Australian Idol / Andy Morris / 23 October 2008 / Leave a comment Bet Now

Wes is looking every inch a potential winner, and punters are rushing to support him in Australian Idol betting, writes Andy Morris.

The Bondi boy has consistently hit the right note in this competition, leaving the rest looking like they are making up the numbers.

He is the only one of the original top 24 never to have faced possible elimination in the bottom two or three. Luke Dickens has also stayed out of the bottom places, but was a wildcard choice in week two of the semi-finals.

Among his rivals, arguably only Chrislyn has out-sung the 26-year-old at any stage. She has received two Touchdowns - one from Kyle Sandilands in week two and then again last time for her version of "Get Ready" by the Temptations which earned Guy Sebastian's vote.

Australian Idol betting, though, shows Wes as the clear favourite in the market, currently available to back at 1.81, while Chrislyn is the second favourite back on 5.6.

Wes is a talented all-rounder - he has penned more than 500 songs as well as earning a living gigging around Sydney. Those punters who backed him at 5.80 must be getting ready to celebrate as his odds look certain to shorten the longer the competition goes on - his version of the Four Tops' "If I Were A Carpenter" was a real hit with the studio audience and the voters.

One of the value dark horses looks to be Luke, the former sheep shearer certainly delivered with ABBA's "Knowing Me, Knowing You" in week 6.

Mark Spano was available at 10.50 in Australian Idol betting at one stage but has been cut to 5.7 now and will be looking to out-sing Chrislyn and establish himself as the clear second favourite behind Wes.

Mark, whose singing career was halted for two years due to polyps in his throat, was a consistent performer until the Top 7 round when he found himself in the bottom two for the first time.

Teale has been hanging on by a thread for some time. Like Sophie Paterson he had already been in the bottom performers three times going into the Top 7 round but while Sophie was eliminated he just about did enough to stay on the show. Australian Idol betting shows him available at 26, reflecting his precarious position.

Roshani Priddis has only been at risk of elimination once, but has come back strongly since then and gave an excellent version of "The Pretender" by the Foo Fighters. She is available at 14, having been backed as low as 5.5 at one stage.