Anoop Desai in top favorites to be 2009 American Idol winner

American-born Anoop Desai is turning out to be one of the surprise favorites to be the American Idol season 8 winner.

Photo: Anoop Desai, one of the favorites to be the American Idol season 8 winner

Anoop Desai has made it to the top 13 in the American Idol season 8 contest. According to betting site Bodog.com Anoop Desai’s odds (Las Vegas odds) to be the American Idol season 8 winner as 15/1.

The top favorites, though, are Adam Lambert with 2/1 odds, Danny Gokey with 13/4, Lil Rounds 4/1 with odds, and Allison Iraheta with 15/2 odds, are the best bets to win American Idol season eight, according to Las Vegas.

Adam Lambert, top favorite to be the American Idol season 8 winner

Danny Gokey, another top favorite to win the American Idol season 8 contest

But reports have said that, in the popularity stakes, Anoop Desai is ahead of the top favorites in the American Idol season eight contest. He has tremendous Indian support, which is visible in online campaigns and such.
Anoop Desai has the highest number of posts in the official American Idol message boards, at 7,499 posts, while the other favorites have:

-7,499 posts: Anoop Desai, 15/1
-6,169 posts: Adam Lambert, 2/1
-4,721 posts: Matt Giraud, 12/1
-4,279 posts: Danny Gokey, 13/4
-3,068 posts: Scott MacIntyre, 10/1

-1,968 posts: Michael Sarver, 50/1
-1,300 posts: Jorge Nuñez, 25/1
-1,071 posts: Kris Allen, 30/1

- 804 posts: Megan Corkrey, 15/1
- 659 posts: Allison Iraheta, 15/2
- 266 posts: Jasmine Murray, 30/1
- 234 posts: Lil Rounds, 4/1
- 322 posts: Alexis Grace, 12/1

Betus.com has released the following odds for the top eight favorites:

Adam Lambert +200

Danny Gokey +300

Allison Iraheta +750

Matt Giraud +1000

Lil Rounds +1000

Alexis Grace +1200

Kris Allen +1200

Anoop Desai +1400

Megan Corkrey +1800

Felicia Barton +1800

22-year-old Anoop Desai is from Chapel Hill, North Carolina. He auditioned for the American Idol season 8 on August 8, 2008. He did not make it as a finalist from his semi-final group, but came back as a Wild Card entry.

Anoop Desai has said that he is participating in the American Idol contest to honor his friend, Eve Carson, a fellow University of Carolina student. Eve Carson, a student body president,  was murdered and her ATM card stolen. Anoop Desai said that Eve Carson encouraged him to take part in the American Idol contest.

Anoop Desai was quoted as saying, “When we graduated in May, they passed out to the entire senior class these big buttons that just say ‘Eve’ in Carolina blue letters on them, the buttons are black, and I carry that in my pocket every time I go onstage or go on to a results show just to remind myself that I’m doing it for her.”

Danny Gokey from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is an American singer-song writer and church music director.

Adam Lambert is a singer and stage actor. He comes from San Diego, California, and sings Hard Rock, Pop punk, glam rock, and alternative rock.