Odds Review #3: Week Ending 19/01

After being relatively positive about the year so far regarding the early options floating around this past week has seen something of a regression to the mean. Norway were my blind pick for the year back in September and this is already up in smoke. Perhaps it would be a different story if the late withdrawals of Angelina Jordan or Lavrans hadn't happened but what is left in mgp are at the very best midtable options. Iceland followed this up with an even worse set of entries with a returning Vaeb the likeliest qualification option and even then something I wouldn't count on. The first 4 of Belgium's entries were also released back on Monday to little fanfare here although the expectation is none of those are in contention for the second favourites who've nonetheless drifted off the back of that. 

More promise has been found further East with Poland having a few good options and Moldova likely to coronate Bacho ft Carnival Brain. I don't see either countries entering a title race despite some market enthusiasm - with the same comment needed on Greece who have been sneaking downwards, particularly if Klavdia is the pick. In fact, copy paste that for Finland who look set to be hammered by the juries with their two likeliest winners of Erika Vikman and One Morning Left. 

As is natural with no early genuine runner, it's been a good week for much of the un-realesed middle pack from Germany and France through to Portugal.

The action hots up tomorrow with snippets of Belgium's remaining entries whilst Ukraine and Slovenia will give us their full songs. Israel's artist selection also concludes whilst Luxembourg's national final will take place next Saturday. Ireland will also be releasing their artists and presumably entries starting tommorrow.