According to sportsbook.com, the Red Sox have 8-to-1 odds of winning this year's World Series, tying them with the Atlanta Braves and Tampa Bay Rays for the third-best chances.
Ahead of the Sox, somewhat surprisingly, are the Texas Rangers at 7-to-1 (likely because the Sox could miss the playoffs in the AL East, while the AL West is a cakewalk). The favorites, not so surprisingly, are the defending champion New York Yankees, with a 2-to-1 chance. This number, though, seems a little too high, as it is hard to believe that the Yankees are four times as likely to win it all as their two close division rivals.
The Orioles, Nationals, Indians, Pirates, Astros, Mariners, Royals, and Jays (despite being a .500 club) are co-long shots at 250-to-1.
The Bruins were given a 20-to-1 shot at next year's Stanley Cup, giving them slightly better odds than an average team would. The Chicago Blackhawks are favorites to repeat with 4-to-1 odds, but that number too seems a little out of sorts, given that they are not as talented as either the Washington Capitals or the Pittsburgh Penguins (both 6-to-1).
These two squads, though, likely have lower odds because only one of them can make it out of the Eastern Conference. Three of the NHL's most recent franchises, the Minnesota Wild, Columbus Blue Jackets and Atlanta Thrashers are joined by the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers as 100-to-1 longshots.
The New England Patriots' over-under for regular-season wins next year rests at 9.5, a lower figure than in years past, but this still ties them for fifth-best, behind the Indianapolis Colts, San Diego Chargers, New Orleans Saints and Baltimore Ravens. The division-rival New York Jets were also given a 9.5 over-under, and the Miami Dolphins are credited with a respectable 8.5 mark. While they are still expected to be the NFL's worst team, the Detroit Lions are actually expected to win five games in 2010.
Super Bowl odds line up a little differently, with the Colts listed at 7-to-1, followed by the Cowboys at 8-to-1 (they received less credit for regular-season wins because of the difficult NFC East and first-place schedule). The Jets, fresh off of their big offseason, are also listed at 8-to-1, but much of that will depend on LaDainian Tomlinson's productivity and the progress of Mark "The Sanchize" Sanchez. Next come the San Diego Chargers at 9-to-1, while the Patriots, Packers, Ravens, and Saints are given 10-to-1 odds.
In college, the Oklahoma Sooners are favorites for the BCS title with 5-to-1 odds, with Florida and Alabama unsurprisingly close behind at 6-to-1. Cinderellas Boise State, recently migrating to the MWC, are listed at a bold 8-to-1 and are ranked No. 3 in the nation in preseason polls.
The Boston Celtics have the fourth-best odds to win the NBA title next year at 10-to-1, behind Orlando at 8-to-1, Los Angeles at 3-to-1, and Miami at 1.8-to-1. It is, though, somewhat hard to believe that Miami, even with the "Three Kings" / "Trinasty" / "Miami Thrice" / "Most Hated Men in America," are listed as nearly twice as likely as the two-time defending champs. Both the New York Knicks and New Jersey Nets are as unlikely as possible, with a 100-to-1 chance.
In the wake of LeBron James' departure, the Cleveland Cavaliers are 1-to-4 favorites to not win a title by 2016.
Over in the world of golf, Tiger Woods is given a 4-to-1 shot to win this week's British Open; Phil "Lefty" Mickelson's odds are 10-to-1. Englishman Lee Westwood, often touted as the true favorite, is fourth-best at 15-to-1. Woods is given 1-to-4 likeliness of not winning either the British or PGA, which implies that he is even money to take home the Tour Championship.
Finally, former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney is third-most likely to take the 2012 presidency at 12-to-1, behind incumbent Barack Obama at 4-to-5 and queen of the Tea Party Sarah Palin at 10-to-1.
