The Oscars 2021 Betting Odds & Predictions
- Nomadland is the favorite to win the Best Picture Oscar at the 2021 Academy Awards
- Chloe Zhao, director of Nomadland, is the betting pick as Best Director
- Chadwick Boseman (Ma Rainey's Black Bottom) and Carey Mulligan (Promising Young Woman) are the respective chalk in the Best Actor and Best Actress categories
Oscar night is when the stars come out to shine, but it's also a chance for you to shine and polish up the funds in your bank account. When it comes to making the annual Oscars picks, there's certainly money to be made.
Betting on entertainment events isn't like betting on sports. When wagering on a sporting event, there are clear favorites based on trends and past performances. Oscars betting is entirely about a popularity contest. There are no statistics to be deciphered or algorithms to be analyzed prior to placing a bet. Gut feeling really comes into play in the Oscar betting lines.
“They understand that they’re an ensemble cast, so as a team, they were there for each other and it was thrilling working with them.” – Oscar-nominated writer/director Aaron Sorkin on working with the many talented actors in #TrialoftheChicago7. pic.twitter.com/OQhcNzjyGU
— The Academy (@TheAcademy) April 9, 2021
The decision of who gets an Academy Award is based entirely upon a secret ballot amongst the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The public and the critics certainly have their favorites, but there's no way of knowing how the members of the Academy are viewing the situation.
Perhaps the best part of betting on the Oscars is the endless opportunities that are presented for wagering purposes. Let's look at just some of the leading categories that will be determined on Oscars night and assess which way the vote might be going.
The Oscars ceremony is slated for Sunday, April 25th at 8 pm. ET.
Best Picture
A film about a woman who loses everything during the Great Recession and then opts to spend her life traveling through the American West while living in a van, Nomadland is the favorite to win this category in the Oscar picks.
| Movie |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nomadland | -500 | -450 | -450 |
| Minari | +450 | +1200 | +1200 |
| The Trial of the Chicago 7 | +700 | +600 | +600 |
| Promising Young Woman | +1200 | +1100 | +1400 |
| Mank | +1600 | +2200 | +2500 |
| Judas and the Black Messiah | +1600 | +2200 | +2800 |
| The Father | +6500 | +8000 | +8000 |
| Sound of Metal | +6600 | +8000 | +8000 |
Considering America's current partisan political landscape, there is a case to be made for The Trial of the Chicago 7 in the Oscars Vegas odds. It's the true story of the seven political activists put on trial following protests at the 1968 Democratic National Convention.
Best Director
Chloe Zhao, director of Nomadland, is heavily favored in the Oscars betting lines to earn the Best Director nod. She's already won the honor from the Golden Globes, which is often a solid precursor of what will happen on Oscars night.
| Best Director | | | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chloe Zhao (Nomadland) | -1000 | -1500 | -1000 |
| David Fincher (Mank) | +750 | +800 | +900 |
| Lee Isaac Chung (Minari) | +700 | +1400 | +1200 |
| Thomas Vinterberg (Another Round) | +2500 | +2500 | +1400 |
| Emerald Fennell (Promising Young Woman) | +2000 | +1400 | +2000 |
Kathryn Bigelow (The Hurt Locker, 2006) is the only female to have won the Best Director Oscar.
Best Actor
It's difficult to imagine anyone winning this award other than Chadwick Boseman for his work in Ma Rainey's Black Bottom.
| Best Actor | | | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chadwick Boseman (Ma Rainey's Black Bottom) | -3000 | -2500 | -4000 |
| Anthony Hopkins (The Father) | +900 | +900 | +900 |
| Riz Ahmed (Sound of Metal) | +1000 | +1400 | +1600 |
| Steven Yeun (Minari) | +1500 | +3300 | +3000 |
| Gary Oldman (Mank) | +3000 | +3300 | +3000 |
The actor lost his life to cancer not long after the film was completed, keeping his diagnosis to himself while working on the film.
Chadwick Boseman wins Best Actor at the #SAGAwards for his portrayal of Levee in Ma Rainey's Black Bottom pic.twitter.com/mh2Fctx5qw
— Film Updates (@TheFilmUpdates) April 5, 2021
Nominated for The Father, at 83 Anthony Hopkins is the oldest nominee ever in this category. He won the Best Actor Oscar in 1991 for Silence Of The Lambs.
Best Actress
The favorite in the Oscars betting line from the moment the nominations were announced was Carey Mulligan for her work in Promising Young Woman.
| Actress | | | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carey Mulligan (Promising Young Woman) | -175 | +125 | +125 |
| Andra Day (The United States vs Billie Holiday) | +400 | +500 | +550 |
| Frances McDormand (Nomadland) | +400 | +450 | +450 |
| Viola Davis (Ma Rainey's Black Bottom) | +850 | +175 | +185 |
| Vanessa Kirby (Pieces of a Woman) | +1200 | +1200 | +1200 |
However, there's been plenty of recent movement in the Oscars odds that has seen the betting line of Viola Davis (Ma Rainey's Black Bottom) shorten significantly.
#PromisingYoungWoman is nominated for an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. Watch the scene between Dean Walker (@conniebritton) and Cassie unfold as tension builds. pic.twitter.com/wx5MmepPaf
— The Academy (@TheAcademy) April 7, 2021
Don't discount two-time winner McDormand (Nomadland). Clearly, this is among the most competitive groups in the Oscars picks.
Where To Bet On The Oscars
There are a number of leading online sports betting sites that will provide bettors with the chance to place a wager on The Oscars. The best bet you can make is to shop around in advance and seek out the right deal before joining one of these sportsbooks. Check out BetUS and MyBookie as examples.
The signup bonus offers that are in place at all of these recommended sites will prove advantageous to the bettor. And since you'll get a good deal wherever you go, why not assess the available options at several sites and find the ideal fit for your needs?
Bring your movie love to #DowntownDisney and check out this fun #Oscars display!
— ABC (@ABCNetwork) April 9, 2021
Don’t miss the 93rd Oscars LIVE on Sunday, April 25 at 8e|5p on ABC! pic.twitter.com/xFFoXCEquE
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