Odds Issued for Which Sopranos Character Will be Whacked First in Season 6  3/9/06

Bettors Favor Uncle Junior and Christopher to Be First Sopranos Character to Be 'Whacked' in Season Six

WILLEMSTAD, Curacao, March 8 /PRNewswire/ -- With "The Sopranos" returning to television after a 21-month hiatus Sunday night, the biggest question on the minds of the show's loyal fans is which character will be the next to get "whacked." Last week, PinnacleSports.com became the first sportsbook to let fans bet on who'll be the first of 18 regular Sopranos characters killed off in the upcoming season of the hit mob drama. After nearly one week of wagering, Christopher and Uncle Junior have emerged as firm favorites with online bettors to be the first character to be 'clipped' or pass away during "The Sopranos" sixth season.

Of the 18 regular Sopranos characters PinnacleSports.com created odds on being the first to be killed off this season, Uncle Junior and Christopher have each received 13 percent of all money wagered; the most of any characters. PinnacleSports.com now lists Uncle Junior as the favorite to be the first character rubbed out at 11/2 odds (i.e., win $11 for every $21 bet). Tony Soprano's nephew Christopher, now has the second-best odds to meet his demise at 6/1, while early betting favorite and Soprano family soldier, Vito Spatafore remains a solid contender for early termination at 25/4. New Jersey crew members Patsy Parisi (7/1) and Eugene Pontecorvo (15/2) have also received support from bettors and remain prime candidates to be the first bumped off. A surprising move has seen the odds on Tony's sister Janice becoming the first casualty of season six, dropping her odds from 29/1 all the way to 11/1. Bettors have also backed acting New York boss Phil Leotardo reducing his odds from 17/1 at opening to currently standing at 11/1 after receiving nine percent of the money bet to date.

"In the past our bettors have correctly predicted the outcome of television shows like American Idol, as well as world events including the Papal conclave and Presidential elections," said Simon Noble of PinnacleSports.com. "If the betting trend continues, it could mean the end of the line for Uncle Junior or Christopher, who both have several risk factors making them vulnerable to being killed-off."

After receiving tepid support from bettors, PinnacleSports.com now lists Bobby Bacala (11/1), Benny Fazio (11/1), Paulie Walnuts (13/1) and Artie Bucco (16/1) as larger underdogs to get whacked first or pass away when wagering opened. Although he's serving time in jail while awaiting his RICO trial, the odds on Johnny Sack being taken out first have dropped to 30/1. The futures of Silvio Dante (52/1) and Dr. Melfi (70/1) appear safe for the time being as neither has received much backing to get killed off. The TV drama's first family is also likely to survive this season's first death as A.J. (70/1), Carmela (70/1), Meadow (75/1) and Tony (75/1) remain the biggest long shots.

Not all fans believe a "hit" is imminent in the sixth season, as betting has dropped the odds on none of the listed recurring characters being killed- off to 7/1. For additional information and a complete list of updated odds, please visit http://www.pinnaclesports.com.

Current Odds: *All Odds Subject to Change*

First Character to Be Killed/Die on the Sopranos - Character Current Odds Opening Odds

Uncle Junior 11/2 7/1

Christopher Moltisanti 6/1 8/1

Vito Spatafore 25/4 6/1

Patsy Parisi 7/1 9/1

Eugene Pontecorvo 15/2 10/1

Phil Leotardo 11/1 17/1

Janice Soprano 11/1 29/1

Bobby Bacala 11/1 9/1

Benny Fazio 11/1 10/1

Paulie Walnuts 13/1 12/1

Artie Bucco 16/1 14/1

Johnny Sack 30/1 44/1

Silvio Dante 52/1 29/1

Dr. Melfi 70/1 44/1

A.J. Soprano 70/1 90/1

Carmela Soprano 70/1 90/1

Meadow Soprano 75/1 90/1

Tony Soprano 75/1 90/1

None of these die 7/1 20/1

-0- 03/08/2006