We’ve yet to hear a single note from any of the songs. But that hasn’t stopped Sweden’s bookmakers from taking bets on who should win Melodifestivalen 2020.
And just days after the Tuesday 26 November line-up reveal, there is already a clear Mello favourite — FELIX SANDMAN.
Melodifestivalen 2020 Odds: FELIX SANDMAN favourite to win
The soon to be “Boys with Emotions” hitmaker is currently trading on Unibet at odds of 7/2 or 4.5.
Sandman was one of the major talking points during the Melfest 2020 launch, given that he was one of only a handful of artists that Aftonbladet had failed to definitively flag in advance.
Zara Larsson’s labelmate finished second upon his solo debut in 2018. Despite its runner-up status, “Every Single Day” was the most commercially successful entry that year.
Since then he’s released a slew of popular singles and an album that reached number three in the Swedish charts.
It’s little surprise that the oddsmakers are frothing at the mouth.
Melodifestivalen 2020: Other favourites
FELIX may have the shortest odds, but there are several more acts at the top end of the bookie rankings.
Closest is Hanna Ferm on 6/1 or 7.00. She finished third in 2018 with “Hold You”, a duet with LIAMOO.
Just behind is Victor Crone at 13/2 or 7.5. He previously competed in Melfest 2015, reaching the Andra Chansen second chance round. However, his stock has risen since he represented Estonia at Eurovision 2019. “Storm” became a summer radio hit in Sweden.
The top five is rounded out by two more Mello veterans. Mariette and Robin Bengtsson both have odds of 9/1 or 10.00. The former last competed in 2018 while the latter won the 2017 edition.
It’s important to note that we obviously haven’t heard any of the songs yet, and these odds are driven partly by hype.
That said, bookies and oddsmakers do keep their ears-to-the-ground and often have insight from songwriters and officials close to (and even inside) SVT. Sometimes their crystal balls are based on facts that the rest of us simply don’t know about. The only problem is it’s hard to know when they’re on it and when they’re not…
Melodifestivalen 2020 Bookmakers’ Odds
- Felix Sandman — 7/2
- Hanna Ferm — 6/1
- Victor Crone — 13/2
- Mariette — 9/1
- Robin Bengtsson — 9/1
- Mohombi — 11/1
- Anna Bergendahl — 13/1
- Mendez ft. Alvaro Estrel — 13/1
- Paul Rey — 15/1
- The Mamas — 15/1
- Dotter — 17/1
- Albin Johnsén — 25/1
- Ellen Benediktson & Simon Peyron — 25/1
- Klara Hammarström — 25/1
- Malou Prydz — 25/1
- William Strid — 25/1
- Anis don Demina — 35/1
- Faith Kakembo — 35/1
- Jakob Karlberg — 35/1
- Frida Öhrn — 50/1
- Thorsten Flinck — 50/1
- Amanda Aasa — 75/1
- Linda Bengtzing — 75/1
- Nanne Grönvall — 75/1
- Sonja Aldén — 75/1
- Suzi P –75/1
- Drängarna — 100/1
- OVÖ — 100/1
Odds correct as of 23:00 CET 27 November 2019, via Unibet
How the odds work
A “fractional betting odd” is when you see two numbers separated by a slash, e.g. 9/1. Such odds let you work out how much money you will win on your bet compared to your initial stake. The number on the left is how much you will win and the number on the right is the amount you need to stake in order to win that figure.
Taking the 9/1 example, for every €1.00 you bet, you will win €9.00. This can also be calculated as a “decimal odd” — 1/(9 + 1)*100 = 10.00. There is a 10% chance that this will be the outcome.
If you make a winning bet of €1.00 you would get back €10.00 — €9.00 in winnings plus your original €1.00
What do you think of the odds? Who is underrated? Let us know in the comments.
People need to stop their Mariette obsession. No one votes for her here. She had one great song Don’t Stop Believing that got very low televoting. Since then she’s done worse and worse for each song and the songs weren’t all that great either.
This year she probably wont even end up top 5..
We just don’t like her, chances of her winning is 0%
If Victor Crone wins i would be really suprised. Swedes often dont like when artists have been competing for other countries like Helena Paparizou, she did not win here. Katarina UK 1997 didnt win here in 2005, Maarja Estonia 1996 didnt win here in 2003, Sahlene Estonia 2002 didnt win here in 2003 ,2006,2009 etc,
Robin Bengtson will go to AC at best! Swedes hate returnees, Loreen didn’t go to the final with THAT song. The only exception is Anna Bergendahl. For me ots her or Felix this year. Mariette needs to get rid of those horrible dreadlocks.
No Sweden love returness. There is a strange unspoken rule in Sweden that when you first enter you get a bad result and in second attempt you succed. Like John, Benjamin, Hanna Ferm. I know its a stupid rule but for many artists its actually true. Sanna Nielsen 7th time.
