It’s that time of year again folks: The Academy Awards. That’s right, Oscar Night is upon us and the odds are out for which nominees are most likely to take home the hardware. The Oscars come but once a year and this year will be slightly different than past shows, of course, but not totally out of the norm.
Many nominees will attend in-person while cycling in and out of the main area at different times. Part of the event is still set to take place at the Dolby Theatre, but some of it will also happen at Los Angeles’ Union Station. All in accordance with COVID protocols. A host for the show has not been announced.
Ahead of Sunday night’s broadcast, here’s the scoop on the odds for Hollywood's biggest night (odds courtesy of BetMGM).
“The current odds suggest we know the winners of most of the major awards and the intended recipients should start preparing their acceptance speeches," said Darren Darby, Sports Trader at BetMGM. "But most years there is a surprise upset, so no bet is a lock. Personally, I wouldn't be surprised if The Trial of the Chicago 7 beat Nomadland for Best Motion Picture award.”
Nomadland is the favorite to win Best Picture at -650, followed by The Trial of the Chicago 7 (+550), Minari (+1600), Promising Young Woman (+2000), Mank (+5000), Judas and the Black Messiah (+6600), The Father (+6600), and The Sound of Metal (+10000).
Nomadland is a solid choice for the favorite, though it is the only one of these movies I saw so that influences my thinking here. Our own Vik Chokshi is pulling for Minari in this category.
In the Best Actor category, we’ve got the late Chadwick Boseman as the favorite to win at -1200. I would be shocked if he doesn’t, rightfully, win this. Anthony Hopkins follows Boseman at +600, then Riz Ahmed (+1400), Gary Oldman (+5000), and Steven Yeun (+5000).
Casey Mulligan is favored to win Best Actress with +135 odds. Next is Viola Davis (+200), Frances McDormand (+400), Andra Day (+500), and Vanessa Kirby (+2500).
Best Supporting Actor Nominees are Daniel Kaluuya (-3000), Sacha Baron Cohen (+1400), Leslie Odom Jr. (+2000), Paul Raci (+2000), and Lakeith Stanfield (+3300).
And for Best Supporting Actress, the nominees are Youn Yuh-Jung (-450), Maria Bakalova (+450), Glenn Close (+900), Olivia Colman (+2000), and Amanda Seyfried (+3300).
I’d like to see Borat Subsequent Moviefilm win something, especially in the Best Supporting Actress category. Cohen, of course is also in Borat, but is actually nominated for The Trial of the Chicago 7 and could win for that. I feel like Best Actress is a toss-up between Frances McDormand and Viola Davis.
It will be interesting to see how it all plays out at the 93rd Academy Awards. I’m especially looking forward to how attendees interpret the “fusion of Inspirational and Aspirational” dress code now that the whole event is in-person. Odds are good there will be a lot of gowns and tuxedos once again. Nature is healing.
Lucy is a sports betting content producer with Audacy and BetQL. She has worked with WEEI and Radio.com as a writer, radio producer and podcaster. Lucy lives in Boston and loves Tom Brady and prop bets. Follow Lucy on Twitter at @LucilleBurdge.