Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest 2020 start time, TV channel, odds, records & past winners

What a bunch of hot dogs.

It's a tradition almost as old as time — long before humankind roamed, Nathan's has been holding its annual Independence Day hot dog eating contest since dinosaurs walked the earth. (T-Rex faced extinction without a single win, by the way. Short arms and all.)

But since the official sanctioning of the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest, the contest has taken place since 1967, with the July 4 date set since 1979, making for an Independence Day staple. 

This year, the odds are strictly slanted in Joey "Jaws" Chestnut's favor once again, with his reign of dominance stretching over the last decade plus. He's the winner of 12 of the last 13 tourneys, with Matt Stonie breaking Chestnut's streak of eight consecutive titles in 2015. Chestnut would start a new streak in 2016, winning the last four years' worth of events, consuming 287 frankfurters over that span and keeping the Mustard Belt strapped firmly around his waist.

Punchers punch, shooters shoot, eaters eat. Coronavirus or not, the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest will go on as scheduled this July 4. Here's what you need to know about the 2020 event: 

MORE: Odds & betting guide for Nathan's contest 2020

What time is the hot dog eating contest?

• Date: Saturday, July 4
• Time: Noon ET | 9 a.m. PT

The 2020 Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest is scheduled to start at noon ET on Saturday, July 4. The women's championship will be up first at noon, with the men's following.

What channel is Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest on?

• TV channel: ESPN
• Live stream: ESPN app

The Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest will be broadcast on ESPN in 2020.

If you want to further disgust yourself and/or revel and bask in the glory of gluttons, you can catch the replays at the following times:

Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest odds

If you feel like putting your buns on the line and want to place few sheckles down on the iron stomachs of the competitors, here's some of the things you can bet on come Saturday, courtesy of Sports Insider:

Joey Chestnut or the field (men's competition)

• Chestnut -1500
• The field +600

Men's winner hot dogs consumed

• Over 71 1/2 -160
• Under 71/12 +120

Will the men's record (73 hot dogs consumed) be broken?

• No -400
• Yes +250

Miki Sudo or the field (women's competition)

• Sudo -1500
• The field +600

Women's winner hot dogs consumed

• Over 40 1/2 -165
• Under 40 1/2 +125

Will the women's record (45 hot dogs consumed) be broken?

• Yes -170
• No +130

Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest winners

Really, nothing before the arrival of Takeru Kobayashi should count, considering he changed the face and stomach of competitive eating.

Hot dog eating records

While Kobayashi changed the game, Chestnut made it his. 

"Jaws" has broken his own world record on multiple occassions, and now holds the record for the five most hot dogs eaten. Aside from being king of the hot dogs, Chestnut holds world records for jalapeno poppers, buffalo wings and gumbo, among other foods. He most recently set a record in Big Macs eaten in February, with 32 engorged in 38 minutes.

Men's record

* Chestnut's 2016 record was set at the Giant National Capital BBQ Battle just nine days before the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest.

Women's record

Sony Thomas set the record for hot dogs eaten in 2012, but reigning, defending, six-time Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest champ Miki Sudo has a good shot to break the record this year.