Chicago Marathon 2023 Betting: Favorites and Predictions

If you’re looking to bet on the 2023 Chicago Marathon, it’s time to prepare. Many elite contenders in the men’s and women’s races will compete and try to make history in 2023. This year’s event could also be one of the most exciting editions ever.

Will Kelvin Kiptum set the world record for the fastest marathon time in the men’s competition? Can Ruth Chepngetich win her third consecutive race? I share my analysis of the Chicago Marathon favorites and predictions for the eventual winners in this article.

The race will take place on October 8 and the route runs through the entire metropolitan area of Chicago. The start and finishing point is in Grant Park, and the race travels through 29 different neighborhoods. An estimated 1.7 million spectators will be there to watch the race unfold.

This year, the race could potentially feature over 45,000 participants. This would make it one of the largest editions of the event in the Chicago Marathon’s 45-year history. The record for the most participants is roughly 45,000 back in 2019.

The route itself consists of three different sections: North, West, and South. In each of these sections, runners will pass by multiple major sports arenas/stadiums in Chicago. They include Wrigley Field, the United Center, and Guaranteed Rate Field.

It’s a gruesome competition, so let’s take a look at the contestants most likely to win it next.

When you bet on the Chicago Marathon in 2023, you should focus on the main favorites. It’s very rare for underdogs in the men’s and women’s races to win. I usually advise that you avoid sleepers in major marathons and stick to high-profile competitors.

The Chicago Marathon odds aren’t available as of October 3, but I expect all the top sports betting sites that cover the event to favor favor Kelvin Kiptum. The young Kenyan competitor is quickly developing into one of the best long-distance runners in the world.

Kiptum currently holds the second-fastest marathon time at 2:01:24. This was also his winning time at the London Marathon in 2023, making him the top contender for Chicago. The guy is just 23 years old, so he’s destined to break the world record at some point.

One of his strongest competitors will be last year’s Chicago Marathon winner Benson Kipruto, who’ll try to defend his title. The 32-year-old Kenyan competitor the race with a time of 2:04:24, the third-fastest finish ever in the Chicago Marathon.

Can Kipruto go back-to-back in the Chicago Marathon? It’s possible, but not very likely. The last male racer who won the event in consecutive years was Samuel Wanjiru in 2009 and 2010. It’ll take a monumental effort for the reigning champion to win again.

Bashir Abdi is the other racer who could challenge Kipruto and Kiptum. Abdi took the bronze medal in the men’s marathon at the 2022 Olympic Games in London. His best finish in a major marathon was runner-up at Tokyo back in 2020, so he’s up there with the best.

The top contender in the women’s race has to be Ruth Chepngetich. She is a prolific racer with multiple Chicago Marathons. In 2023, the Kenyan star has the rare opportunity to win the women’s competition for three consecutive years.

Chepngetich is among the most elite female racers of her generation. She has a personal best of 2:14:04, which is the second-fastest time ever in a women’s marathon. Her consistency in Chicago also makes her a favorite among bettors.

The other female racer who’s catching my attention is Joyciline Jepkosgei. She won the London Marathon in 2021 with a time of 2:17:43, her personal best. This will be her first time competing in Chicago and she will be determined to prove herself.

Finally, we have Genzebe Dibaba on the list of favorites. She’s another decorated long-distance runner who made her marathon debut in 2022. Dibaba is the previous world indoor champion in the 1500m and 3000m races, but her transition to the longer distances has been very smooth.

I think the men’s race will be a battle between Kiptum and Kipruto. However, if I had to pick one of them to win, it would have to be Kiptum. He’s on the brink of setting the world record, and Chicago presents the perfect opportunity to make another attempt.

On the women’s side, I’m choosing Chepngetich to win the Chicago Marathon for the third year in a row. She knows what it takes to win this race, and her consistency has been impressive. Chepngetich also finished four minutes ahead of the next runner when she won in 2022.

Will you be betting on the 2023 Chicago Marathon? If that’s the case, I suggest visiting Bovada because this is the bookmaker most likely to publish Chicago Marathon 2023 betting odds.

The sportsbook usually covers major marathons in the United States, publishing prices for selected runners on the last few days before the event starts. I expect more of the same with the Chicago Marathon, so that’s your best bet.