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2020 Oscars Odds with Expert Academy Awards Betting Predictions

by Raphael Esparza - 2/5/2020

Joker Movie

This is the first Sunday of the year that the NFL will not be on the big screens. However, if you are looking for action, jump over to the entertainment side of the betting spectrum. During the last three years, the Academy Awards betting outcomes have been chalky, but I see a different outcome Sunday night. Last year "Green Book" was the big winner, shocking everybody for Best Motion Picture at +500, but I do see more dogs barking this time around because of some tight categories.

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The 92nd Academy Awards (Oscars) show is live this Sunday from the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, and I'm hoping this year we will see some big underdog winners like we saw at the Golden Globes. Global sportsbooks have a full list of odds for the 92nd Annual Academy Awards. Jump on these betting lines now because these lines will move, and it wouldn't shock me to see a big underdog take home an Oscar this Sunday night.

Awards shows like this are such a great betting opportunity because a sharp handicapper can easily score a big profit. Like other awards shows such as the SAGs or even the Grammys, upsets and heavy long shots will come through; you just need to pick your spots! Quick example: at the Golden Globes for "Best Director" Sam Mendes for "1917" was +1000 and pulled off the upset, beating Martin Scorsese ("The Irishman") +120 and the betting favorite Bong Joon Ho ("Parasite") -150. There is a reason the sportsbooks offer such low limits on these props; they want to lessen their exposure to guys like me! Again, last year the betting favorites cleaned house, but this year I smell some of the heavy favorites going down, and maybe, we could see another 25-1 underdog winner like three years ago in the Best Costume Design category.

92nd Academy Awards Odds as of Tuesday February 4

Best Picture

1917 -300
Parasite +200
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood +500

Joker +1200

The Irishman +5500

JoJo Rabbit +7000

Marriage Story +9000

Little Women +12500

Ford vs. Ferrari +17500

(Last year winner: "Green Book" +500) When all is said and done, I really only see three movies that could be announced Sunday night to take home Best Picture. My original gut feeling was picking "1917," but I don't want to lay the -300. However, I see South Korea's brilliant comic movie to be the first foreign-language film to win the big prize in the Academy's 92-year-old award history. Give me the plus money to close out the night of hopeful profits. Prediction: "Parasite" +200

Best Actor

Joaquin Phoenix (Joker) -3000

Adam Driver (Marriage Story) +850

Antonio Banderas (Pain and Glory) +2000

Leonardo Dicaprio (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood) +2000

Jonathan Pryce (Two Popes) +2000

(Last year winner: Rami Malek - "Bohemian Rhapsody" -450) Last year the big favorite won as Rami Malek took home Best Actor, and the favorite seems to cash in this category year after year. Not a shock here! Prediction: Joaquin Phoenix -3000

Best Actress

Renee Zellweger (Judy) -2200

Scarlett Johansson (Marriage Story) +750

Cynthia Erivo (Harriet) +2200

Charlize Theron (Bombshell) +2000

Saoirse Ronan (Little Women) +2500

(Last year winner: Olivia Colman - "The Favorite" +400) Last year the heavy favorite Glenn Close -1000 for "The Wife" was taken down by Olivia Colman. but this year I don't see the big favorite getting upset. Renee Zellweger has cleaned up all the award shows and she grabs an Oscar Sunday night. Prediction: Renee Zellweger -2200

Best Director

Sam Mendes (1917) -1000

Bong Joon Ho (Parasite) +300

Quentin Tarantino (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood) +1000

Martin Scorsese (The Irishman) +3000

Todd Phillips (Joker) +5000

 

(Last year winner: Alfonso Cuaron - "Roma" -2000) If you have Sam Mendes at plus money when the Oscar odds were posted, hats off, because that is an amazing ticket you have. The only director that could pull off the upset is Bong Joon Ho for "Parasite," and if his odds continue to climb I will definitely have some cash on him. Prediction: Sam Mendes (1917) -1000

Best Supporting Actor

Brad Pitt (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood) -2500

Joe Pesci (The Irishman) +800

Al Pacino (The Irishman) +1800

Tom Hanks (A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood) +1600

Anthony Hopkins (Two Popes) +3300

(Last year winner: Mahershala Ali - "Green Book" -1400) Last year a big favorite won and the year before that another big favorite cashed (Sam Rockwell -1000), and Sunday we see another big favorite. Yes, it's the man my wife would trade me in a heartbeat for that wins this category. Prediction: Brad Pitt -2500

Best Supporting Actress

Laura Dern (Marriage Story) -1800

Margot Robbie (Bombshell) +800

Florence Pugh (Little Women) +1000

Scarlett Johansson (JoJo Rabbit) +2200

Kathy Bates (Richard Jewell) +3500

 

(Last year winner: Regina King - "If Beale Street Could Talk" -250) Here is another category that the favorites usually clean up in, but keep an eye for one underdog. Florence Pugh has been getting tons of money, and she opened around +1500. I'm not saying she will upset Laura Dern, but you can guarantee I will have a live ticket on Pugh at +1000. Prediction: Laura Dern -1800

