The Chicago Cubs were the third-best team in baseball this season when it comes to wins and losses in the regular season. So no one should be shocked to see the Cubs as the favorite to win the World Series atop the betting lines at sports books and Internet gambling sites now in mid-October. But, come on, these are the Cubs we're talking about. We know they're good. We know they've earned it, and then some, and they're a lot of fun to watch with so many talented young players making huge contributions. It's just so strange to see the team known as the lovable losers for sooooo long finally in this position. [ Check out Big League Stew on Tumblr for more cool stuff from the MLB postseason ] As of Wednesday, less than 24 hours after Chicago ousted St. Louis, the best team in baseball in the regular season, from the playoffs and prior to Kansas City and Toronto clinching spots in the American League Championship Series, the Cubs were the top pick, according to Las Vegas. [ Look: Barber shaves stellar portrait of Cubs ace Jake Arrieta in customer's head ] The Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook had the Cubs at 40 to 1 to win it all before the season started. Those odds improved dramatically...