People enjoy betting on all aspects of major events, from the color of Gatorade poured on a coach post-Super Bowl, to the dress color of a starlet at the Oscars. Whether it takes place at the office water cooler, or online with other critics, determining “favorites” for this year’s Oscars is an engaging activity.

While most of these historical odds prove that the system which generates them is fairly accurate (at least much more so than a meteorologist’s), there remain a few upsets and underdog winners. Here are the Academy Awards’ past favorites, the odds & winners, and favorites for 2011.

2009—81^st Academy Awards

1. Best Picture

a. Slumdog Millionaire 1/6         WINNER

b. Curious Case of Benjamin Button 11/2

c. Milk 12/1

d. The Reader 20/1

e. Frost/Nixon 30/1

The clear favorite before the awards show began, Slumdog Millionaire’s win surprised very few. Though Milk was considered a probable upset in this category, more people were counting on the film to win for its acting, than for its overall production.

2. Best Director

a. Danny Boyle—Slumdog Millionaire 1/9         WINNER

b. David Fincher—Curious Case of Benjamin Button 7/1

c. Gus Van Sant—Milk 22/1

d. Ron Howard—Frost/Nixon 25/1

e. Stephen Daldry—The Reader 35/1

Another clear winner—Danny Boyle may have practiced his look of surprise and appreciation before the show. Slumdog Millionaire was such a favorite that the recipients rarely sat during the Academy Awards.

3. Best Actress

a. Kate Winslet—The Reader 1/3         WINNER

b. Anne Hathaway—Rachel Getting Married 11/2

c. Meryl Streep—Doubt 4/1

d. Angelina Jolie—Changeling 21/1

e. Melissa Leo—Frozen River 35/1

In The Reader, Kate Winslet manages to be vulnerable, sensitive, and yet a brutal force during the holocaust. Her performance was given a nod from the public long before the Oscars nominated her.

4. Best Actor

a. Mickey Rourke—The Wrestler 1/2

b. Sean Penn—Milk 7/4         WINNER

c. Frank Langella—Frost/Nixon 25/2

d. Brad Pitt—Curious Case of Benjamin Button 22/1

e. Richard Jenkins—The Visitor 50/1

Winning Best Actor for the touching film Milk, Sean Penn made an endearing speech to his fans. Though The Wrestler was a close contender, few were surprised the heartwarming political piece was chosen.

2010—82^nd Academy Awards

1. Best Picture

a. A Serious Man 75/1

b. An Education 75/1

c. Avatar 71/100

d. District 9 100/1

e. Inglorious Basterds 10/1

f. Precious 20/1

g. The Blind Side 50/1

h. The Hurt Locker 11/10     WINNER

i. Up 75/1

j. Up in the Air 25/1

Though Avatar was the expected winner in this category, The Hurt Locker took the award, much to the surprise of audiences around the globe. Avatar was said to have been “robbed,” but many glitterati simply smiled, having known The Hurt Locker’s potential in advance.

2. Best Director

a. James Cameron—Avatar 3/1

b. Jason Reitman—Up in the Air 50/1

c. Kathryn Bigelow—The Hurt Locker 1/5         WINNER

d. Lee Daniels—Precious 60/1

e. Quentin Tarantino—Inglorious Basterds 16/1

Not just winning Best Director for any old film, Kathryn Bigelow took on the monumental project of The Hurt Locker—and won. Many fans were excited to see a female win in this category.

3. Best Actress

a. Carey Mulligan—An Education 11/1

b. Gabourey Sidibe—Precious 35/4

c. Helen Mirren—The Last Station 40/1

d. Meryl Streep—Julie & Julia 5/2

e.      Sandra Bullock—The Blind Side 1/3         WINNER

Outraged fans of An Education couldn’t believe how bad Mulligan’s odds were forecast to be before the Academy Awards. Sandra Bullock, the clear winner for Best Actress, made public statements about her own admiration for An Education, and the performance of Mulligan. Though the odds proved accurate, this is one of those cases where prop bets incite much speculation and criticism.

4. Best Actor

a. Colin Firth—A Single Man 14/1

b. George Clooney—Up in the Air 12/1

c. Jeff Bridges—Crazy Heart 1/10       WINNER

d. Jeremy Renner—The Hurt Locker 14/1

e. Morgan Freeman—Invictus 12/1

Jeff Bridges was far-and-away the favorite for Best Actor in 2010. His performance in Crazy Heart left women swooning, men impressed, and babysitters waiting up late.

