2020 Oscars Betting Picks: Predictions For The 92nd Academy Awards

Brian Sausa, Last Updated: June 7th, 2021 - NJ Sports Betting - Free $3,250 For Sports Bets In New Jersey

Hollywood is gearing up for the 92nd Academy Awards on February 9th and we’re celebrating the film industry’s biggest night with 2020 Oscars predictions!

Wagering on this event has been popular for a while at illegal offshore sportsbooks, but this is slated to be only the second year that the American public has been able to bet legally on Academy Awards shows. If the 2019 numbers are any indication, the public is happy to have the event as a legal betting option.

The Oscars are the Super Bowl of awards shows and even people who haven’t seen all of the films or consider themselves movie buffs are taking in the spectacle and showing an interest in which pieces of work are being honored with the ultimate prize.

Thanks to odds from DraftKings Sportsbook, we’re able to supply you with some Oscars betting picks for the upcoming show!

Can You Bet On The Oscars?

Yes, you can legally bet on the Oscars in the U.S. as long as you’re located in a state where sports wagering is legal. As such an iconic pop culture event, making Academy Awards betting picks with online sportsbooks has found its way onto the shortlist of ways that viewers enjoy the three-hour celebration of the industry.

It’s possible only certain operators carry odds for the show, but it is lawful in a growing number of locations including New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Indiana, West Virginia, and New Hampshire.

Not all NJ betting sites are accepting wagers on the event, for example, but anyone who is signed up with a DraftKings NJ promo code will definitely be eligible to make 2020 Oscars predictions with odds posted for a wide range of categories.

Oscars 2020 Predictions: Academy Awards Betting Picks For Several Categories

In total, there are 24 different categories during the main portion of the show and DraftKings Sportsbook appears to be one of the only legal sports betting sites in the US with odds available for every single one of them.

Unfortunately, there are some markets in which wagering is nearly impossible because the odds are so lopsided. In these categories, handing out the award is more of a formality than anything else since it appears oddsmakers are sure of the winner. This does leave open the possibility of cashing in big if there was a major upset, but in most cases, bettors could be wasting their money.

We are avoiding these categories for the most part and focusing on ones we feel are still relevant and up for grabs to some degree, although we will mix in some high-paying underdogs. Consider signing up for DraftKings and checking out the following categories if you are looking to make 2020 Oscars betting picks on February 9!

*All odds as of February 4, 2020

2020 Oscars: Odds To Win Best Picture

Here is a list of the Oscars Best Picture Predictions from DraftKings Sportsbook.

• 1917: -250
• Parasite: +350
• Once Upon a Time in Hollywood: +800
• Joker: +1200
• The Irishman: +5000
• Jojo Rabbit: +6600
• Little Women: +10000
• Marriage Story: +10000
• Ford v Ferrari: +25000

The most prestigious category of the show has long appeared to be a battle between ‘1917’ and ‘Parasite’. Sam Mendes’ World War I drama has picked up some steam and now is the betting favorite at -250 after winning Best Picture at BAFTA, the Golden Globes, and the Producers Guild of America Awards (PGA), which are said to be measuring sticks for the Oscars.

Odds have dipped a bit over recent days for both ‘1917’ and ‘Parasite’, which now sits at a fairly profitable +350 at DraftKings. Bong Joon-ho’s multi-layered thriller is subtitled in Korean and a most unexpected hit this season while winning 23 awards in total, far more than any other film in the category. It isn’t hard to find critics that feel this is the best film of the year and should legitimately win this award.

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Getting 3.5 times your investment with Parasite would not be an awful bet by any stretch, but we don’t think this is the category Mendes’ wartime epic loses judging by the kind of run it’s on toward the end of awards season.

Pick: 1917 (-250)

Best Actress Predictions 2020

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This would be one of the categories where it appears the winner is quite obvious, as Renee Zellweger’s role as Judy Garland is an incredible -3335 according to Oscar betting odds. The only choice for a bettor would be taking a major upset, which is exactly what we are going to do here.

