Betting the 2009 Academy Awards

Betting the 2009 Academy Awards

People will bet on practically anything and bookmakers are always on the lookout for opportunities to get potential bettors to open their wallets or purses. Offering odds on the Academy Awards is a popular way of trying to entice somebody who may not gamble of sports to splurge into the world of betting.

Betting on the Academy Awards is fairly popular and many sportsbooks offer odds on the major categories listed. We'll look at those odds listed at The Greek here.

NOTE: The Academy Awards odds are listed in money line format. If you're new to the world of sports betting, I would suggest reading Understanding Money Lines first, as the odds will be easier to understand.

Best Picture

Slumdog Millionaire -1000
Curious Case of Benjamin Button +500
Milk +3000
Frost/Nixon +3000
The Reader +3000

According to bookmakers, Slumdog Millionaire is virtually a lock to claim the award for Best Picture. The story of a Mumbai teen who appears on the Indian version of "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?" and is arrested on suspicion of cheating will be tough to beat.

Best Actor

Mickey Rourke -165
Sean Penn +165
Frank Langella +850
Brad Pitt +1800
Richard Jenkins +1800

This appears to be a two-horse race between Rourke and Penn, with Rourke holding a clear advantage for his performance in The Wrestler.

Best Actress

Kate Winslett -200
Merryl Streep +350
Anne Hathaway +500
Angelina Jolie +2000
Melissa Leo +2000

While Winslett is the obvious favorite here, it's never a good idea to discount Streep, who has drawn a fair amount of betting interest.

Best Director

Danny Boyle -1000
David Fincher +800
Any Other +1100
An even more likely winner than Slumdog Millionaire is Danny Boyle, the director of the film, to win here. It would be a huge upset if he doesn't take home the Oscar.

Best Supporting Actor

Heath Ledger -2500
Any Other +1250

The bookmakers believe this one is no contest, as Ledger will claim another posthumous award for his role in The Dark Knight.

Best Supporting Actress

Penelope Cruz -225
Viola Davis +450
Marisa Tomei +600
Taraji P Henson +900
Amy Adams +900

Cruz is the favorite in this category, although the range of odds is lower than any of the other categories. Davis or Tomei wouldn't be a huge surprise, but Cruz is the favorite for a reason, as her role in Vicky Cristina Barcelona has already garnered the Goya Award and the BAFTA.

A number of the categories have clear-cut favorites, which may take away a bit of the suspense of the Academy Awards, but there is typically a surprise or two on Oscar night, and the logical places to look are in the two main actress divisions.

Even those who won't place wagers on the Academy Awards through bookmakers can use the odds to their advantage when it comes to friendly wagers with friends, family or coworkers.

Have some fun during the Academy Awards and maybe win a little bit of cash while you're doing so.