‘The Bachelor’ odds: Luke Pell, Chase McNary leading race to follow Ben Higgins

Even though there was no new episode of “The Bachelorette” this past week, make no mistake: The race for the next Bachelor in still on. It’s a little bit of a weird race, given that the guys cannot give away the outcome of the season. Yet, they know the end results with JoJo Fletcher, and they have to prepare themselves accordingly.

We’ve spoken here and there about some assorted candidates, but in the end this is a two-person race in our mind. In one corner you’ve got Luke Pell; meanwhile, in the other you’ve got Chase McNary. Jordan Rodgers is largely perceived the favorite to win this season, and he’s not beloved enough by the public. Meanwhile, Robby Hayes seems to be a little too desperate with the internet self-promotion.

With Luke, the show has someone who is their Old Reliable. He’s got a charming personality, good looks, and hails from the South. He has that small-town charm of recent Bachelor Ben Higgins coupled with the likability of someone like a Sean Lowe. He’s also fought for our country. We don’t know if anyone has ever checked off as many boxes as this guy. He’s the clear frontrunner.

As for Chase, maybe producers are thinking more outside the box, or maybe he is a solid alternative to Luke. Maybe some executive really likes the dude’s tattoo. We’re kidding somewhat here, but it is important for the show to have a second option. It drives drama about the race, and they can milk that over time. Remember last year when they tried to sell us on Nick Viall as a candidate? Well, it happened.

Who do you see as the next Bachelorette between the two guys? Vote below! Also, head over here to get some new “Bachelorette” updates, and sign up here to score some other TV news via our official CarterMatt Newsletter. (Photo: ABC.)