Sweden Bulgaria Eurovision odds winner

On Saturday he won Sweden’s Melodifestivalen 2017 selection despite only coming third in the televote.

But that isn’t hurting Robin Bengtsson‘s chances of winning Eurovision, as the bookies still have Sweden listed as the second favourite to win.

When we last checked in on the odds on March 8, Betfred had Sweden down as third favourite to win — behind Italy and Belgium — with odds of 13/2.

Now — with the confirmation of Sweden’s singer and song — the country’s odds have widened ever so slightly to 7/1 at Betfred. Yet they’ve actually moved up one spot in the rankings owing to Belgium’s slight widening. His steady position may be down partly to the strength of his staging, which takes the use of treadmills to another level.

Bulgaria: Kristian Kristov a favourite to win?

He turns 17 years old today, making him the youngest competitor in the contest.

But the bookies certainly think that Bulgaria’s Kristian Kostov is seasoned beyond his years, as they have moved him into fourth position to win.

The Bulgarian-Russian singer, who rose to fame on X Factor Bulgaria, released his song “Beautiful Mess” on Monday and now sees his odds hovering between 8/1 and 12/1 at most major betting agencies.

As of 00:01 on March 15 he was still narrowing, putting him within striking distance of third-favourite Blanche from Belgium.

His Bieber-esque song is thoroughly contemporary and polished. His background will also help him. Born in Moscow, he was coached by Eurovision winner Dima Bilan on The Voice Kids and speaks fluent Russian.

Bulgaria’s rise has pushed Portugal’s Salvador Sobral from fourth favourite to fifth. However, we should point out that the “Amar Pelos Dois” singer is actually ahead of Bulgaria at several betting agencies, but loses out on the overall average.

His quietly powerful and completely atmospheric song remains a real dark horse and, if it lives up to half of the hype surrounding it, will result in Portugal’s best finish at Eurovision in years.

Unlike the aforementioned countries, Russia appears to be losing momentum with the bookies.

Since the announcement of Julia Samoilova as its singer on March 12, Russia has fallen significantly, moving from fifth position with odds of 8/1 at Betfred to ninth position with odds of 10/1 at Betfred (and odds as high as 25/1 elsewhere).

Eurovision 2017 odds: Favourites to win



Can anyone knock Italy off the top spot? Who do you see challenging for the win this year?

See older sets of Eurovision odds

139 Comments
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Erel
Erel
6 years ago

Uk is the winner, potential winner, vote for a change, Uk 2018

Leao
Leao
7 years ago

MACEDONIA WILL WIN!!!

SKOPJE 2018 !!!!

Adrian Alexander
7 years ago

I will absolutely never understand how can some people like a flashy childish lame song over Bulgaria’s amazing entry. This just goes to show once more that people are distracted way too easily by a hot guy. If they wouldn’t also be shallow in that department they’d like Bulgaria’s guy more too but eh…

KazooL
KazooL
7 years ago

What is wrong with Switzerland for the bookies? I am pretty sure the song is a sure qualifier in SF2, and that it will compete for the best result from the country sincs Vanilla Ninja (8th).

Donna Vey
Donna Vey
7 years ago

@katsu: just having fun 🙂
I’ll just be v. surprised if that top 5 happens!

(And of course you’re welcome to an opinion — but opinions are exactly opinions because they can be questioned, not unquestioned)

And I’m completely with you on smoking/cigarettes

Katsu
Katsu
7 years ago

@Donna Vey
Don’t smoke and really hate cigarrets.
But it’s pretty easy to understand what I wrote.
It starts with “For me….” and as long as I know I can have my own preferences

Lady Gagarina
Lady Gagarina
7 years ago

@The Dark Side Of DeMoon hmmm, seems like someone is so pressed: have to defend itself through incoherant novelas. Cowubunga! Hit the surfboard ya surfboard ass bish! py. come out da closet raggedy!!! the spy!!!! You’re a Ben waffle house, I’m clearly wet wipe willy

Justine
Justine
7 years ago

I forgot about Hungary, still in my top 10. But it’s hard choice to put it in any order: Azerbaijan, Italy, Belgium, Hungary, France, Portugal, Finland, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Switzerland, UK (that could be among my top 10). Next Netherlands, Serbia, Austria, Australia, Denmark (in my top 15).
I hope you like Flashlight.

adriana
adriana
7 years ago

Just now I read that the singer from Portugal needs urgently heart transplant and he won’t attend to any party.My heart goes with him.So sad to hear that.

Justine
Justine
7 years ago

My favourite this year: 1.Azerbaijan, 2. Italy, 3. Belgium, 4. France (in French) 5. Portugal, 6. Finland, 7. Ukraine, 8.Bulgaria, 9. Switzerland, 10. UK. Next would be Netherlands, Serbia, Australia, Austria, Denmark. I excluded Poland because it’s my country.

Angelika
Angelika
7 years ago

Belarus/ Switzerland/ Croatia/ Sweden/ Denmark

Eve
Eve
7 years ago

@ Katsu I like people who don’t go with the flow 🙂 Good choice

CookyMonzta
CookyMonzta
7 years ago

@Betty: That remains to be seen.

