This Sunday's telecast of the 89th Academy Awards is shaping up to be significantly less controversial than last year. Unlike the past two years, there is no #OscarsSoWhite protest to keep social media followers entertained and it would seem no major stars will be boycotting for personal or political reasons, either. It's no wonder why some film fans might be looking to add their own excitement to the show, thanks to their favorite sports betting website.
Odds on major awards
Annually, a dozen or more websites traditionally dedicated to online sports gambling will create room for those who might consider the Oscars the Superbowl of Hollywood.
Odds for each of the major awards categories can be found as early as the day nominations are announced. Of course, the information provided is all for entertainment purposes -- if nothing else, maybe you'll have a leg up in your annual workplace Oscar pool!
Odds-on favorites for 5 major awards
Best Actor
Casey Affleck ("Manchester by the Sea") had been widely speculated to win handily in this category since "Manchester by the Sea" first premiered at Sundance more than one year ago. However, rape allegations from several years ago may have hurt his chances, as Denzel Washington ("Fences") has picked up some major awards recently, including the SAG Award. Affleck is still the favorite to win at 2/3 odds, but Washington is closing in at 11/10.
The longshot in this category is Viggo Mortensen ("Captain Fantastic"), way back at 100/1.
Best Actress
Early favorite, and previous Oscar winner for "Black Swan," Natalie Portman will have to wait before adding another statue to his expanding family, (the actress will be several months pregnant at this weekend's show). "La La Land"'s Emma Stone has emerged as the clear favorite to win, with odds set at 1/8.
Portman follows at 15/1.
Best Supporting Actress
Viola Davis ("Fences") has won nearly every major cinematic award in the past year and oddsmakers don't expect that to end before Oscar Night. She is the runaway favorite with 1/100 odds. Michelle Williams ("Manchester by the Sea") follows, but is back in the dust at 25/1.
Best Supporting Actor
Another blowout is expected in the Supporting Actor category.
Mahershala Ali ("Moonlight") has credits in major films and television shows dating back to early 2000, but 2016 was his breakthrough year. Ali has already taken home the Critics' Choice Award and the Screen Actors Guild prize for his role in Moonlight and he is expected to win the Oscar on Sunday, with 1/15 odds. Dev Patel ("Lion") can barely be seen back at 6/1.
Best Picture
After cleaning up at the Golden Globe Awards, the Critics' Choice Awards, the Producers Guild Awards, and countless other shows this awards season, it should be no surprise that "La La Land" is the oddsmakers favorite to take home the statue on Oscar night. The surprise may come at just how wide of a lead the film holds -- 1/12 over expected runner-up "Moonlight" with 6/1 odds.
Surprise hit "Hidden Figures" is situated in third place with 20/1 odds while "Arrival" is the Best Picture dark horse, rounding out the category with 200/1.
Before anyone considers any of these categories a lock, it is definitely worth mentioning that Vegas and U.K. oddsmakers guesses were only correct in 4 out of 6 categories, (those listed above, plus Best Director,) in both of the past two years. So, maybe it will be worth tuning in to the show after all, we may just see an underdog Hollywood ending.
(Odds from Sportsbook.ag)