The exclusion of Lupita Nyong’o (Us) and her 25 awards this season means this category may not be as cut-and-dry as it seems. Zellweger won honors at the Screen Across Guild (SAG) awards and is obviously the overwhelming favorite, but Scarlett Johansson’s role in ‘Marriage Story’ garnered the same number of overall awards.

We think this could be a nice place for a shot in the dark, so we are suggesting taking ScarJo at her longshot odds to pull off one of this year’s 2020 Oscars sleeper picks in one of the night’s biggest categories. Of course it’s unlikely, but that’s why the margin of profit is so high.

Pick: Scarlett Johansson (+1100)

Best Original Screenplay Predictions 2020

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During the final week of January, Quentin Tarantino’s ‘Once Upon A Time In Hollywood’ was the slight favorite in this category but just a few days later following the Writers Guild Awards, ‘Parasite’ has that honor at -167 with Tarantino’s ode to 1960s Hollywood next up at +130 going by Oscar betting odds.

The lines tell us that oddsmakers are really deciding between two films here, though it was ‘1917’ (+2000) that won the WGA in this category after not receiving a single screenplay award this season. What does that mean exactly? It seems to mean this is a wide-open category with multiple possible winners.

The last show before the Academy Awards is BAFTA and Parasite’s win here gave it an edge that oddsmakers couldn’t ignore, and neither can we. Take the now-favorite in Bong Joon-ho’s ‘Parasite’ for your Best Original Screenplay predictions.

Pick: Parasite (-167)

Best Film Editing Predictions 2020

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Ford v Ferrari is the favorite in this category, but the odds suggest this one may still be a bit of a toss-up. Consider ‘Parasite’ winning recently at the American Cinema Editors (ACE) Eddie Awards, and give a few bonus points to that film since that event celebrates achievements in editing.

‘Parasite’ is going to walk away with some hardware at the Oscars, and this is one of the categories where it’s nominated without some of the other traditional powerhouses. ‘1917’ is a clear-cut Best Picture favorite but has no nomination in this category, which we think opens things up for ‘Parasite’ at plus-money as our 2020 Best Film Editing prediction.

Pick: Parasite (+125)

Best Visual Effects Predictions 2020

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Coming into the final weeks, it looked like ‘Avengers: Endgame’ was the film to beat in this category, putting tons of value on ‘1917’ at plus-money. After the World War I epic took home the award at BAFTA in early February, however, odds have lowered and ‘1917’ is now a favorite.

Those who favor Avengers (+250) will be happy to see a higher potential for profit, even if it appears the Oscar win is in danger. The Irishman (+550) and The Lion King (+600) are capable longshots that come with enticing payouts as well.

At -134, there is still some value on ‘1917’, though it is fleeting so we d recommend wagering on this category as soon as possible before the price on the favorite continues increasing as all signs point toward Mendes’ film racking up another win here.

Pick: 1917 (-134)

Additional 2020 Oscars Picks

In total, there are nearly 20 other categories with Oscars betting odds available. Below is a list of our selections from above and predictions for some additional categories, including another one of our 2020 Oscars sleeper picks:

• Best Picture Predictions: 1917 (-250)
• Best Actress Predictions: Scarlett Johansson (+1100)
• Best Original Screenplay Predictions: Parasite (-167)
• Best Film Editing: Parasite (+125)
• Best Visual Effects Predictions: 1917 (-134)
• Best Sound Mixing Predictions: Ford vs. Ferrari (+150)
• Best Sound Editing Predictions: 1917 (-278)
• Best Animated Film Predictions: Toy Story 4 (-200)
• Best Adapted Screenplay Predictions: The Irishman (+650)
• Best Production Design Predictions: Once Upon A Time In Hollywood (-155)

ABOUT Brian Sausa

Brian Sausa is BonusSeeker’s Copy Editor and lead sports betting pundit. A journalism graduate with an extensive sports background, Brian has been employed by multiple professional leagues including MLB, MiLB (Minor League Baseball), and the NHL. MLB, NHL, IBTimes, Brooklyn Cyclones, FanSided