**Choosin’ Texas** by Ella Langley and **Patient Zero** by Taylor Swift lead the market-implied odds for the Billboard Hot 100 #2 spot the week of October 17, reflecting a tight contest between Langley’s record-setting country crossover and Swift’s newly released track. Langley’s song has logged over 20 weeks at No. 1 through early October, buoyed by sustained streaming and radio airplay, while “Boston” by Stella Lefty and Morgan Wallen’s “Been By Now” have held strong top-five positions with consistent sales and genre momentum. Swift’s “Patient Zero,” from a deluxe album rollout, is positioned for a high debut or quick ascent based on pre-release buzz and historical chart patterns. Upcoming chart updates tracking streams, airplay, and sales through mid-October will determine final positioning among these frontrunners and any late surges from tracks like Ariana Grande’s recent single.