The premiere of “Dancing With the Stars” season 35 is on the horizon. This year, 16 couples will compete for the honor of winning the Len Goodman Mirrorball trophy.
But which of the couples is most likely to win the competition?
Ahead of the season 35 premiere, many fans are debating which contestants have what it takes to go the distance. While some celebrities seem like frontrunners, there are likely dark horses that will emerge as the season continues. And of course, there are always massive upsets that catch viewers by surprise.
See which celebrity contestants have the best odds of becoming the new “Dancing With the Stars” champion this year.
Fans Debate Which ‘Dancing With the Stars’ Season 35 Celebs Will Win it All
As soon as the DWTS season 35 cast list came out, fans immediately started sharing their best guesses for the finalists. “Step Up” star Jenna Dewan and “Glee” alum Harry Shum Jr. were among the most discussed names.
But what do the odds say?
Action Network carefully weighed each celeb contestant’s experience and abilities and published their conclusions.
“Harry Shum Jr. leads the pack as the favorite to win season 35 of ‘Dancing With the Stars’ with odds of +376, and it is no surprise given his well-known dance background and the physicality he brings from years of choreographed work on ‘Glee,'” a spokesperson for Action Network shared.
“Amber Glenn isn’t far behind with odds of +455 to win, drawing on the skills that come with being an Olympic figure skater, while Jenna Dewan rounds out the top three with odds of +488 to win thanks to her professional dance training and prior experience leading dance-centric projects like ‘Step Up,'” the spokesperson added.
Aside from raw talent, many of the celebs have huge fanbases that can help pull in votes. Tyler Cameron has Bachelor Nation fans behind him, while Taylor Hanson has his band’s listeners.
Who Will Face Elimination First?
Despite all the hard work and remarkable performances, one celebrity must leave first. Fans have also been discussing which contestant will be first on the chopping block.
“On the other end of the spectrum, Giada De Laurentiis has the highest probability of getting eliminated first from the dance floor with odds of +100,” Action Network determined.
“Her background as a celebrity chef and entrepreneur simply hasn’t required the kind of rhythmic or performance training the other frontrunners bring to the ballroom,” the spokesperson added. “However, the competition can be unpredictable, and Giada could easily surprise everyone once the ballroom lights come up for episode one.”
Action Network noted that Conner Leavitt from “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” has the second highest odds of being the first eliminated, just behind Giada De Laurentiis with a +113 score. “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” star Tatyana Ali follows, with a score of +245.
At this point, it’s still anyone’s game. Many celebrities have hidden talents in store, which will shine in the ballroom.
Fans can catch the season 35 premiere of “Dancing With the Stars” on Tuesday, September 15 at 8 p.m. on ABC.
