No, Caruana is extremely strong, but I think Carlsen wants to repeat something like Zurich 2014.
I am not any good at predicting the outcome of future events... I would like to see Caruana win the championship match. Caruana Truly Loves the game of chess and as Champion he would become an excellent ambassador and promoter of the game, ( just my intuitive opinion ); Carlsen loves the game as well... but Carlsen seems unsophisticated and lacking in a creative sort of charisma for moving the game of chess forward... Caruana has the desire and perhaps the talent to take chess to the next level. JMO.
If Caruana wins, it would be a huge boost for the popularity of chess in USA. Caruana will be like Fischer. Carlsen is a very experienced world champion. He is good at avoiding public controversies. Caruana has already switched chess federation from Italy to USA. It was a scandalous affair. It would be interesting scenario if Caruana wins the championship and then switches federations to China because they will probably pay him the best money for the switching. Carlsen has always stayed loyal to his original chess federation. USA chess federation has purchased all its top players: Caruana, Nakamura, So. Why should someone who is not loyal to home federation become the world champion? Why would it be good for chess?
Go Fabi!
Go Carlsen!
Go Caruana!
Caruana will win
The only think I know about chess world championship, is that tickets are too expensive.
Carlsen has the edge, with many predictors putting the odds at about 70-30 in his favour, and I'm inclined to agree. However, that's because of the rapid & blitz tiebreaks: Without them, I'd still deem Carlsen the favourite, but marginally - maybe 55 - 45. In general Caruana has been playing better classical chess than him this year, imo, but Magnus is far more consistent: even when even Carlsen is slumping, he's the best in the world.
So I expect the match to be tightly fought, and less drawish than Carlsen - Karjakin. Caruana is monster with the white pieces, and we can expect him to try to press home every tiny advantage he gets, because I'm sure he knows as well as we do that if they go to tiebreaks he's dead meat.
But they probably will, whereupon Magnus stomps poor Fabiano. Oh well.
So I expect the match to be tightly fought, and less drawish than Carlsen - Karjakin. Caruana is monster with the white pieces, and we can expect him to try to press home every tiny advantage he gets, because I'm sure he knows as well as we do that if they go to tiebreaks he's dead meat.
But they probably will, whereupon Magnus stomps poor Fabiano. Oh well.
I agree with the first part of @Rrhyddhad comment. Caruanna has a good chance in a classical but not really a chance in tiebreaks
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