With No Sports, Odds Open on 2020 Iditarod (Dog Racing)

• The 2020 Iditarod Sled Dog Race got underway on March 7
• It typically takes 15 days to run the race, so we’re closing in on the finish
• You can bet on who will win, which country they’re from, and more

Looking for something to scratch that gambling itch? Well…look no further than the Iditarod.

The annual sled dog race began in Anchorage, Alaska and finishes up in Nome. This year mushers took off on March 7. Experts say it typically takes 15 days to run the Iditarod, so Saturday, March 21 should be circled on your calendars.

Odds to Win 2020 Iditarod

Odds and standings taken Mar. 17

Waerner has only run the Iditarod one other time, and that was when he won Rookie of the Year in 2015. At the time of writing, he is the only one to have checked in at White Mountain checkpoint.

It’s the third last stop on the race.

A fan gave Thomas Waerner some homemade Norwegian cookies. In past years, they were meant for Joar Ulsom. If you’re too slow, I’ll eat your cookie, Waerner said with a smile #Iditarod pic.twitter.com/q7TuXtO80l

— Aubrey Wieber (@aubreywieber) March 15, 2020

It took him 6.5 hours to make the run from Elim to White Mountain, giving him about a four-hour cushion on the rest of the field.

At this point, Sass, Seavey, Royer, Burmeister and Marrs are the only other ones to have checked out of Elim.

Sass currently sits in second place, and at +600 provides good value.

Iditarod Winning Country

When it comes to riders that have already left Elim, here’s how the countries break down: one from Norway and five from the United States.

RACE UPDATE: Thomas Waerner is first to White Mountain. He received the Northrim Bank Achieve More Award at the checkpoint. #Iditarod #iditarod2020 pic.twitter.com/6gp0E8TONo

— Iditarod on KTVA (@IditarodKTVA) March 17, 2020

With Canada and Denmark effectively out, it becomes an easy decision: does Waerner hold on? Or does an American pull off the upset?

If you sense a comeback, parlay your favorite of those five with the USA.

2020 Red Lantern Award Winner Odds

There are a lot of rookies on this list, with just Kananowicz and Mapes running the Iditarod previously.

It’s really just a two-dog race, though. Mountain was the last racer to have left the Nulato checkpoint. Murringer is the only one to have not checked out of the next checkpoint, Kaltag.

At the back of the pack, Kaci Murringer is in Galena and Quince Mountain is four miles short of Galena.

Also: all dogs are good dogs. #Iditarod2020

— Alex Stein (@coldfootfilms) March 16, 2020

There’s still a lot of race left to go, but Mountain may have too much ground to make up.

If you’re looking for a dark horse though, Mapes is running with just seven dogs. It’s possible that comes into play.

Average Age Odds of Iditarod Winner

As it stands, there are only two racers within striking distance of winning that are under 42.5. Brent Sass is 40, and Wade Marrs is 28.

There are three other possibilities within the top ten, but they’ve got some catching up to do with the six at the top. We’re saying the Iditarod winner is over 42.5 here.

Odds for How Many Dogs Cross Finish Line

Of the top ten at this year’s Iditarod, only Waerner (12), Sass (13) and Royer are running with the “Over”.

Everyone other than Drobny is running with 10 or fewer dogs in that group. Earlier we said that Sass provides pretty good value at +600 to win. That means our top two choices are both running with the “Over” here.

Sass only took an 11-minute rest at checkpoint Elim, so both he and Waerner may be able to push their teams a little harder due to their bigger numbers.

Odds a Woman Wins Iditarod

With the top portion of the Iditarod field looking like it’s starting to pull away, this is looking less likely.

There are just two women currently sitting in the top ten, and Jessie Royer has the best shot. She left Elim within an hour of both Sass and Seavey.

Waerner has a significant lead, however, and looking at the group that’s already left Elim, there’s only a 1/6 chance this hits.