Dancing with the Stars Season 21 Odds

Get ready to Ballroom Blitz. ABC’s hit series Dancing with the Stars (DWTS) is entering its 21st season, and the competition is in full swing. This year’s cast includes a former Backstreet Boy, a celebrity chef, a “real” housewife, and an internet star. It also features the show’s first married couple competing against each other. Let the sexual tension begin!

Week 2 wrapped up Hometown Glory Week, where stars were greeted with a grueling double-elimination round. Each pair had to master two routines back to back, a task which translated into a few missed steps for several of the competitors.

Which star will come out on top when the curtain falls?

Here are the updated odds on the eleven remaining teams:

Dancing with the Stars Season 21 odds (after Week 2):

Nick Carter (with Sharna Burgess): 4/1

Nick Carter is no stranger to choreography, which gives him an advantage over his fellow castmates. Despite a slight hiccup at the start of week 2, Nick has delivered strong performances overall. His legion of fan girls will also be voting in force, which means we can expect to see Backstreet back, week after week.

Bindi Irwin (with Derek Hough): 5/1

The Wonder from Down Under, Bindi Irwin is the daughter of the late crocodile hunter, Steve Irwin. Like her father, Bindi is a born performer, and a joy to watch on stage. Her partner is five-time DWTS champion and fan favorite Derek Hough. If there was ever a winning formula for DWTS, this is it.

Alexa PenaVega (with Mark Ballas): 6/1

Don’t take this blonde beauty at face value. The Spy Kids star has some serious street cred. She played Penny Pingleton in a Broadway production of Hairspray, so you know she can work a crowd. The multi-talented actress is also a trained gymnast, and likely to have an ace or two up her sleeve.

Tamar Braxton (with Valentin Chmerkovskiy): 6/1

Turns out Tamar Braxton can bust a move just like older sister Toni. Paired up with defending champ Valentin Chmerkovskiy, Tamar is one of the early favorites to waltz away with the Mirrorball Trophy. The pair are showing good form, and the judges agree. The road to victory will be rocky, however. Both are outspoken, so expect a few fireworks.

Alek Skarlatos (with Lindsay Arnold): 8/1

Alek Skarlatos became a household name when he thwarted a terrorist plot on a French train earlier this year. This true American hero is capturing the hearts and minds of viewers with his incredible story. The guy’s a natural on DWTS, too, despite having no previous dancing experience. Based on what we’ve seen so far, Alek could be the dark horse of Season 21.

Carlos PenaVega (with Witney Carson): 10/1

If upstaging your wife on national television isn’t a motivator, we don’t know what is. A stage presence with great musicality, Carlos PenaVega can certainly hold his own on the dance floor. While his technique could use a little polish, Carlos has some formal training from his time with Big Time Rush. He’s also very easy on the eyes, which could win over female voters.

Hayes Grier (with Emma Slater): 15/1

At 15, Hayes Grier is the youngest contestant in this year’s crop of stars. On stage, he’s mature beyond his years and has a nice presence. What this internet star lacks in age, he more than makes up for with connections. With over three million followers on Twitter, Grier should be able to rally some fan votes.

Andy Grammar (with Allison Holker): 20/1

Singer Andy Grammar is not a new face on DWTS. Having performed on the show last season, Andy showed some real potential. Perhaps we spoke a little too soon. When Bruno compares you to a “dead fish,” you know there’s room for improvement. Andy will gain some sympathy votes after losing his original partner Peta Murgatroyd to injury.

Gary Busey (with Anna Trebunskaya): 70/1

Gary Busey is the dancing train wreck you can’t stop watching. While his ability is certainly suspect, fans seem to love Gary’s crazy antics. If his previous appearance on The Celebrity Apprentice was any indication, he’s streak isn’t likely to last. It’s only a matter of time before fans get tired of the Gary Busey show.

Paula Deen (with Louis van Amstel): 85/1

Despite being a huge fan of the show, it’s very unlikely that Paula Deen will find a winning recipe on DWTS. Paula is pushing 68. A hip is bound to break sooner or later, and it won’t be pretty. The controversial cook also faces an uphill battle with fans, thanks to her use of racial epithets. Paula’s dancing days are numbered.

Kim Zolciak-Biermann (with Tony Dovolani): 95/1

“Real housewives” have never done well on DWTS, and Kim Zolciak-Biermann will not fare much better. So far, she is looking as stiff as a priest’s collar. The judges haven’t been kind, and have critisized the realty star for holding back. Unless she comes out of her shell, audiences will cast her aside like a bad date.

(Photo credit: Honeyking (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons.)