Odds Favor James Holzhauer to Win Jeopardy! Tournament of Champions

• Jeopardy!’s annual Tournament of Champions returns this fall, airing November 4th through November 15th
• Fifteen top players from the last two seasons of the show are set to compete
• Recent Jeopardy! champion James Holzhauer is the one to beat

Since 1964, television game shows have always paled in comparison to the beloved Merv Griffin creation Jeopardy! Always known as the more polished, educated older sibling to other programs in its genre, Jeopardy! has a rich, lustrous history that make it addictive to watch.

One tradition that has lasted as long as the show itself is its annual Tournament of Champions. Though some years have not featured this best-of-the-best competition, the Tournament itself dates as far back as the show’s inception.

With the Tournament of Champions bringing together the best players in that year’s season, it’s always a Jeopardy! lover’s dream to see these all-star players go head-to-head.

Odds James Holzhauer Wins the Jeopardy! Tournament of Champions

*Odds taken 07/11/19

Famed Jeopardy! contestant James Holzhauer is the one to beat on this year’s tournament. His recent success on the show has made him one of the greatest Jeopardy! contestants of all time, raking in $2.4 million over the course of his 32-week appearance on the show.

Holzhauer brought with him an interesting history. A professional sports gambler from Las Vegas, Nevada, Holzhauer also has a Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts and Sciences and Math and saw success on two other game shows, The Chase and 500 Questions.

It was during his run on Jeopardy!, though, where Holzhauer really made his mark. His day four appearance on the show beat the single-game Jeopardy! record at $110,914, besting the previous record by over $30,000.

Given his famed appearance on the show, it’s easy to see why Holzhauer is set to win this year’s tournament.

14 Reasons Why

But even with Holzhauer’s decorated history on Jeopardy!, his success doesn’t make him an automatic shoe-in to take the prize on the Tournament of Champions. Fourteen other contestants stand in the way before he can claim this competition.

Eyes are also on Emma Boettcher, the player who defeated Holzhauer just last month, ruining his chance to beat player Ken Jennings’ record-shattering $2.52 million streak as the player with most total play money received.

In terms of successful champions also appearing, though, nobody’s earnings come even close to Holzhauer’s. The second most successful player appearing in this year’s tournament is Josh Hill, who took home $163,721.

The second most successful player appearing in this year’s tournament is Josh Hill, who took home $163,721.

While it’s still an impressive prize amount, Hill’s earnings pale in comparison to Holzhauer, and it’s unlikely that he or Boettcher can take down this Jeopardy! legend. Many consider Boettcher’s original takedown of Holzhauer a one-off fluke in the first place. Watch for James Holzhauer to take this win.

Pick: Yes (-135)