Love Island 2019: Final preview, best bet & Dr Alex's verdict

The 2019 series of Love Island has progressed at a ferocious pace but the sun-kissed drama draws to a close in Monday's final as four couples do battle for the £50,000 prize.

Since the fallout of Casa Amor, it has seemed a foregone conclusion that Tommy and Molly-Mae will win the series but the expanding of their price from 1-8 a fortnight ago to 4-6 before the final suggests it could be closer than viewers anticipate.

Dr Alex George, a contestant on the 2018 series, believes the couple will justify favouritism but concedes it is a more open contest than when he was in the villa.

He says: "It is less clear cut this year than last. We haven't seen as much of Tommy and Molly-Mae's relationship as we have the others and that's because this series has been so focused on the drama.

"It's been more about the drama than the love this year.

"Realistically Tommy and Molly will win it. That would be my firm choice."

• Dr Alex George: 5 things you might not know about Love Island in the final week

But who will finish runners-up? Bookmakers rate Greg and Amber (8-5) second favourites with Ovie and India (4-1) just behind them but Dr Alex thinks otherwise.

"The only couple that could come close is Ovie and India. Even though they're a new couple they get on very well and Ovie's a fan favourite.

"Greg and Amber are looking good but I don't think they have the zest and spark in the relationship that the others have. My top three would be Tommy and Molly, Ovie and India and then Greg and Amber."

And what about the remaining couple?

"I think the couple with the least chance is actually Maura and Curtis. Curtis has alienated a lot of people. Maura is very popular but people would want her to do her own thing when she's on the outside."

Curtis and Maura certainly seem to have a lot of convincing to do and look out of the contest, while loyalty and longevity have a history of outweighing entertainment on the show, making it difficult to oppose Tommy and Molly-Mae.

With such little to separate Ovie and India and Greg and Amber, punters are best advised following doctor's orders and backing the bigger price with his top-three prediction, which is available at 5-2 with Sky Bet.

The series is about to reach its conclusion but Love Island fanatics were handed a boost when it was revealed a winter edition of the show will take place in South Africa in 2020 - a decision Dr Alex has branded a "mistake".

He says: "I don't really understand why they need to do it. You can overkill it by swamping the market with too much Love Island. I think it's a mistake.

"It requires too much attention. If you miss one episode, you don't know what's going on so you're asking people to pay attention almost the whole year round. I think it will devalue the show".

So we have reached the end of an action-packed eight weeks in Majorca. But it could be sooner than normal before ITV serve up the next batch of Love Island. Tommy and Molly-Mae will likely leave £50,000 richer. But Ovie's popularity could threaten to upset the odds.

As they say, it is what it is.

Recommendation
Top three exact order - 1st Tommy & Molly, 2nd Ovie & India, 3rd Amber & Greg
1pt 5-2 Sky Bet

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