What ties the 98th Academy Awards to the world of sports? It appears there’s a significant connection.

Similar to iconic events like the Super Bowl, March Madness, and the Daytona 500, the Oscars draw spectators who are eager to place bets on the outcomes.

This year’s Oscars spotlight movies intertwined with sports stories.

Let’s delve into the odds for various categories as reported by FanDuel Sportsbook on March 13.

Best Picture

• One Battle After Another: -500 (bet $10 to win $12 total)
• Sinners: +310 (bet $10 to win $41 total)
• Hamnet: +1800 (bet $10 to win $190 total)
• Marty Supreme: +2700 (bet $10 to win $280 total)
• Sentimental Value: +4000 (bet $10 to win $410 total)
• Frankenstein: +5000 (bet $10 to win $510 total)
• Bugonia: +5000 (bet $10 to win $510 total)
• Train Dreams: +5000 (bet $10 to win $510 total)
• F1: +5000 (bet $10 to win $510 total)
• The Secret Agent: +5000 (bet $10 to win $510 total)

Notable Trends:
Both Marty Supreme and F1 possess lower odds on the Best Picture board; however, their narratives are deeply embedded in sports culture. In Marty Supreme, Timothée Chalamet plays Marty Mauser, a driven character determined to become the world’s leading table tennis player. In F1, Brad Pitt takes the lead as a fictional Formula 1 driver who makes a comeback from retirement.

Will Brad Pitt’s Formula 1 drama win Best Picture?

Best Actor

• Michael B. Jordan, Sinners: -185 (bet $10 to win $15.41 total)
• Timothée Chalamet, Marty Supreme: +190 (bet $10 to win $29 total)
• Wagner Moura, The Secret Agent: +1400 (bet $10 to win $150 total)
• Leonardo DiCaprio, One Battle After Another: +1400 (bet $10 to win $150 total)
• Ethan Hawke, Blue Moon: +3300 (bet $10 to win $340 total)

Insight:
Michael B. Jordan, not to be mistaken for the NBA Hall of Famer and successful NASCAR team owner of the same name, is leading the pack for Best Actor. In Sinners, directed by Ryan Coogler, he notably portrays twin brothers, Smoke and Stack. Despite his name sharing likeness with the basketball legend, he has ties to the sports realm as a minority stakeholder in the Premier League club AFC Bournemouth.

Best Actor nominee Michael B. Jordan owns a minority stake in a Premier League club.

Number of Costume Changes by Conan O’Brien

• Over 1.5: -142 (bet $10 to win $17.04 total)
• Under 1.5: +112 (bet $10 to win $21.20 total)

Context:
Bettors are left uncertain regarding the number of costume changes that Conan O’Brien will sport during his second consecutive hosting of the Oscars. His unwavering support for New England sports teams like the Patriots, Bruins, and Red Sox is well-publicized.

Oscars host Conan O’Brien is a devoted fan of all things New England sports.

Possible Mentions by Conan O’Brien in Opening Monologue

• Opera and/or Ballet: -390 (bet $10 to win $12.56 total)
• Kylie Jenner: -310 (bet $10 to win $13.23 total)
• Heated Rivalry: -220 (bet $10 to win $14.55 total)
• Letterboxd: -160 (bet $10 to win $16.25 total)
• The Bride: -140 (bet $10 to win $17.14 total)

Summary:
Among the listed odds, there’s the potential for Heated Rivalry, a story centering on two competing professional hockey players, to garner mention during his monologue. Notably, Bam Adebayo is also a candidate at +1200 after his record-breaking 83-point game in the Miami Heat’s victory, landing him next to Kobe Bryant and Wilt Chamberlain in NBA history.

Could Bam Adebayo’s electric, 83-point performance get mentioned in Conan O’Brien’s opening monologue at the Oscars?