Dancing With The Stars Season 18: Who's Likeliest To Win? Check Out Our Odds!

By Michael Slezak March 12, 2014 5:38 pm EST

DIANA NYAD, HENRY BYALIKOV

Diana Nyad (with Henry Byalikov) Pros and Cons: Nyad's glory days as a headline-making long-distance swimmer occurred mostly in the 1970s, though she popped back up on the pop-culture radar with a successful Cuba-to-Florida swim last year. Still, contestants of a certain age -- Nyad is 64 -- rarely go deep into the competition. Byalikov, meanwhile, gets an upgrade from the DWTS Troupe to a full-fledged pro, meaning his popularity with voters remains a question mark. Odds: 75-1

Diana Nyad (with Henry Byalikov)

Pros and Cons: Nyad's glory days as a headline-making long-distance swimmer occurred mostly in the 1970s, though she popped back up on the pop-culture radar with a successful Cuba-to-Florida swim last year. Still, contestants of a certain age — Nyad is 64 — rarely go deep into the competition. Byalikov, meanwhile, gets an upgrade from the DWTS Troupe to a full-fledged pro, meaning his popularity with voters remains a question mark.
Odds: 75-1

CHERYL BURKE, DREW CAREY

Drew Carey (with Cheryl Burke) Pros and Cons: Standup- and improv-comic has quietly settled into his role as host of The Price Is Right -- but it's been almost a decade since his titular sitcom was in regular primetime rotation. Partner Burke may be a two-time champ, but she hasn't hoisted the Mirrorball trophy over her head since Season 3 -- and her last pairing with a funnyman (D.L. Hughley) ended in a ninth-place finish. Odds: 50-1

Drew Carey (with Cheryl Burke)

Pros and Cons: Standup- and improv-comic has quietly settled into his role as host of The Price Is Right — but it's been almost a decade since his titular sitcom was in regular primetime rotation. Partner Burke may be a two-time champ, but she hasn't hoisted the Mirrorball trophy over her head since Season 3 — and her last pairing with a funnyman (D.L. Hughley) ended in a ninth-place finish.
Odds: 50-1

CODY SIMPSON, WITNEY CARSON

Cody Simpson (with Witney Carson) Pros and Cons: "What's a Cody Simpson? And is it related to that Weight Watchers spokeswoman or the girl who was briefly terrible on the Melrose Place remake?" That's the question most likely to come out of American couch potatoes' mouths when the Australian pop star pops onto their screens during DWTS' Season 18 premiere. Sure, youth and musicality could trump his lack of name recognition, but will his pairing with first-time pro Carson -- a former Top 6 finisher on So You Think You Can Dance and DWTS Troupe veteran -- be a hindrance or a help? Odds: 30-1

Cody Simpson (with Witney Carson)

Pros and Cons: "What's a Cody Simpson? And is it related to that Weight Watchers spokeswoman or the girl who was briefly terrible on the Melrose Place remake?" That's the question most likely to come out of American couch potatoes' mouths when the Australian pop star pops onto their screens during DWTS' Season 18 premiere. Sure, youth and musicality could trump his lack of name recognition, but will his pairing with first-time pro Carson — a former Top 6 finisher on So You Think You Can Dance and DWTS Troupe veteran — be a hindrance or a help?
Odds: 30-1

EMMA SLATER, BILLY DEE WILLIAMS

Billy Dee Williams (with Emma Slater) Pros and Cons: It's hard to argue that anyone more suave has graced the ballroom floor than Star Wars' Lando Calrissian -- not even the Brothers Chmerkovskiy! -- but the at the age of 76, it's fair to question how Williams will hold up to the rigorous DWTS training schedule -- and how he'll fare against younger, stronger rivals as the choreography gets tougher. Slater, to her credit, did get fiftysomething Bill Engvall all the way to fourth place last season. Odds: 20-1

Billy Dee Williams (with Emma Slater)

Pros and Cons: It's hard to argue that anyone more suave has graced the ballroom floor than Star Wars' Lando Calrissian — not even the Brothers Chmerkovskiy! — but the at the age of 76, it's fair to question how Williams will hold up to the rigorous DWTS training schedule — and how he'll fare against younger, stronger rivals as the choreography gets tougher. Slater, to her credit, did get fiftysomething Bill Engvall all the way to fourth place last season.
Odds: 20-1

CANDACE CAMERON BURE, MARK BALLAS

Candace Cameron Bure (with Mark Ballas) Pros and Cons: While her acting career has been fairly low-key since her stint as Full House's D.J. Tanner, there's no underestimating the nostalgia that show inspires among folks who were raised on the ABC sitcom during its 1987-1995 run. If Cameron Bure possesses some natural dance talent, Ballas is certainly capable of capitalizing on it -- he's a two-time winner previously paired with Olympians Kristi Yamaguchi and Shawn Johnson, and was runner-up with opera star Katherine Jenkins. Then again, in three of his last five DWTS seasons, Ballas has finished ninth or worse. Odds: 15-1