Donna Vey
Donna Vey
7 years ago

If we have learnt anything across/around Europe recently it’s that you cannot trust a poll.

July 2016 — shock Brexit (Remain favourite)
November 2016 — shock Trump win (Clinton favourite)
March 2017 — shock Robin Bengtsson win (Wiktoria favourite)
March 2017 — shock Mark Rutte win (Geert Wilders favourite)
May 2017 — shock Emmanuel Macron win (Le Pen favourite)
EUROVISION 2017 — shock ——– win (Italy favourite)

Padim
Padim
7 years ago

https://youtu.be/5E_x3BVfzLE
City lights-live

Betty
Betty
7 years ago

Sweden can win every year as long as they don’t send Loreen.
Keep Loreen away, send anybody else and win as much as you like.

Donna Vey
Donna Vey
7 years ago

@katsu
What your smoking girl?

Katsu
Katsu
7 years ago

For me my top 5 are (with no special order):
Austria | Finland | Italy | Portugal | Ukraine

Loo
Loo
7 years ago

Sweden will be in the top 3 and you know it. Stop trying to convince people otherwise. The hate train against Sweden didn’t work in last two years either.

TOTOVA fan
TOTOVA fan
7 years ago

@Moon
I’m TOTOVA fan, never said Papai Joci.
You are super loser and can’t fight with me.

Darren
Darren
7 years ago

Sweden will always rank high considering they are the most successful country in the modern period. Even their national final garners much interest every year. I don’t think they will win this year though and to be honest I’ll be bored if they do. Sweden is one of my favourite countries ever in ESC but I think Italy and Belgium deserve it more this year. The songs in Melfest are all starting to sound the same. Top 10 for them though as Robins song isn’t bad. I don’t understand the hype for Bulgaria?! It’s such a step down from the… Read more »

AzeriBoy96
AzeriBoy96
7 years ago

@TOTOVA fan Hey, stop this already! Not funny seriously, nobody comes here to read disgusting comments like that.

will someone delete those comments? things getting uglier, you said no personal attacks here.

TOTOVA fan
TOTOVA fan
7 years ago

De Moon

You try so hard to prove that you are not pedophile, don’t worry, I believe you, you are married and closeted gay. I hope that your wife knows and agrees with that, but it might be good for your non existent career to come out. Your career will start again.

Alex
Alex
7 years ago

Bulgaria has a very modern song but i don’t like the singer, he does not have star quality.

Portugal will do great in juries i think, not sure about televoting.

Sweden won’t do better than Belgium but it will depend on Belgium’s live performance.

Italy won’t do very well in juries (not top 3)…

Pheonix
Pheonix
7 years ago

Just as last year, many of these odds will ultimately be seen for the ridiculous over and underration that they are. Bulgaria in particular is wildly overrated for such a forgettable song, quite apart from the fact I thought we’d moved on a long time ago from hyping entrants who are or look like they are 12. If that sounds harsh it won’t be half as harsh as the reality in the end.

We love Paula Seling
We love Paula Seling
7 years ago

What I LOVE this year:
1. FINLAND
2. ICELAND
3. BELGIUM
4. MACEDONIA
5. SWEDEN
6. PORTUGAL
7. AZERBAIJAN
8. BULGARIA
9. LATVIA
10. not decided 🙂

From ROMANIA with love.

Hi
Hi
7 years ago

Bulgaria and Portugal at 4.th and 5.th place, thos 2 songs are awful. Its a joke

Eve
Eve
7 years ago

Then again, it’s simmply not ”gratefull’ position to judge which song is better Italy and Sweden, Melodiefestivalen or San Remo, I understand this dillema. It is simmply two different music ”schools” for me, not comparable.

Juan Jose Alvarado
7 years ago

And again, I am torn between Sweden and Italy! I can see why the bookies have the odds like that. And I’m also happy that my favourites are in good positions, according to the bookies.

2PEU
2PEU
7 years ago

Because of Armenia, fans can’t make their top 43. In this youtube era, a new rule is needed.

mango
mango
7 years ago

I want Portugal to win. That’s all I care about.

Die_4_U
Die_4_U
7 years ago

I just don’t get the hype with Bulgaria. I love the country and their entry in 2016 but this year all i can see is a boring ballad which lacks a strong chorus. A good orchestration does not make up for a week composition imo. My top 5 with no particular order is the following: ITALY, BELGIUM, AZERBAIJAN, RUSSIA, ESTONIA. France is also very close to the five above-mentioned entries.

Eve
Eve
7 years ago

@Lara ”Ppl who hate Sweden. Are you serious? No matter who would’ve won, Melodifestivalen’s songs are mostly better than eurovision songs.”
Exactly with such attitude you make people hate the song. Nobody likes arrogance 😉

Pink Pussycat
Pink Pussycat
7 years ago

I seriously don’t understand all the fuss with Italian song. Is it because this year the quality of the songs is really low and most of the songs are boring ballads ?