Best Animated Feature Film

Toy Story 4 -150
Klaus +110

Missing Link +1000

I lost My Body +2200

How to Train Your Dragon: Hidden World +4500

(Last year winner: "Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse" -1300) Last year Spider-Man was the big upset winner at the Golden Globes and brought home an Oscar, but this year this category will be much closer. Shocked that "Toy Story 4" opened the favorite since "Missing Link" +800 pulled off the upset at the Golden Globes. I'm hoping "Klaus" wins this category, but I can't pass up +1000 on the Golden Globe winner. Prediction: "Missing Link" +1000

 

Best Cinematography

1917 -5000

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood +1600

Joker +1200

The Irishman +1800
The Lighthouse +2000

(Last year winner: "Roma" -2000) Nobody is beating "1917" in this category. Prediction: "1917" -5000

Best International: Feature Film

Parasite -8000

Pain and Glory +1000

Les Miserables +2200

Honeyland +2000

Corpus Christi +3300

(Last year winner: "Roma" -2000) Nobody is beating "Parasite" in this category. Prediction: "Parasite" -8000

Best Production Design

Once Upon A Time in Hollywood -250
1917 +160

Parasite +350

The Irishman +2500

Jojo Rabbit +5500

(Last year winner: "Black Panther" - No Betting Line) This category is going to be very interesting Sunday night. I believe the favorite goes down, and I'm taking "1917" but I'm also worried about "Parasite". No matter what, I see a plus money winner for Best Production Design. Prediction: "1917" +160

Best Adapted Screenplay

Little Women +120

The Irishman -100

Jojo Rabbit +350

The Two Popes +2000

Joker +3000

(Last year winner: "Blackkklansman" -400) The favorite has dominated this category the last couple of years, but this year there is no clear favorite. I was not a big fan of 'The Irishman" at all in any category, but I'm calling for "JoJo Rabbit" to steal this category. Keep an eye out for "The Two Popes" as well because I can't pass up +2000. Prediction: "Jojo Rabbit" +350

Best Original Score

Joker -800

1917 +250

Little Women +1400

Marriage Story +3000

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker +4000

(Last year winner: "Black Panther" +225) Nobody is beating "Joker" in this category. Prediction: "Joker" -800

Best Original Screenplay

Once Upon A Time in Hollywood -250

Parasite +300

Marriage Story +400

1917 +900

Knives Out +1500

(Last year winner: "Green Book" +270) For this category, plus money seems to cash all the time and last year "Green Book" upset 'The Favourite" at -180. Talk about a loaded category, and I believe "Knives Out" even has a chance to win Sunday night in this category. Really want to jump on "Parasite" at +300, but I don't see "Once Upon A Time in Hollywood" losing this category. Prediction: "Once Upon A Time in Hollywood" -250

Best Original Song

Love Me Again (Rocketman) -1000
Stand Up (Harriet) +600

Into the Unknown (Frozen II) +1000
I Can't Let You Throw Yourself Away (Toy Story 4) +2500

I'm Standing With You (Breakthrough) +3300

(Last year winner: "Shallow" - "A Star is Born" -2200) Nobody is beating "Love Me Again" in this category. Prediction: "Love Me Again" ("Rocketman") -1000

Best Film Editing

Ford v Ferrari -125
Parasite +100

The Irishman +500

Jojo Rabbit +1800

Joker +3300

(Last year winner: "Bohemian Rhapsody" - No Betting Line) A three-film race for this category, and "Ford v Ferrari" will be tough to beat, but give plus money "Parasite" for Best Film Editing. Prediction: "Parasite" +100

Best Visual Effects

1917 -130
Avengers: Endgame +110

The Irishman +350

The Lion King +600

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker +1500

(Last year winner: "First Man" -250) Two years ago "Blade Runner 2049" pulled off the upset in this category, and I only see "Avengers: Endgame" MAYBE pulling off the upset. I don't see it happening, and Sunday night we will hear "1917" winning this category. Prediction: "1917" -130

Best Costume Design

Little Women -350

Once Upon A Time in Hollywood +350

Jojo Rabbit +400

Joker +3500

The Irishman +3000

(Last year winner: "Black Panther" +270) Upset last year as "Black Panther" beat 'The Favourite". And with "Little Women" being the big favorite in this category, I smell another dog barking. Two really good underdogs in this category, and that is "Once Upon A Time in Hollywood" and "Jojo Rabbit". One of them will be called Sunday night. Prediction: "Once Upon A Time in Hollywood" +350

Best Makeup and Hairstyling

Bombshell -750

Joker +400

Judy +1000

1917 +3000

Maleficent: Mistress of Evil +3300

(Last year winner: "Vice" - No Betting Line) Nobody is beating "Bombshell' in this category. Prediction: "Bombshell" -750

Best Sound Editing

1917 -200

Ford v Ferrari +140

Once Upon A Time in Hollywood +850

Joker +1200

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker +2000

(Last year winner: "Bohemian Rhapsody" +600) I'm a sci-fi dork, so of course I will be rooting for "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker," but the force will not be with them. Two movies are in the running for Best Sound Editing, and it's between the favorite "1917" and "Ford v Ferrari". I wanted to pick cars over war, but I believe it's going to be a "1917" evening. Prediction: "1917" -200

Raphael Esparza is one of the best handicappers in all sports. This weekend Esparza will have plays in the NBA Basketball, NHL Hockey, College Basketball, soccer, Golf, UFC 247 and don't forget Saturday the XFL throws their first pass. New clients can take advantage of Doc's no-hassle $60 free picks offer and get Esparza's weekday picks .

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