Talk:odds

Tea room discussion
I was surprised to find nearly 20% or b.g.c. usage had "odds" taking a singular verb, which seemed absolutely wrong to me. "The odds is in favor of the sun rising tomorrow morning."?????? Where is this acceptable (or even preferred)? DCDuring TALK 03:45, 28 August 2008 (UTC)


 * NOAD calls this a plural noun. —Michael Z. 2008-08-28 05:24 z 


 * So does the OALD. Plural noun, thus plural form of verb. --Duncan MacCall 22:25, 29 October 2008 (UTC)

Tea room discussion (November 2008)
Odds have meaning of handicap? Like in phrases:

"Odds matches versus grandmasters ... He had won 1½-½ when given pawn-and-move, and 2½-1½ (1 win, 3 draws) when given exchange odds but playing black. In two standard games (Milov had white, no odds), Rybka won 1½-½."  TestPilot talk to me! 08:15, 26 November 2008 (UTC)
 * nvm, m-w.com answered the question.  TestPilot talk to me! 08:24, 26 November 2008 (UTC)

What are the odds an earthquake will devastate Seattle?
Is the following nominal phrase correct? What are the odds an earthquake will devastate Seattle? --Backinstadiums (talk) 18:29, 29 November 2019 (UTC)