And the Oscar goes to . . .
The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, for officially sanctioning bets on the Academy Awards for the first time in the U.S., according to the Legal Sports Report.
For now, this is a one-time only deal, and we don’t yet know which categories will be offered up to New Jersey bettors.
My guess is they’ll limit it to the acting honors and Best Picture—but if they open it up to include the likes of Best Animated Short and Best Achievement in Sound Mixing, have I got some picks for you!
In the meantime, I’m factoring in box office, critical acclaim and precursors such as the Golden Globes and the SAG Awards—plus my gut feelings based on covering the Oscars for the last 25 years—in setting these early lines for the 91st Annual Academy Awards.
Remember: these are not my predictions. (As a matter of fact, I think there could be a juicy upset or two come Oscar night on Feb. 24.) I’m merely setting these lines based on where I believe the races stand as of today.
Because I do not live in New Jersey, nor am I a sports book, these odds are for entertainment and information purposes only.
BEST PICTURE
“Roma” — 3/1
“BlacKkKlasnman” – 7/2
“Green Book” – 5/1
“The Favourite” – 6/1
“Black Panther” – 7/1
“A Star is Born” – 8/1
“Vice” – 12/1
“Bohemian Rhapsody” – 15/1
BEST ACTRESS
Glenn Close – 9/5
Olivia Colman – 3/1
Lady Gaga – 4/1
Yalitza Aparicio – 10/1
Melissa McCarthy – 15/1
BEST ACTOR
Rami Malek – 9/5
Christian Bale – 9/5
Bradley Cooper – 4/1
Willem Dafoe – 9/2
Viggo Mortensen – 15/1
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Regina King – 2/1
Amy Adams – 3/1
Rachel Weisz – 5/1
Marina de Tavira – 5/1
Emma Stone – 6/1
SUPPORTING ACTOR
Mahershala Ali – 2/1
Richard E. Grant – 5/2
Sam Elliott – 4/1
Adam Driver – 7/1
Sam Rockwell – 7/1
Movie critic Richard Roeper is a regular guest on Follow The Money with Mitch & Pauly.
