The 92nd Academy Awards are upon us, giving bettors something fresh to get excited about in the midst of a Super Bowl LIV hangover. That’s right, interest in betting on the Oscars has reached an all time high with a greater a more diverse number of films to wager on, along with exciting new viewing platforms (i.e. Netflix) throwing unprecedented contenders for both actor and film categories into the mix. Below we have laid out educated picks and predictions for the main Academy Awards categories which are all available for actionable bets at the sportsbook.
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Betting Preview for the 92nd Academy Awards Top Categories on February 9 2020
Where: Dolby Theatre, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California
When: Sunday, Feb. 9 at 8 PM EST
Lines: View 2020 Academy Awards Betting Lines
TV Broadcast: ABC
Best Picture
The contenders for Best Picture include the following:
- 1917 (-200)
- The Parasite (+325)
- Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (+550)
- Joker (+1000)
- The Irishman (+4000)
- JoJo Rabbit (+5000)
- Marriage Story (+6000)
- Little Women (+10000)
- Ford vs Ferrari (+20000)
Sportsbook odds be damned, you can immediately dismiss The Parasite, Joker, JoJo Rabbit, Marriage Story, Little Women, and especially Ford vs Ferrari. These were thrown in by the Academy as nothing more than fillers. While deserving, The Irishman has been snubbed at all award shows so far this season, so that’s out too. That leaves us with 1917 and OUTH. 1917 took the Best Picture at the Golden Globes and BAFTA. Sure, The Parasite snagged a SAG for Best Film, but this movie is not quite Oscar caliber despite the Academy pandering to those demanding greater diversity. Historically, the Golden Globes boast an approximate 48% chance of predicting the Oscars’ eventual Best Picture winner, but when the GG winner is backed by a BAFTA win the eventual Oscar Best Picture is all but inevitable. Your smart money is on the World War I epic.
Writer’s Prediction: 1917
Best Actor in a Leading Role
The contenders for Best Actor in a Leading Role include the following:
- Joaquin Phoenix (-10000)
- Adam Driver (+1000)
- Leonardo DiCaprio (+1500)
- Antonio Banderas (+4000)
- Jonathan Pryce (+4000)
This is a three man race between Phoenix, Driver, and DiCaprio, and despite what the Vegas’ odds may dictate, the Joker may not get the last laugh. Yes, Joaquin now has a Golden Globe, SAG award, and BAFTA tucked into his storage facility, but the Oscars may use this single category to shake things up a bit by going with the underdog – Kylo Ren, err…Adam Driver, for his highly relatable performance in Marriage Story.
Writer’s Prediction: Adam Driver
Best Actress in a Leading Role
The contenders for Best Actress in a Leading Role include the following:
- Renee Zellweger (-5000)
- Scarlett Johansson (+750)
- Charlize Theron (+2500)
- Cynthia Erivo (+2500)
- Saoirse Ronan (+3300)
Renee Zellweger used to be likable, but her squinty appeal has faded and her comeback story would stop with her Golden Globe, SAG, and BAFTA trifecta if her category had stronger contenders. But aside from Marriage Story, the movies backing the other actresses are too weak to justify a win and ScarJo will forever be punished by the Academy for being an Avenger. Judy wasn’t great, but Zellweger was indeed the MVP of the film. Without a Streep or Dench to damper her odds, she will topple all underdogs.
Writer’s Prediction: Renee Zellweger
Best Supporting Actor
The contenders for Best Supporting Actor include the following:
- Brad Pitt (-5000)
- Joe Pesci (+900)
- Tom Hanks (+2200)
- Al Pacino (+2500)
- Anthony Hopkins (+2800)
Vegas odds’ frontrunner Brad Pitt won Best Supporting Actor at the Golden Globes SAG, and BAFTA. Color this writer baffled if Brad doesn’t nab Best Supporting Actor at the Oscars too, taking down a CGI’d Pacino and Pesci with ease.
Writer’s Prediction: Brad Pitt
Best Supporting Actress
The contenders for Best Supporting Actress include the following:
- Laura Dern (-5000)
- Margot Robbie (+750)
- Florence Pugh (+1500)
- Scarlett Johansson (+2800)
- Kathy Bates (+5000)
Second favorite Margot Robbie ruined her chances with the Academy by putting out DC’s Birds of Prey (her Harley Quinn flick) just two days before the Oscars. And as mentioned above, Scarlett Johansson, while deserving of an Oscar nod for Best Actress in Marriage Story, will also miss out on a Supporting win by being an Avenger. Florence Pugh has zero momentum going into this event, which just leaves Kathy Bates to keep Laura Dern from sweeping award season in the Supporting category. Bates was great as always in Clint Eastwood’s Richard Jewell but Dern’s portrayal of a cutthroat divorce lawyer in Marriage Story is brilliant if not outright scary.
Writer’s Prediction: Laura Dern
Best Director
The contenders for Best Supporting Actress include the following:
- Sam Mendes (-1200)
- Bong Joon Ho (+500)
- Quentin Tarantino (+1500)
- Martin Scorsese (+3500)
- Todd Phillips (+5000)
It’s strange. The odds are tighter between the frontrunner and the others in this category when compared to the rest (Best Picture, Best Actress, etc.) but honestly there is only one possible outcome here. If it wasn’t for Scorsese keeping The Irishman from being the major theatrical release that it deserved to be, the Sam Mendes WWI masterpiece may have had competition. But the Academy is teaching Scorsese a lesson, delivering Medes with the surefire win.
Writer’s Prediction: Sam Mendes
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