EA is all but guaranteed another Christmas number one this year according to both  Ladbrokes and Paddy Power, with Need for Speed: Pro Street and FIFA ’08 leading the early betting.

While Microsoft’s Halo 3, Konami’s Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 and Nintendo’s Super Mario Galaxy are the closest competitors, it seems EA’s powerhouse Christmas franchises will be too much to overcome, said Paddy Power’s Sharon McHugh:
“As usual Need for Speed is being heavily backed, and FIFA has had a lot of early support,” she told MCV.

“As for the rest of them, we’ve had a few bets on High School Musical at 33/1, I would imagine because you can’t escape from the hype surrounding the film and the CD at the moment. Call Of Duty always gets good support, and has been well backed, but it is only really Need For Speed: Pro Street and FIFA that have serious money put behind them – the rest have been your odd £20 bet.”

THE ODDS IN FULL:

LADBROKES
Evens: Need for Speed: ProStreet
5/2: FIFA ‘08
3/1: Halo 3
8/1: The Simpsons Game
12/1: Pro Evolution Soccer
16/1: Super Mario Galaxy
16/1: Call of Duty 4
20/1: Manhunt 2

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PADDY POWER
Evens: Need for Speed ProStreet
3/1: FIFA Soccer 08
4/1: Halo 3
10/1: Pro Evolution Soccer 2008
12/1: The Simpsons Game
14/1: Super Mario Galaxy
14/1: Manhunt 2
18/1: Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
20/1: Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock
22/1: Resistance: Fall of Man
25/1: Medal of Honor Heroes 2
25/1: Enemy Territory: Quake Wars
33/1: Medal of Honor: Airborne
33/1: Resident Evil 4
33/1: Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles
33/1: High School Musical: Sing It!
50/1: Boogie
50/1: Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games
50/1: Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Warfighter 2
50/1: Time Crisis 4
50/1: LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga
50/1: SingStar
50/1: Virtua Fighter 5
50/1: WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw 2008
50/1: Bladestorm: The Hundred Years’ War