New York magazine handicaps the 2005 National Book Award finalists:

–Veronica by Mary Gaitskill: 4 to 1
–Trance by Christopher Sorrentino: 7 to 1
–Holy Skirts by René Steinke: 9 to 1
–Europe Central by William T. Vollmann: 10 to 1
–The March by E. L. Doctorow: 5 to 2

Check out the article for not just the odds, you degenerate gamblers, but also a bit of details on the author’s baggage and cheering section for each entry.