It's always fun to get ahead of the Hollywood awards game by predicting who will win the Academy Awards (Oscars) even before the nominees are announced. The table was set on Sunday (Jan 16) when the Hollywood Foreign Press Association held its annual Golden Globes Awards presentation at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. The big winner there – The Social Network – the story about the development of FaceBook. Most online betting shops are listing pre-nomination betting odds on the 2011 Oscar's, for movie buffs wishing to cash-in. Official nominations for the 2011 Oscars will be announced this Tuesday evening at 5:30 pm ET.
Using the betting board provided by Bodog.com, odds makers are listing betting odds for Best Picture on 11 films with The Social Network the favorite at 1-to-4 odds. Using this format, a $400 wager would win $100. Aside from Social Network, we expect The Kings Speech to provide some stiff competition for Social Network. The Kings Speech is getting 11-to-4 odds to win. At 20-to-1 odds, The Fighter has a good chance to sneak off with Best Picture if the Social Network and Kings Speech falter. Odds makers are listing True Grit among the possibles at 25-to-1 odds in spite of getting shut out by the Golden Globes. We expect the drama Black Swan, at 30-1 odds to be a shoo-in for a nomination too. Other potential Best Picture nominees and their odds are – Inception, 30-to-1; The Kids Are Alright, 40-to-1; Another Year, 50-to-1; 127 Hours, 65-to-1; and Toy Story, 80-1.
Colin Firth, who walked away with Best Actor at the Golden Globe's in the Drama genre, is a 1-to-16 odds favorite to get the statuette at the Oscar's too. James Franco is getting some attention for his role in 127 Hours at 12-to-1 odds, while Jesse Eisenberg is the lead actor in Best Picture favorite The Social Network. Eisenberg is getting 14-to-1 odds.
Jeff Bridges, Best Actor winner last year, was shut out for a Golden Globe nomination for his role in True Grit, but is expected to be a Best Actor nominee for the Oscars, installed at 25-to-1 odds.
Natalie Portman danced her way to a Best Actress(Drama) award at the Golden Globes and was joined by Annette Bening who won Best Actress on the Musical/Comedy side. Portman is the favorite to win the Oscar at 1-to-7 odds, but Bening could pull an upset at 5-to-1 odds. Newcomer Jennifer Lawrence is getting some attention at 20-to-1 odds for her starring role in the Idie flick – Winter's Bone. Other possible nominees for Best Actress are Nicole Kidman – Rabbit Hole – 30-to-1; Michelle Williams – Blue Valentine - 50-to-1; and Lesley Manville – Another Year – 75-to-1.