2011—83^rd Academy Awards

1. Best Picture

a. Black Swan 40/1

b. The Fighter 40/1

c. Inception 50/1

d. The Kids Are All Right 200/1

e. The King’s Speech 2/9         FAVORITE

f. 127 Hours 100/1

g. The Social Network 7/2

h. Toy Story 3 150/1

i. True Grit 40/1

j. Winter’s Bone 150/1

Though many people expect King’s Speech to win the Academy Award for Best Picture of 2011, there may be a surprise at hand. Others are betting their money on The Social Network, due to the fanaticism of younger viewers.

2. Best Director

a. Darren Aronofsky—Black Swan 18/1

b. David Fincher—The Social Network 5/8

c. David O. Russell—The Fighter 66/1

d. Joel & Ethan Coen—True Grit 40/1

e. Tom Hooper—The King’s Speech 13/10     FAVORITE

Pulling up great odds in another category, The King’s Speech is a favorite for Best Director. Though Tom Hooper is not as well known as some of the other nominated directors, he could take home an Oscar. However, yet again The Social Network is close at the heels of The King’s Speech.

3. Best Actress

a. Annette Bening—The Kids Are All Right 13/2

b. Jennifer Lawrence—Winter’s Bone 28/1

c. Michelle Williams—Blue Valentine 66/1

d. Natalie Portman—Black Swan 1/12       FAVORITE

e. Nicole Kidman—Rabbit Hole 66/1

For anyone who saw Black Swan this year, Natalie Portman’s nomination in the category of Best Actress is no surprise, nor is her position as “favorite” in odds. Though she is far-and-away in the lead, Annette Bening has some hope that her nomination could win as an underdog.

4. Best Actor

a. Colin Firth—The King’s Speech 1/33       FAVORITE

b. James Franco—127 Hours 18/1

c. Javier Bardem—Biutiful 40/1

d. Jeff Bridges—True Grit 25/1

e. Jesse Eisenberg—The Social Network 25/1

A favorite yet again, The King’s Speech is known for Colin Firth’s performance. Nothing comes close to his odds for this year’s Best Actor Oscar. Anyone who bets against Firth and wins will be the lucky recipient of beaucoup bucks, and scorn.

Conclusion

Historical Oscars prop bets prove that these odds, provided by Bodog.com, are pretty accurate indicators of who will win and lose at the Academy Awards. Whether you want to play for fun with co-workers, or memorize probabilities to impress your friends at an Oscar party, this article has it all.

Sources:

http://sports.bodog.com/sports-betting/tv-film-movie-props.jsp

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fixed-odds_betting

http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/movieawards/oscars/2011-02-21-oscar-odds_N.htm

Well, when it comes to Best Picture, it won’t be “Dreamgirls-” the urban musical found itself snubbed for the night’s highest honor along with it’s “leading” actress Beyonce. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences just announced the Oscar nominations for the Best in American Films. Statues will be handed out February 25th, 2007 in a live ceremony hosted by Ellen DeGeneres. Check out the nominees in the top categories:

Best Picture:

Babel
The Departed
Letters From Iwo Jima
Little Miss Sunshine
The Queen

Best Actor:

Leonardo DiCaprio, Blood Diamond
Ryan Gosling, Half Nelson
Peter O’Toole, Venus
Will Smith, The Pursuit of Happyness
Forest Whitaker, The Last King of Scotland

Best Actress:

Penelope Cruz, Volver
Judi Dench, Notes on a Scandal
Helen Mirren, The Queen
Meryl Streep, The Devil Wears Prada
Kate Winslet, Little Children

Best Supporting Actor:

Alan Arkin, Little Miss Sunshine
Jackie Earle Haley, Little Children
Dijmon Hinsou, Blood Diamond
Eddie Murphy, Dreamgirls
Mark Wahlberg, The Departed

Best Supporting Actress:

Adriana Barraza, Babel
Cate Blanchett, Notes on a Scandal
Abigail Breslin, Little Miss Sunshine
Jennifer Hudson, Dreamgirls
Riko Kikuchi, Babel