The 2019 Little League World Series begins next week in Williamsport, PA. The international side, representing eight teams from eight global regions, is the overall LLWS betting favorite at -160 odds to become the next Little League World Series champion.
Honolulu, Hawaii is the defending champion. The little leaguers from Hawaii destroyed the competition last summer by outscoring opponents 24-7. Honolulu defeated South Korea 3-0 in the 2018 championship game.
This year’s Little League World Series begins on August 15. The championship game is slated for August 25.
In case you were wondering, betting markets exist and you can find odds on the Little League World Series. Moreover, the international finalist is the consensus favorite according to preliminary lines. You can pick the International side to win at -160. American teams are the underdog overall at +120 odds on the money line.
LLWS ODDS:
International -160
USA +120
The representative from Japan is often a heavy betting favorite at the LLWS, due to their overall domination with highly-disciplined players. Japan became a LLWS champion eight times this century including five titles over the last decade. In an eight-year span between 2010 and 2017, an international team won the LLWS six times.
Overall, Taiwan has 17 titles and the most wins on the list of Little League World Series champions. Japan is second with 11. Furthermore, Southern California boasted six winners since the LLWS began back in 1947.
LLWS Regionals
Most of the international bracket has been decided, but American qualifiers are still underway.
The American bracket features 8 teams with each team representing a different region of the USA including the Great Lakes, Mid-Atlantic, New England, Southeast, Midwest, Southwest, West, and North West.
The All-Stars from Eastbank Little League in River Ridge, Louisiana locked up the Southwest regional. Eastbank represents the first team from the New Orleans area to advance to Williamsport. In addition, Eastbank becomes only the second team from Louisiana to advance to the LLWS.
Little League World Series Champions List (Since 2009):
2018 Honolulu, Hawaii
2017 Tokyo, Japan
2016 Maine-Endwell, New York
2015 Tokyo, Japan
2014 Seoul, South Korea
2013 Tokyo, Japan
2012 Tokyo, Japan
2011 Huntington Beach, CA
2010 Tokyo, Japan
2009 Chula Vista, CA
Several regions have yet to decide a representative. Illinois and big-favorite Michigan battle it out in the Great Lakes regional finals. In the Mid-Atlantic action, New Jersey is another big favorite to advance over Washington DC.
Out on the left coast, NoCal takes on Arizona. The kids from Arizona are slight favorites to win and represent the West region. A team from the West won four out of the last five times an American squad won the championship game.
Chofu City Wins Japan Regional
The International bracket includes 8 teams. Regions include Asia-Pacific and Middle East, Australia, Canada, Caribbean, Europe-Africa, Japan, Latin America, and Mexico.
South Korea won the Asia-Pacific-Middle East international regional. Therefore by default, South Korea will be one of the international favorite to win the 2019 LLWS.
Chofu Little League in Chofu City won the difficult Japan regional. The kids from Chofu will most-likely be the overall LLWS betting favorite to win.
Curacao won the Caribbean regional. The team from Bologna in Italy took down the Europe-Africa regional. Venezuela will be the Latin America representative this year.
The Epitacio Mala Torres Little Leaguers from Guadalupe will be carrying the flag for Mexico. Guadalupe will try to win the first title for Mexico in 22 years. Mexico won the LLWS three times, but they have not crowned a winner since 1997. Mexico won back-to-back years when their All-Star team from Monterrey defeated the Americans in 1957 and 1958.