Odds Favor Soul Patrol in 'American Idol' Showdown

May 24, 2006 — -- It's McPheever vs. "The Soul Patrol" as "American Idol" prepares to crown a new champ

Finalists Katharine McPhee and Taylor Hicks faced off in a final showdown Tuesday night. The votes are in now, and everyone from Las Vegas oddsmakers to Billboard hitmakers has an opinion of who will win.

Singer Toni Braxton said she initially had picked Elliott Yamin -- the 27-year-old from Virginia -- who was eliminated last week by just two-tenths of 1 percent in the voting. Now, she's going with Hicks.

"I'm routing for Taylor," she told ABC News Radio. "I thought the last two were going to be him and Chris [Daughtry]. And the last three would have been McPhee, Chris and Taylor. But I love Elliott's voice, too. He's really, really talented. I think this is the most talented [group of contestants] they've ever had."

Nevada gaming regulations prohibit wagering on TV shows. That hasn't stopped John Avello, the director of the race and sports book at the Wynn Las Vegas Hotel & Casino, from posting just-for-fun odds, which he's been updating each week since the beginning of the competition.

Before Tuesday's show, Avello had McPhee as a 9-to-5 long shot. Afterward, her odds grew even longer and now stand at 5-to-2.

"She did have to come up huge. I didn't see it happen," Avello said. "Taylor is my favorite and will walk away with the 'American Idol' title."

In Tuesday's competition, the two contestants each sang three songs -- two from earlier this season and the other as a first potential single to cement their stardom.

The 21-year-old McPhee opened with K.T. Tunstall's "Black Horse & The Cherry Tree," and the judges seemed underwelmed. Simon Cowell said it was good, with a "small 'g.'"

The Californian next went with the "Wizard of Oz" classic "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," the song Cowell said had earned her a spot in the finals.

For McPhee's single, "My Destiny," Randy Jackson praised her voice but branded the song as "average" and the performance lackluster.