With 24 semi-finalists ready to vie for the American idol and put themselves out to the public vote, bookies have already begun to offer up early odds for the winner.

Pinnaclesports.com have put Ace Young as the early 7/2 favourite - a male winner is a rarity in American Idol with Ruben Studdard being the only one out of 4 so far, whilst Katherine McPhee is a close second favourite at 4/1. 17 yr old Paris Bennett, who vocally is one of the strongest, is 5/1

Irish bookies, Paddy Power sees things slightly different, putting McPhee and Bennett as joint 5/1 favourites with 4 others close behind at 7/1

Personally, I think Paris is the strongest so far - but this early on its just too early to tell

Article: Oddsmakers Install Ace, Katharine as 'Idol' Favorites