I meant ones who actually went to Eurovision.
In my opinion bookmakers doesn’t matter right now. We don’t even know only one single song. And if I have to choose a personal pre-contest favorite I would choose Mariette. It’s really at the time to send her. Always one of the favorites and has always great songs. And it’s time to send a woman to Eurovision
Well, I am 99.9% sure we won’t send Mariette to Eurovision. The swedish public likes her well enough to send her to the finals but not further that that
I predict that John Lundvig will win
and where is he?
Remember that a nobody will not likely win melodifestivalen. So a big name is of course a major factor. The other major factor is the song. Does it stand out in the crowd. Or is it just dull? The song could change the top placements. But we wouldn’t send an unknown name or a less “serious” act such as Torsten Flink or Drängarna. They are in the competition for other purposes. And the unknown acts I refer to are there to be known, not to win. Of the top 8, I’m not sure about Victor Crone teaching a place in… Read more »
Everyone saying “Sweden will win” but after Mello 2020 they’ll be like “Sweden will not win”
I’m not even referring to ESC. A victory in melodifestivalen is very prestigious to us swedes. It’s the second most watched show every year. ESC is also important, but this is more important
Yeah we know. Still we won 6 times and you say this every year. Thats nice.
I think it will be difficult for Felix. He is not only competing against the other songs. He is competing against him self and the song has to be better than Every single day.
Eller vad tror ni svenskar?
you’ve made several points malin, but then again, robert bengsson won with awful i can’t go on when constellation prize was 10x better ?
Won MF in a strong year, and came too at Eurovision. Yeah, it wasn’t awful.
Jag tror han kommer vinna. Mest för att hans nya låt tydligen är ganska lik “Soldi” från eurovision i år. Men också för att han just nu har någon slags momentum och nog kan fiska en del röster därifrån. Som det ser ut nu så är den enda som kommer utmana honom Mohombi eller Hanna Ferm.
I understand your point Malin but I think right now that Felix is the one to beat. Hes gained a lot more momentum since last time and the song is supposdely more uptempo than Every Single Day. It is his race to lose.
Jag som svensk tror inte Felix vinner MEN är låten super vill jag han vinner:)
But we have just names we have no clue what there actual song, yes we hear previous songs but how can you bet on this? This ods right now don’t say anything
As much as I loved “Every Single Day”, this time it should be a woman for Sweden after 5 years of the same formula. Go Hanna! Go Mariette! <3
I hope Felix wins <3
Nanne Gronvall underestimated as per usual, She’s going to Rotterdam and that’s that’s so… Go off
He will be the next Ace or Nano hyped because he came second ….
In all fairness he has also had a very successful career outside of Melodi which the other two can´t say. Plus he is much much younger than both of them were in their second attempts.
Yes, but i just have a feeling that someone other will win, the course is a man who has got a second attemp so maybe Victor or Malou and Hana
Gullible Felix Sandman fans. They entertain me.
When they revealed FELIX I was like Oh well that is Danny Saucedo, and then when william strid was announced I acted the same. They all got the same hairstyle lol
Obviously we haven’t heard the songs so it’s a bit ridiculous to predict the winner now but I have a feeling it’ll either be Mariette, Felix, or Hanna.
what’s gonna take for y’all to understand that mariette is televote poison and that she’ll never win
There is no way Mariette will win. No one here actually votes for her
Nanne’s and Sonja’s places on that list might turn out to be accurate but regardless, it’s like a pencil piercing through my eye sockets. No songs far and wide and yet we already seem to know just about everything yet again.
Bookmakers are nothing if not well-informed. They’ll have some inside information about the quality of the songs. The ranking (at the moment) might not be exactly what happens but I’ll be surprised if it is completely wrong.
So I guess you don’t like to be surprised?
High hopes for Ellen Benediktson & Simon Peyron and Dotter
My enthusiasm for Dotter is dramatically tempered by the awful song and performance she entered last time.
Love Ellen though.
Oh, Alex we have exactly the same favorites. I loved Dotter, and Ellen whith Singbird. I really liked Eco whith outrigger. BUT … I think I am in a minority of the Swedish viewer that have that tast. : /
Från Sverige?
I have always wondered about the influence of the odds in such competitions, as well as in elections. I wanna believe that people will always vote for whatever they choose without being influenced by polls or odds, but a part of me wishes those were forbidden. They can take a lot of the fun away.
Yes please, he is amazing! I know this is a male artist again for Sweden, but Felix must go to Eurovision this time.
Please dear Sweden make it happen, kisses from Ukraine :)))
p.s. yes we don’t know songs yet, but im almost sure Felix’ song gonna be really good
Actually I could see it happening..
This is already bigger than the hype Frans had in 2016 and he didn’t even had hype until he competed.