Candace Cameron Bure (with Mark Ballas)

Pros and Cons: While her acting career has been fairly low-key since her stint as Full House's D.J. Tanner, there's no underestimating the nostalgia that show inspires among folks who were raised on the ABC sitcom during its 1987-1995 run. If Cameron Bure possesses some natural dance talent, Ballas is certainly capable of capitalizing on it — he's a two-time winner previously paired with Olympians Kristi Yamaguchi and Shawn Johnson, and was runner-up with opera star Katherine Jenkins. Then again, in three of his last five DWTS seasons, Ballas has finished ninth or worse.
Odds: 15-1

TONY DOVOLANI , NENE LEAKES

NeNe Leakes (with Tony Dovolani) Pros and Cons: The Real Housewives of Atlanta breakout has used her humor and outré personality to land gigs on Glee, Celebrity Apprentice and The New Normal. And while, yes, Leakes is inarguably loud and boisterous, those characteristics should help her stand out -- at least initially -- amidst the sequins, feathers and fringe. A bigger issue might be Dovolani's track record over the last nine seasons -- which includes a win (during the "All-Stars" season with Melissa Rycroft), a 5th (last year with Leah Remini) and a whopping seven finishes at 7th place or lower. Odds: 12-1

NeNe Leakes (with Tony Dovolani)

Pros and Cons: The Real Housewives of Atlanta breakout has used her humor and outré personality to land gigs on Glee, Celebrity Apprentice and The New Normal. And while, yes, Leakes is inarguably loud and boisterous, those characteristics should help her stand out — at least initially — amidst the sequins, feathers and fringe. A bigger issue might be Dovolani's track record over the last nine seasons — which includes a win (during the "All-Stars" season with Melissa Rycroft), a 5th (last year with Leah Remini) and a whopping seven finishes at 7th place or lower.
Odds: 12-1

derek-hough-dwts

Amy Purdy (with Derek Hough) Pros and Cons: U.S. Paralympic Team snowboarder and motivational speaker Purdy, who had both of her legs amputated below the knee as a teenager, is the founder of Adaptive Action Sports (which promotes athletics for folks with physical disabilities), a former competitor on The Amazing Race and an all-around kick-ass inspiration. There's no telling how she'll fare on the ballroom floor with two prosthetic feet, but Purdy does have a secret weapon at her disposal: Five-time winner Hough, who's only finished worse than fourth on two occasions among his 12 seasons of Dancing. Odds: 10-1

Amy Purdy (with Derek Hough)

Pros and Cons: U.S. Paralympic Team snowboarder and motivational speaker Purdy, who had both of her legs amputated below the knee as a teenager, is the founder of Adaptive Action Sports (which promotes athletics for folks with physical disabilities), a former competitor on The Amazing Race and an all-around kick-ass inspiration. There's no telling how she'll fare on the ballroom floor with two prosthetic feet, but Purdy does have a secret weapon at her disposal: Five-time winner Hough, who's only finished worse than fourth on two occasions among his 12 seasons of Dancing.
Odds: 10-1

KARINA SMIRNOFF, SEAN AVERY

Sean Avery (with Karina Smirnoff) Pros and Cons: NHL bad boy had to be quick and nimble on his feet while playing professionally for the New York Rangers, Los Angeles Kings and Detroit Red Wings. He's also known for dabbling in modeling and fashion (famously interning at Vogue and serving as a Project Runway: All-Stars judge), so there shouldn't be any learning curve when confronted with a beaded neckline or gold flared pants. Smirnoff, meanwhile, is no slouch: She's got a win, a runner-up and a third-place finish over DWTS' last five seasons -- and can choreograph with the best of 'em. Odds: 8-1

Sean Avery (with Karina Smirnoff)

Pros and Cons: NHL bad boy had to be quick and nimble on his feet while playing professionally for the New York Rangers, Los Angeles Kings and Detroit Red Wings. He's also known for dabbling in modeling and fashion (famously interning at Vogue and serving as a Project Runway: All-Stars judge), so there shouldn't be any learning curve when confronted with a beaded neckline or gold flared pants. Smirnoff, meanwhile, is no slouch: She's got a win, a runner-up and a third-place finish over DWTS' last five seasons — and can choreograph with the best of 'em.
Odds: 8-1

