WWE Money in the Bank 2012: Breaking Down Odds in World Title Ladder Match

It may not technically be the headliner of the event, but the World Heavyweight Championship contract Money in the Bank ladder match promises to steal the show at Sunday's Money in the Bank pay-per-view. It is a far cry from the WWE Championship contract bout as it has double the participants and a far less experienced field.

The match itself promises to be a great one due to the mix of high flyers and powerhouses and it will certainly appeal to true Money in the Bank fans. Like the WWE Championship version, many feel as though the result of this contest is too predictable. That may be true as Dolph Ziggler will enter as the clear favorite, but you never know what might happen.

With that said, here is a look at the betting odds I would set for the World Heavyweight Championship contract Money in the Bank ladder match, complete with analysis of each of the eight competitors.

* Odds are consistent with typical sports betting lines and were created by the writer

Dolph Ziggler (3/2)

As much as the WWE tries to keep things unpredictable, there is no doubt that Ziggler is the man to beat in this match. He has seemingly been on the verge of a main-event push for the past year, and now would be the perfect time to pull the trigger in that regard. The crowd has really gotten behind the Show Off as of late, and since his relationship with Vickie Guerrero is deteriorating, he ought to win the contract and move on.

Most fans believe that Ziggler has the in-ring ability, mic skills and everything else that a top guy needs. If the WWE brass believes that to be true, then he will be given the win on Sunday and will essentially be the company's next hand-picked star.

Cody Rhodes (4/1)

Cody Rhodes may not be at quite the same level as Ziggler right now, but he isn't very far off. The former Intercontinental Champion has all the makings of a future world champion as well, but he hasn't been used in a great capacity as of late. Even so, it wouldn't be a shock to see Rhodes come away with the briefcase on Sunday as he seems capable of handling a main-event push.

If the WWE wants to throw fans off to some degree, then Rhodes is going to be the one who wins this match. He and Ziggler are clearly head and shoulders above the rest of the field when it comes to the odds of winning this match, and even if Rhodes doesn't win, he may win one of these in the near future.

Damien Sandow (12/1)

He has only been on the main roster for a couple months, but Damien Sandow already seems to have the makings of a possible future world champion. He hasn't had the opportunity to showcase his wrestling ability in any high-profile matches yet, but his arrogant attitude makes him the perfect heel and his mic skills are already good enough that they could be considered main-event quality.

It would be a bit of a reach to give Sandow such a big win before he has even engaged in an important angle, but it could happen. The creative team has been known for pushing guys too quickly before, particularly by giving them a Money in the Bank win. Jack Swagger is the perfect example, and Sandow may follow in his footsteps if the WWE tries to get tricky.

Christian (15/1)

I get the feeling the Intercontinental Champion Christian is in this match solely for his experience in ladder matches and his overall credibility, but he is a guy who could take a briefcase and flourish with it. Christian got two short runs with the World Heavyweight Championship last summer, and although he wasn't afforded much time with the title, he showed that he can be a believable main-eventer.

Since Christian is the current holder of the IC title and doesn't necessarily need the Money in the Bank contract, I don't expect him to win, but he would be a safe choice and there wouldn't be any backlash from the fans if he did win.

Tensai (20/1)

It seemed as though there were big plans for Tensai when he debuted after WrestleMania, but things have quickly gone by the wayside for him. Tensai scored big wins over John Cena and CM Punk very early in his tenure, however, he couldn't get over with the fans and has fallen on hard times. Tensai even lost to fellow Money in the Bank participant Tyson Kidd a couple weeks ago, so it is clear that his push has been derailed.

With that said, Tensai is a big guy with in-ring ability, so he can't be counted out completely. The WWE tends to be very inconsistent with its pushes, so Tensai could receive another boost out of nowhere at any time. I don't anticipate him snatching the briefcase, but there are worse options.

Sin Cara (25/1)

Amid rumors that Sin Cara may be on his way out of the company, he managed to qualify for Money in the Bank on Monday. I don't buy the notion that the WWE might release Sin Cara, but it is also clear that there isn't a ton of confidence in him right now. Sin Cara hasn't lost since returning from injury, but he also has yet to be placed in any sort of substantial angle.

I have a feeling that is because the creative team is gun shy after Sin Cara was suspended for violating the wellness policy, got injured and often had trouble adjusting to the WWE style of wrestling. He has looked a lot crisper in the ring, but due to his inability to cut a promo, I don't see Sin Cara as anything other than a guy who will make for some exciting moments in this match.

Santino Marella (30/1)

Santino has developed into the lovable underdog that the fans get behind in big matches. It came as a shock to many when he qualified for the Elimination Chamber match several months ago and he managed to perform well before being the last person eliminated by Daniel Bryan. I see something similar happening on Sunday as Santino will come close to winning before ultimately falling short.

The creative team has made a habit of putting Santino in those types of positions, beginning with the 2011 Royal Rumble when he nearly won before Alberto Del Rio threw him out. There will come a time in the match when everyone is knocked out and Santino looks as if he is about to grab the briefcase, but he will be foiled as usual.

Tyson Kidd (100/1)

Perhaps more so than Santino, the feel-good story on this match is Tyson Kidd. He has been used as a jobber for the past couple years, but he shockingly beat Jack Swagger to qualify. Kidd's wrestling ability is unquestioned and that is the main reason for his inclusion. There are going to be some spots where Kidd threatens to secure the briefcase, much like Santino, but Kidd's biggest contribution will be his versatile moveset.

There is a niche legion of fans that would love to see Kidd win, but it simply isn't realistic. The WWE brass has made some strange decisions in the past, but making Kidd go from jobber to future world champion in a matter of weeks would undoubtedly be the strangest.

Follow @MikeChiari on Twitter