The 2016 series of the X Factor, the 13th edition of the programme, is really starting to hot up as we approach the third week of the live shows. We take a look at the latest X Factor betting odds and give our predictions and tips for the week ahead, including our top tip for the X Factor outright betting and overall winner.
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In week one of the live shows we saw comedy act Bratavio eliminated following a sing-off with Finnish diva Saara Aalto. The Finn was once more in the bottom two in week two but again pulled out a fine performance to survive, this time the public making the decision to oust Freddy Parker via deadlock.
We’re down to the final 10 acts now and week three is Diva Week. The outright betting is really starting to take shape now with the public getting a good look at all the acts in the opening fortnight of the live shows. The more canny punters will have paid as much attention to the intentions of the producers as to the actual performances though.
Make no mistake about it, the X Factor isn’t a straight, genuine talent contest where the best act wins. This isn’t a fair fight. It’s about delivering entertaining television and ensuring that the acts most likely to be a commercial success make it as far as the last five (at least), from where they can easily be launched into a pop career.
From the early days of the show it was very clear that one act stood clear of the others in a number of regards. Matt Terry, Nicole Scherzinger’s 23 year old Bromley waiter, is undoubtedly the one to beat this year.
He received a lot of show time in the preliminary phase of the programme and, to paraphrase Louis Walsh, is a ready-made popstar: he looks like a popstar, acts like a popstar and sings like a popstar.
Terry clearly has a brilliant voice with a captivating falsetto, good range and nice tone. He’s likeable and fits the profile of many of the past winners of the show. Seven of the previous 12 winners have been men, with one group and four women. It’s easy to slot Terry alongside boyish past winners such as 2014 victor Ben Haenow, Joe McElderry, Leon Jackson and the second ever X Factor champion, Shayne “That’s My Goal” Ward.
He appeals to both young girls and older women, whilst the fact he clearly has the best voice also gives him mainstream appeal. He heads the outright betting at best odds of 11/10 with SportingBet and whilst those might seem short odds, he looks unstoppable to us.
In the past we might have been able to oppose him but the importance of winning has lessened somewhat since acts such as JLS, Olly Murs and Fleur East have thrived from top three finishes. Because it’s no longer necessary for Simon Cowell and co to manufacture the winner of their choice in order to launch that act as a creditable pop performer, we feel other contenders will be unable to cope with the public appeal of Terry.
The rather strangely named 5 After Midnight are second in the outright winner betting at best odds of 3/1 with Bet365 and we confidently predict they will make the final. With JLS and One Direction gone there is definitely room for a new boyband and they are a very solid act. In years gone by they may have received enough producer support to edge the favourite but instead we think they are a better bet to make the final at odds of 8/13 with William Hill.
Beyond them we have Emily Middlemas at 12/1 with Coral, Gifty Louise at 14s and Samantha Lavery at 16/1 but it’s very hard to make a case for any of them.
Ultimately we just have to side with the man topping the X Factor betting right now. Reality TV isn’t always predictable but a forecast on Matt Terry and 5 After Midnight looks a great bet to us right now.