Joey Chestnut of San Jose, Calif., winner of the 2007 Nathan’s International Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest, will return for the 2008 event on Coney Island N.Y. and again will be challenged by former champion Takeru Kobayashi of Japan. Oddsmakers at online sports betting giant Sportsbook.com have installed the pair as contest favorites; Chestnut at 5/6 odds and Kobayashi at 10/11 odds. The franks eating duo are the only contestants found worthy of receiving betting odds by Sportsbook.com as the rest of the field [everybody else] is getting 3/1 odds.

In the 2007 event Chestnut set a world record by swallowing 66 of Nathan’s famous hot dogs and buns in 12 minutes. Kobayashi only downed 63 hot dogs in that time frame. The 63 hot dogs and buns consumed by Kobayashi were eight more than his personal best.

According to Nathansfamous.com website, The Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog-Eating Contest has been held each year since 1916, according to archives. This year’s contest may have been the most highly anticipated match-up in the event’s storied 92-year history. Police reported that nearly 50,000 people attended the event in Coney Island.

“Nothing represents summer and the Fourth of July like the Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog-Eating Contest,” said Wayne Norbitz, president and COO of Nathan’s Famous. “This year our nation has new hope for glory.”

Betting Odds for the 2008 Nathan’s International fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest

Joey Chestnut 5/6 ($60 bet to win $50)

Takeru Kobayashi 10/11 ($11 bet to win 10)

For those uninformed about gambling odds; we are safe to say, these two are almost neck-and neck even odds.

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