JAMES MASLOW, PETA MURGATROYD

James Maslow (with Peta Murgatroyd) Pros and Cons: Star of Nickelodeon's Big Time Rush (and its spin-off boy band) hopes to join a long line of actors coming off kids' shows and looking to expand their demographic fan base with DWTS success. Musicality and dance experience won't hurt him, and while Murgatroyd has only one DWTS finish better than sixth place over five seasons -- that breakout was actually a win with Donald Driver in Season 14. Odds: 6-1

James Maslow (with Peta Murgatroyd)

Pros and Cons: Star of Nickelodeon's Big Time Rush (and its spin-off boy band) hopes to join a long line of actors coming off kids' shows and looking to expand their demographic fan base with DWTS success. Musicality and dance experience won't hurt him, and while Murgatroyd has only one DWTS finish better than sixth place over five seasons — that breakout was actually a win with Donald Driver in Season 14.
Odds: 6-1

DANICA MCKELLAR, VALENTIN CHMERKOVSKIY

Danica McKellar (with Val Chmerkovskiy) Pros and Cons: The Wonder Years' erstwhile Winnie Cooper will no doubt start the season with the good will of fans who watched her grow up before their eyes over six seasons of the hit ABC sitcom. An additional boost: she's kept a slightly higher profile than rival and fellow sitcom vet Cameron Bure, thanks to roles on The West Wing, The Big Bang Theory and How I Met Your Mother -- and her reputation as a math whiz. Chmerkovskiy, for his part, has yet to win the Mirrorball in five attempts, but managed runner-up and 3rd-place finishes when paired with Zendaya and Kelly Monaco, respectively. Odds: 4-1

Danica McKellar (with Val Chmerkovskiy)

Pros and Cons: The Wonder Years' erstwhile Winnie Cooper will no doubt start the season with the good will of fans who watched her grow up before their eyes over six seasons of the hit ABC sitcom. An additional boost: she's kept a slightly higher profile than rival and fellow sitcom vet Cameron Bure, thanks to roles on The West Wing, The Big Bang Theory and How I Met Your Mother — and her reputation as a math whiz. Chmerkovskiy, for his part, has yet to win the Mirrorball in five attempts, but managed runner-up and 3rd-place finishes when paired with Zendaya and Kelly Monaco, respectively.
Odds: 4-1

SHARNA BURGESS, CHARLIE WHITE

Charlie White (with Sharna Burgess) Pros and Cons: Sure, some DWTS aficionados have cried "Ringer!" over the recent Olympic gold medalist in ice dancing landing a DWTS berth. But it's not like previous champs -- includng Jennifer Grey, Nicole Scherzinger, Kristi Yamaguhi or Drew Lachey -- didn't benefit from their dance backgrounds and/or previous experience, right? Burgess, for her part, is something of a Dancing newbie -- this will only be her third season of competition -- but she did help Andy Dick to a better-than-expected 7th-place run two seasons back. Odds: 5-2

Charlie White (with Sharna Burgess)

Pros and Cons: Sure, some DWTS aficionados have cried "Ringer!" over the recent Olympic gold medalist in ice dancing landing a DWTS berth. But it's not like previous champs — includng Jennifer Grey, Nicole Scherzinger, Kristi Yamaguhi or Drew Lachey — didn't benefit from their dance backgrounds and/or previous experience, right? Burgess, for her part, is something of a Dancing newbie — this will only be her third season of competition — but she did help Andy Dick to a better-than-expected 7th-place run two seasons back.
Odds: 5-2

MAKSIM CHMERKOVSKIY, MERYL DAVIS

Meryl Davis (with Maksim Chmerkovskiy) Pros and Cons: Like her Olympic ice-dancing partner White, Davis is riding a wave of popularity and good will coming off her gold medal in Sochi, Russia. And, yeah, she's built a career out of moving her body to the music (albeit on thin metal blades, not cha-cha heels). What's surprising is that her pro partner has never tasted Mirrorball glory in 13 prior attempts -- though after sitting out Seasons 16 and 17, it's possible that hearts have grown fonder for the ballroom bad-boy, who's had two runner-up finishes, two third-place runs and a pair of fourths during his DWTS tenure. This could be his best chance ever. Odds: 2-1

Meryl Davis (with Maksim Chmerkovskiy)

Pros and Cons: Like her Olympic ice-dancing partner White, Davis is riding a wave of popularity and good will coming off her gold medal in Sochi, Russia. And, yeah, she's built a career out of moving her body to the music (albeit on thin metal blades, not cha-cha heels). What's surprising is that her pro partner has never tasted Mirrorball glory in 13 prior attempts — though after sitting out Seasons 16 and 17, it's possible that hearts have grown fonder for the ballroom bad-boy, who's had two runner-up finishes, two third-place runs and a pair of fourths during his DWTS tenure. This could be his best chance ever.
Odds: 2-1