IT'S official: Adam Lambert is the odds-on favorite to be the next "American Idol."

Oddsmakers from Latin America to London for the first time this week have made the show-stopping crooner such a prohibitive favorite to win this year's "Idol" that a $1 bet on him will pay only 80 cents.

The talent show has seen some heavy favorites in the past but nothing quite like Lambert — who is running away from the field with seven other performers still in the running.

Lambert has been out of the top spot only once so far in competition — when he stumbled during country music week — and briefly gave the betting lead to Danny Gokey.

Gokey this week is holding steady as the second pick, with most bookmakers listing him at 5-to-2.

Kris Allen is moving up among "Idol" bettors and is now the show's No. 3 pick at around 7-to-1.

Allison Iraheta had been the third pick for several weeks, but — after a lackluster performance last week — fell to the middle of the pack.

Her wild hair and shouted version of "Don't Speak" put her in last week's bottom three for the first time.

Message board chatter over the weekend seems to indicate that Allison has not really connected with fans of the show — nor started to pick up votes as other contestants are knocked out.

But she did pick up one big endorsement: late last week, fellow 16-year-old Miley Cyrus said she was rooting for Allison. The two have even began texting each other last week.

By DAVID K. LI

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CORRECTION: Allison was on the bottom three for the second time.

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