Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest 2017 Betting Odds: Joey Chestnut A Heavy Favorite On Fourth Of July

Joey Chestnut will defend his championship Tuesday afternoon at the 101st Annual Nathan's Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest. Having won the contest on July 4, 2016, the legendary competitive eater is favored to win again.

According to the latest betting odds at Bovada.lv (yes, you can bet on the hot dog eating contest), Chestnut has -450 odds to defeat Matt Stonie, who is a +275 underdog. Stonie pulled off the upset two years ago when he beat Chestnut, eating 62 hot dogs to the champ’s 60.

“If Coney is Augusta and Nathan's is our Masters, the Yellow Mustard Belt is our green jacket,” Major League Eating president Richard Shea told TheStreet.

Before his loss in 2015, Chestnut had dominated the contest. Beating six-time winner Takeru Kobayashi in 2007, Chestnut won the event eight years in a row.

Chestnut reclaimed his crown in 2016 by setting a record with 70 hot dogs and buns consumed. Stonie came up short with 53 hot dogs last year.

Not only is Chestnut expected to win the 2017 competition, but he's favored to do so by setting a new record. The odds of the winner eating more than 71.5 total hot dogs are set at -175. Chestnut has -110 odds to eat more than 46 hot dogs within the first five minutes.

“I have my body figured out. I have a really good technique. There has to be something wrong with me for somebody to beat me,” Chesnut told The Mercury News. “There are usually 40,000 people there and the contest is shown live in other countries. It’s become big. I never thought I’d get stressed out, but there’s a little bit of pressure this time.”

For the women, Miki Sudo is the overwhelming favorite to win the event. She came in first place a year ago, winning at Coney Island for a third straight year. It took her 38.5 hot dogs and buns in 2016, improving from 38 and 34 in the previous two years.

“The best I can explain it is that it’s adrenaline,” Sudo once told Mental Floss when asked how she fits so much food into her small frame. “During a competition, it just completely takes over. I try to pay attention when the emcee calls time or announces where another competitor is in terms of quantity, but other than that, I don’t see or feel anything.”

Sonya Thomas is considered to be Sudo’s biggest competition. Thomas has proven she can win the contest, having done so in 2011, 2012 and 2013. But she’s a decided underdog in 2017 with +275 odds. Sudo is a -450 favorite.

Below are betting odds for the Annual Nathan's Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest. Click here for all of the prop bets that you can make for Tuesday's contest.

Men's Championship/Head-to-Head winner

Joey Chestnut -450

Matt Stonie +275

Men's Championship/Head-to-Head winner

Carmen Cincotti -300

Geoffery Esper +2000

Men's Championship | Total hot dogs eaten by winner

Over 71.5 -175

Under 71.5 +135

Special - Will there be an eat-off?

Yes (Eat-off) +750

No (Winner Determined in 10 minutes) -2000