72nd Primetime Emmy Awards Betting Odds

The 72nd annual Primetime Emmy Awards gala will take place on Sunday, September 20, to honor the highest quality of television programming by rewarding shows that aired between June 1, 2019, and May 31, 2020. That period gave way to some remarkable broadcasts and bettors should be keeping a close eye on the 2020 Emmy odds.

Online sportsbook BetOnline Sportsbook has released betting odds for the main categories for achievements in acting and production with HBO’s The Watchmen leading all contenders with 11 nominations. But of the major betting categories that we’ll be highlighting, The Watchmen is not involved as it was a limited series. For these Emmy betting props, HBO has another contender in Succession, which has 10 nominations.

The ceremony—usually held at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles—will be done virtually in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and will be hosted by Jimmy Kimmel.

Let’s get into the main categories and see if there’s any betting value to fading the favorites:

Emmy Awards - Best Drama Series and Best Comedy Series Odds

Two of the crown jewels at the Emmy Awards are for Best Drama Series and Best Comedy Series and the current odds-on favorites for the categories are Succession (-450) and Schitt’s Creek (-300) respectively.

Best Drama Series

Succession has been one of these “slow burn” shows that grew in popularity by word of mouth. The show’s story arc highlights a global media and hospitality empire owned by a dysfunctional family with all of them pulling strings to try to get the patriarch’s throne. Basically, it’s Game of Thrones without dragons and graphic violence (just kidding).

It deserves to be the favorite but not sure if it should be an odds-on fave with such stiff competition. Ozark (+350), with Jason Bateman, was critically acclaimed for its third season while Better Call Saul (+1000) was firing on all cylinders and may have had the tensest moments in television in 2020. There could be value in fading the favorite for this one:

Odds as of September 14 at BetOnline Sportsbook

Best Comedy Series

Schitt’s Creek has comedy legends galore and almost feels like an updated version of Arrested Development with its humor and dark comedy, but most of the nominees for this show and the actors feel like legacy picks more than quality picks.

Shows like The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (+200) and Curb Your Enthusiasm (+1000) were incredible this season, especially Curb. Seeing Larry David get himself into the most awkward situations over and over again, it’s one of the few times in 2020 where laughs were completely justified.

We could see an upset for this category but it depends on whether you bet with the intentions of picking the highest quality of comedy or taking the legacy pick:

Odds as of September 14 at BetOnline Sportsbook

Emmy Awards - Best Acting Categories Odds

The drama acting categories for the Emmy Awards are also highly coveted and usually indicate how upcoming award shows like the Golden Globe Awards and Critics’ Choice Awards will unfold.

For the drama, Brian Cox of Succession is the -250 favorite for Best Actor in a Drama Series while Ozark’s Laura Linney is the -150 favorite for Best Actress in a Drama Series. Linney was fantastic in Ozark but reigning winner Jodie Comer with Killing Eve could make a great option at +1400.

As for Best Actor and Actress in a Comedy Series, Schitt’s Creek stands tall with Eugene Levy and Catherine O’Hara both as huge faves to win their first Emmy Awards in acting categories. Keep an eye on Rachel Brosnahan with The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel as a sleeper pick to upset O’Hara at +350.

Odds as of September 14 at BetOnline Sportsbook

Odds as of September 14 at BetOnline Sportsbook

Odds as of September 14 at BetOnline Sportsbook

Odds as of September 14 at BetOnline Sportsbook

Emmy Awards – Best Supporting Actor Categories Odds

Arguably the actor or actress who steals scenes every time they’re on screen, the Best Supporting categories sometimes yield some great upsets for bettors to cash in on.

In the comedy categories, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel owns the big favorites with Tony Shalhoub (-200) and Alex Borstein (-450), who won their respective categories in 2019.

On the drama side, it’s two newcomers for these television awards in Billy Crudup for The Morning Show and Helena Bonham Carter’s fourth career Emmy nom for The Crown. Again, both are odds-on favorites with Crudup offering better value at -130.

Odds as of September 14 at BetOnline Sportsbook

Odds as of September 14 at BetOnline Sportsbook

Odds as of September 14 at BetOnline Sportsbook

Odds as of September 14 at BetOnline Sportsbook