Dancing With The Stars Odds: Check Out the Full Cast's Chances Ahead of Tuesday's Season 35 Debut

Who Will Emerge as Favorite in Early Dancing With The Stars Episodes of Season 35?

Robert Irwin’s victory last season sets the stage for another competitive race for the Mirrorball Trophy. Season 35 opens with a two-night premiere featuring actors, athletes and reality personalities, with established dance experience emerging as an early dividing line among the leading contenders.

Harry Shum Jr. heads the displayed Kalshi market at 25%, followed by Jenna Dewan at 19% and Jackson Olson at 15%. Amber Glenn and Ezra Frech sit close behind, leaving plenty of room for an opening-night performance to reshape a market that has yet to establish an overwhelming favorite.

Bet on DWTS and more entertainment props with Kalshi Here

Latest Dancing With The Stars Odds From Kalshi

Harry Shum Jr. (25%)

Shum brings an extensive dance background to his partnership with Jenna Johnson, including performances in Glee and the Step Up franchise. His experience learning choreography and performing on camera gives him a strong foundation, although adapting those skills to ballroom technique presents a different challenge.

At 25%, Shum is the early favorite without dominating the field. His biggest advantage could be his ability to deliver polished routines immediately. The longer-term question is whether he can pair that technical standard with a compelling season-long story that keeps viewers voting.

Jenna Dewan (19%)

Dewan is another contender whose dance credentials create immediate expectations. The Step Up actress and former Janet Jackson backup dancer partners with Val Chmerkovskiy, making musicality and performance quality natural strengths to watch during her debut.

Her 19% price positions her as Shum’s closest challenger. Experience should help with the demands of weekly rehearsals, but it also raises the standard against which she will be judged. Strong scores would establish her credentials; chemistry and memorable performances could determine whether she becomes the audience favorite.

Jackson Olson (15%)

The Savannah Bananas star enters with a different kind of performance background. Olson is accustomed to entertaining crowds, and his partnership with Emma Slater offers a chance to translate that confidence into routines that connect beyond the baseball audience.

At 15%, Olson sits ahead of several recognizable names with more obvious dance connections. His appeal rests on combining athletic ability with personality. If his opening routine demonstrates enough technical promise, he could become a serious challenger to the more experienced performers at the top.

Amber Glenn (14%)

Glenn’s figure-skating background makes her one of the most intriguing athletes in the competition. Balance, musical interpretation and experience performing under pressure could all help her partnership with Pasha Pashkov, even as ballroom introduces unfamiliar footwork and partnering requirements.

Her 14% probability places her almost level with Olson. The key is how quickly she adapts her movement to the ballroom floor. A convincing first performance would strengthen the case that her skating skills provide a meaningful competitive advantage.

Ezra Frech (13%)

Paralympic gold medalist Frech partners with Daniella Karagach, bringing elite competitive experience to a new arena. His athletic background suggests comfort with demanding preparation, but learning choreography and presenting a complete dance performance will test a different skill set.

At 13%, Frech is firmly among the leading challengers. His opening routines should reveal how quickly that athletic discipline translates into dance. Visible improvement could become a powerful part of his campaign, particularly in a field where several favorites arrive with substantial experience.

Julia Stiles (11%)

Stiles brings a familiar dance-film connection through Save the Last Dance and partners with Ezra Sosa. That role gives audiences an immediate reference point, but performing a live ballroom routine will provide a much more relevant measure of her current competitive prospects.

At 11%, Stiles offers a recognizable name outside the top tier of favorites. Her opportunity is to combine audience familiarity with performances that exceed expectations. A strong debut could quickly narrow the market gap between her and the athletes immediately above her.

Maura Higgins (7%)

Higgins enters with reality-television recognition and a partnership with Mark Ballas. For a contestant whose appeal extends beyond technical dance credentials, personality and the ability to connect with viewers could be central to staying competitive.

Her 7% price makes her the longest shot among the seven contenders shown. The early task is to establish a credible technical foundation while giving audiences a reason to follow her progress. A memorable debut would make her an interesting contender to track through the opening eliminations.

Dancing With the Stars Season 35 Outlook and Where to Watch

Shum and Dewan set the early standard for dance experience, but the tightly grouped contenders behind them make this an open competition. Olson’s entertainment appeal, Glenn’s skating background and Frech’s athletic credentials offer three distinct challenges to the favorites.

Season 35 premieres Tuesday, September 15, at 8 p.m. Eastern on ABC and Disney+, with the second premiere episode airing Wednesday, September 16. The men perform Tuesday and the women Wednesday, with one elimination scheduled each night. Episodes will also be available the following day on Hulu.

More of oddschecker

• Looking for extensive politics odds? Check it out here
• Read the latest insights and odds updates from our oddschecker team
• Interested in sports betting picks? See all sports from our team of experts