The Chicago Cubs are looking to become the first team to repeat as World Series champion in almost two decades, but the odds aren’t in their favor, according to several publications and websites.
According to the folks at Bovada, the Cubs have the fifth-best odds of winning the championship this season, currently checking in at 8-to-1 odds of winning the title. The Cleveland Indians and Los Angeles Dodgers are listed as the favorites at 10-to-3 odds, according to the website.
The Cubs went 92-70 this season, the worst record of any division-winning team and the second-worst record in the National League, finishing ahead of only the Colorado Rockies.
Chicago Cubs' 2017 Push for the Playoffs
According to Fangraphs, the Cubs have a 10.9 percent chance of winning the World Series, the lowest percentage of any division-winning team. The Indians have the highest chance, currently checking in at 19.5 percent going into the American League Division Series.
Last year the Cubs were considered the betting favorites to win the title after finishing with the best record in baseball, and that’s exactly what they did as they won their first championship since 1908.