The 2022 Scripps National Spelling Bee has made its triumphant return to the global stage as middle schoolers from across the country gather to compete for the title of World’s Best Speller.
A Historic Return To Normalcy
For those who don’t tend to keep up with the Bee, the past two years have been unlike any other. The impact of COVID-19 prompted an immediate cancellation of the 2020 contest.
Things looked better for 2021. Still, the slew of continued outbreaks resulted in a series of underwhelming, remote events. And while that may not seem like a big deal, the cherished American tradition has carried on without fail for over 75 years.
To put it into perspective, the only other time that the Scripps National Spelling Bee was outright canceled was during World War II.
Many of the competitors have been waiting for years to showcase their spelling skills in front of a national audience. Some prospects have even aged out of the race.
Spelling Bee Betting Lines
Nonetheless, the show goes on. And if there’s one thing we know about competitive events, it’s that there are always odds available.
Now that the Bee has returned to its former glory, a handful of lines have appeared at legal entertainment betting sites—allowing the audience to participate in the fun.
Number of Letters in the Winning Word?
- Over 8.5 Letters -120
- Under 8.5 Letters -120
Winning word to start with the letter A-M or N-Z?
- A-M -120
- N-Z -12
These two lines are focused on the contents of the winning word and can be parlayed together for a bigger win. Based on winner history from the past four broadcasts, it seems that hitting “Under 8.5” and “Winning Word A-M” would be the most likely bets to win.
In 2017, 2018, and 2021, the Bee’s winning words were all under 9 letters and started with the characters A-M. The exception in 2019 comes as a result of having had eight winners.
Even then, four of the eight winning words in 2019 were under 9 letters, and five of the eight winning words started with the characters A-M.
The Odds Always Surprise
Will the Winner be Male or Female?
- Male -125
- Female -115
Will the Winner Have Braces?
- No -400
- Yes +250
Will the Winner Wear Glasses?
- No -250
- Yes +170
Now, these lines definitely fall in the category of weird betting odds. But, here at SBL, that makes them all the more playable.
On the competition’s official website, each of the remaining contestants is listed with a headshot. There are no clear rankings attached to the contestant pages, though bettors can catch a glimpse of what the landscape is looking like.
A slight majority of the contest’s participants are male-presenting, though the 90th and 92nd winners of the Bee have both been female-presenting.
Overall, it doesn’t look like many of the competitors have braces or glasses, though glasses have been a popular aid and accessory for prior winners.
How To Bet On The Bee
The 2022 Scripps National Spelling Bee Semi-finals are scheduled to air tonight from 8-10 PM EST on Ion television. You can find odds like these at most legal mobile sportsbook sites.
For more information on sportsbook laws and access, be sure to stick around and browse our page.
Odds Courtesy of BetOnline
