Final Five gymnastics team. She won the gold medal for her floor exercise — the most dance-oriented component of the Games. Plus, she's paired with Farber, who came thisclose to the finale with Terra Jolé last season, and will surely be looking for redemption this time around. Of course, on the heels of Hernandez's win last fall, viewers may not be as quick to back an Olympic gymnast all season. But if Biles brings her athleticism and personality to the dance floor, it will be hard to deny her that coveted trophy.
Odds: 2-1
11. NORMANI KORDEI, VALENTIN CHMERKOVSKIY
Normani Kordei (with pro Val Chmerkovskiy)
Pros and Cons: Chmerkovskiy has been on a Dancing hot streak as of late: four of his last five partners have made it to the finale, with two of them laying claim to the Mirrorball. The series vet could have similar success with Kordei, who not only has a background in gymnastics, but also shakes her groove thang on the regular as a member of Fifth Harmony. That said, the pop group's version of dancing is more "bootylicious" than "ballroom," which could cause a few stumbles on the floor — and, given Chmerkovskiy's recent wins, voters might be inclined to dial in for an underdog duo instead.
Odds: 6-1
10. NICK VIALL, PETA MURGATROYD
Nick Viall (with pro Peta Murgatroyd)
Pros and Cons: This is the fifth time Viall has competed on a reality series, which puts him at "Ugh, this guy again?" on the Audience Tolerance Scale — and that likely won't translate into the votes he'll need to win the Mirrorball. (Not to mention, the last time a Bachelor appeared on DWTS — Chris Soules, aka Prince Farming — it wasn't pretty.) On the plus side, Viall is partnered with Murgatroyd, who emerged victorious the last time she competed on the show and has overcome choreographing challenges far tougher than Viall's potential two left feet.
Odds: 25-1
9. NANCY KERRIGAN, ARTEM CHIGVINTSEV
Nancy Kerrigan (with pro Artem Chigvintsev)
Pros and Cons: The bad news? In his four seasons as a pro, Chigvintsev has not come close to cracking the finale (and, if rehearsal footage is to be believed, he doesn't exactly share warm and fuzzy relationships with his partners). The good news? Kerrigan could be the dark horse Chigvintsev has been waiting for, given her career in figure skating, which demands grace and agility. Sure, she's up against young competitors — including human Energizer bunny and fellow Olympian Simone Biles — but Kerrigan could benefit from years of performance experience that her fellow contestants lack.
Odds: 15-1
8. KYM HERJAVEC, MR. T
Mr. T (with pro Kym Herjavec)
Pros and Cons: Herjavec has spent much of her Dancing career partnered with pop culture staples, who, despite lacking some much-needed grace, end up getting booted much later in the season than one might have expected. (See: Jerry Springer. Or Mark Cuban. Or David Arquette. Or Jaleel White.) It seems that description might fit Mr. T quite well, too; although no one expects the former wrestler to be particularly light on his feet, or quickstepping his way to victory, he may very well stick around a few extra weeks under his partner's guidance.
Odds: 20-1
7. HEATHER MORRIS, MAKSIM CHMERKOVSKIY
Heather Morris (with pro Maksim Chmerkovskiy)
Pros and Cons: Morris' biggest strength, of course, is that she's a professional dancer; in addition to her work on Glee, Morris appeared on So You Think You Can Dance's second season and danced with Beyoncé in 2008. Her biggest weakness? That she's... a professional dancer. The DWTS audience has always warmed slowly to "shoe-in" contestants with past dance experience, and Morris could struggle to find a loyal fanbase among viewers who think she has an unfair advantage. That said, given her dancing prowess and partnership with five-time finalist Chmerkovskiy, Morris will almost certainly deliver a few showstopping routines to win over even the most cynical voters.
Odds: 4-1
6. ERIKA JAYNE, GLEB SAVCHENKO
Erika Jayne (with pro Gleb Savchenko)
Pros and Cons: After taking a six-season hiatus from being a pro, Savchenko returned to DWTS in Season 23 and, despite being a new face to many viewers, nabbed fourth place with Jana Kramer. (I suspect this had something to do with his popularity.) He'll have a new set of challenges with Jayne, though. Real Housewives personalities historically get booted from the ballroom early, something Savchenko can understand: When he danced with RHOBH alum Lisa Vanderpump in Season 16, they finished in 10th place.
Odds: 18-1
5. LINDSAY ARNOLD, DAVID ROSS
David Ross (with pro Lindsay Arnold)
Pros and Cons: Another season of Dancing With the Stars, another professional athlete for Arnold to turn into a beautiful swan. Coming off a third-place finish with former NFLer Calvin Johnson Jr. — Arnold's second trip to the finale in the last three seasons — I hesitate to underestimate her coaching abilities with Ross, a former MLB catcher. That said, there have been plenty of pro athletes to try their hands at Dancing in the past, only to be eliminated in the first half of the season. Given the highly competitive Season 24 roster (and Ross' awkward pose in this very photo), this onetime baseball player seems more likely to strike out on the dance floor.
Odds: 30-1
4. WITNEY CARSON, CHRIS KATTAN
Chris Kattan (with pro Witney Carson)
Pros and Cons: As we have learned from Kattan's years on Saturday Night Live, he has no problem committing to a performance, even when he looks utterly wacky as a result. (Mango! Mr. Peepers!) If his Dancing routines require any goofiness or physical comedy, it shouldn't be an issue for Kattan. On the other hand, there's no evidence to suggest he has actual dancing skill — and a winning personality will only get him so far. Carson, meanwhile, has struggled to reach the finale since winning Season 19... and all signs point to another year without the Mirrorball.
Odds: 40-1
3. CHARO, KEO MOTSEPE
Charo (with pro Keo Motsepe)
Pros and Cons: Even after four seasons as a Dancing pro, Motsepe seems to remain in the "paying his dues" phase — that is to say, he's once again paired up with someone who seems destined for early elimination. (He's previously finished in 13th place with both Lolo Jones and Chaka Khan, and 11th place with Charlotte McKinney; with Jodie Sweetin, however, he placed sixth.) Though Charo is an entertainment icon, she's up against a surprisingly deep bench of contenders this season — and her partner, unfortunately, is still trying to carve out a voting bloc.
Odds: 50-1
2. SHARNA BURGESS, BONNER BOLTON
Bonner Bolton (with pro Sharna Burgess)
Pros and Cons: It would be easy to dismiss Bolton as an early Season 24 elimination, given that his name is mostly recognized in the niche world of professional bull riding. But at this point, we should all know better than to doubt his partner; even when working with inexperienced, unknown or handicapped contestants (notably double amputee Noah Galloway), Burgess patiently and masterfully guides them toward the finale, where she's landed in three of the last four seasons. But she has yet to actually take home the Mirrorball, and if Bolton has even an ounce of potential, he could very well be the one to give Burgess her first win.
Odds: 8-1
1. RASHAD JENNINGS, EMMA SLATER
Rashad Jennings (with pro Emma Slater)
Pros and Cons: Now in her seventh season as a Dancing pro, Slater seems overdue for a spot in the finale — and Jennings might just be her ticket there. Though not all NFL players have succeeded on the show (looking at you, Keyshawn Johnson), most of them bring massive amounts of energy and personality to the dance floor, even when their footwork is a bit clumsy. If Jennings fits that bill, and Slater refines his gridiron intensity, this duo could go quite far.
Odds: 10-1