Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest 2024 odds, time, prop bets: Picks, predictions from top betting expert

The 2024 Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest will take place on the Fourth of July on Coney Island in New York City, but the biggest competitive eating contest in the world will be missing its biggest star. Joey Chestnut, whose voracious appetite and bottomless stomach have helped him win the Hot Dog Eating Contest a record 16 times, will not compete this year. Chestnut signed an endorsement deal with a rival hot dog maker, and Nathan's Famous and Chestnut could not agree on terms to bring him back.

With Chestnut out, Geoffrey Esper of Oxford, Mass., has been installed as the -120 favorite in the men's division in the 2024 Hot Dog Eating Contest odds. Meanwhile, on the women's side, nine-time Hot Dog Eating Contest champion Miki Sudo is the overwhelming -1200 favorite. The event is set to begin at 11 a.m. ET. Before making any Hot Dog Eating Contest picks or predictions, you need to see what SportsLine writer Matt Severance has to say .

Severance is a well-connected writer and high-volume handicapper who has worked in the industry since 2005. After joining SportsLine, he quickly established himself as a top expert in multiple sports. Anyone who has consistently followed him is way up.

Now, Severance has broken down the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest 2024 odds and revealed his best bets. You can find his picks only at SportsLine .

Top 2024 Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest predictions

One pick Severance is backing for Thursday's event is Esper to cover the 9.5 hot dog spread (-120) against Miki Sudo. A high school teacher and the No. 2-ranked eater in the world, Esper owns a long list of gluttonous achievements. He holds 19 Major League eating records, including 83 slices of pizza in 10 minutes and 95 tamales in 10 minutes.

Esper enters the 2024 Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest on a roll. On June 8, he won his Hot Dog Eating Contest qualifier by consuming 49.5 dogs and buns in 10 minutes. One week later, he put down 23.75 pounds of strawberry shortcake in eight minutes."Esper trains for this event by cooking 50 dogs, putting them on a platter and seeing if he can down them all in 10 minutes," Severance told SportsLine. See all the Hot Dog Contest picks at SportsLine .

How to make 2024 Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest picks

Severance has locked in two other best bets, including one that would pay plus-money. You absolutely need to see what they are before locking in any 2024 Hot Dog Eating Contest picks of your own. You can see what they are at SportsLine .

What are the best bets for the 2024 Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest, and what plus-money wager does Severance like? Visit SportsLine now to find out, all from the betting expert who has been in the industry since 2005 .