Milla
Milla
7 years ago

@ Denis
I think one criteria these days is a “potential hit” as well. That’s why Måns won more votes from the juries than Il Volo 😀 Didn’t they add that so that the songs would get a life after the contest?

Lady Gagarina
Lady Gagarina
7 years ago

But it’s good that actual songs & actual singers are in the top 6. Still waiting for that Armenian song, as last year’s entry slayed. In the meantime, i’ll listen to this: https://youtu.be/9sY-TsLXiDo . This yodeling entry is so good 😉

Lady Gagarina
Lady Gagarina
7 years ago

@The Dark Side Of DeMoon you make me laugh. No chance to offend? Ok. And you are here writing your Google-translate novelas of incoherency. Lovely. Keep getting pressed, my little pedophile

Lara
Lara
7 years ago

I’m happy for Bulgaria and Belgium this year. Both are young with good songs and sound good live. Ppl who hate Sweden. Are you serious? 😀 No matter who would’ve won, Melodifestivalen’s songs are mostly better than eurovision songs… they just know how to produce a good song and show!!! I have a feeling that Italy will fail (i don’t know why btw). It is also interesting to see Armenia that high even though the song isn’t officially released. Hope the last country will make smth good!

KYLLITO
KYLLITO
7 years ago

More modern songs that I believe have a great chance to challenge Italy besides overrated Belgium are Iceland, but especially Poland and Hungary. Kasia Mos sings the hell out of her song, both in the video and her live performance. Visually and vocally, Joci Papi is great and I can listen to his song all day long. Two other ballad/midtempo songs that have very low odds that should be higher are Finland and especially Slovenia. The latter is going to qualify from SF1 (although it is ballad heavy). People online are complaining that the song isn’t any good, but it… Read more »

Denis
Denis
7 years ago

Sweden Always end up high with betting odds because they know how to play the game and always send good songs. Most countries don’t want to play the game even though they know how to. And that’s also why Sweden always does well in the actual contest. Nothing suggests this year is any different, despite Nano supporters wishing it will be so and telling people he doesn’t have support. Which he has. As for juries, nowhere does it mention radio friendly as a criteria. The most important criteria is vocal ability followed by originality. These two combined with other criteria… Read more »

D
D
7 years ago

Just because Italy’s song is fun and not a ballad doesn’t mean it’ll lose support from juries. Clearly the juries supported it enough to win Sanremo. Also, fun or upbeat songs have won the juries in the past (ie Sweden 2012, Malta 2016 SF, Sweden 2015, Malta 2013 SF, Germany 2010, just to name a few). However, I just don’t see Italy actually winning the contest. I feel like it could do an Armenia 2014 and gradually lose support only to end up placing in the top five. Belgium is the one to look out for, which I believe will… Read more »

Eve
Eve
7 years ago

@ Marc Exactly, for example Russia performance from last year was bit too much for my taste, singer and song were ”drowned” by effects…, for me less is more, but I guess it’s all about personal preferences.

Marc
Marc
7 years ago

Eve
Yes, exactly what you said. Italy checks all the boxes.. that’s the funny thing xD
Demetrio is kind of right about the jury criteria.. but according to him it seems you need the showiest stage to win the jury’s vote.

Jane
Jane
7 years ago

Who cares about the odds? Eurovision is a big suprise. It’s unpredictable, you never know what happen next. Italy, France, Portugal, Switzerland and UK – these are my favourites. Cheers!

Eve
Eve
7 years ago

@ Demetrio
Seems that our taste is very much different, I wouldn’t say that France from last year and now Italy are not ”radio friendly song”, it is a fact that Italy song currently has nearly 60 mill. views. Personally, I often listen ”J’ai cherché”, more than, for example, ”Heroes”..I think that Italy fulfill all criteria which you stated 1) vocals and pronunciation, 2) radio-friendly song, 3) staging (simmple, but effective, remember Sweden from last year) 4) lyrics. But, we will see in May 🙂

Marc
Marc
7 years ago

Demetrio

Oh yes.. Italy won’t do well with juries..

– Lyrics: Sound of silence was brilliant right?
– Vocals: Amazing from Lena, Emmelie and specially Mans who won in a landside the juries.

And then we have Sweden 2017: Robin is delevering great vocala right? And its lyrics are incredible?

The most funny thing is to hear that Occidentali’s karma is not a radio-friendly song compared to others hahah

Btw Amir was 3rd in the jury vote 🙂

2PEU
2PEU
7 years ago

I love this year – many good songs, but no stand out.
This is how it should be – Brainstorming.

Ferr
Ferr
7 years ago

Bulgaria is so overrated…Justin Bieber wannabe and I’m sure he will gets lots votes from those young fans craving for young meat.

Anthony
7 years ago

Lol the swedish singer Robin Bengtsson looks like the guy from the real estate reality tv show ‘million dollar real estate new york’ named frederik lol.

Rodrigoo
Rodrigoo
7 years ago

Im surprised that there’s so many articles about polls and stuff and not a single mention that Latvian entry Line by Triana Park has now an official video. If this is Eurovision blog, be proper and share the stuff about all contestants. *angry*