Opening 2019 Emmy Awards Odds: Game of Thrones Favored for Outstanding Drama; Veep Favored for Comedy

• The nominees are out for the 71st Annual Emmy Awards, honoring the best in television
• The show takes place Sunday, Sep. 22, at the Microsoft Theatre in Los Angeles and airs on FOX
• Game Of Thrones, which received 32 nominations, is set to dominate the 2019 Emmys

These days, television is more exciting than film.

Thanks to an onslaught of memorable shows on streaming and cable, fans have fallen back in love with the medium. This year’s Emmy Award nominees are a reminder of just why fans are captivated by this storytelling format.

The 2019 nominees were announced on Tuesday by Ken Jeong and D’Arcy Carden. Below, find the early odds for every nominee in each major category.

Who Will Win the 2019 Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series?

*All odds taken 07/19/19

Former Saturday Night Live star Bill Hader has had a breakout role as the title character in HBO’s Barry. But can he secure a win against enduring performances such as Eugene Levy in Schitt’s Creek or Anthony Anderson in Black-ish? It’s likely.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ir1_hjemxNA

Even with Hollywood royalty such as Don Cheadle (Black Monday) and Michael Douglas (The Kominsky Method) in this category, you can’t deny the appeal of Hader’s luster. He’s really come into his own on Barry, expanding his sketch comedy past into a truly intriguing performance.

Pick: Bill Hader (Barry) (-800)

Who Will Win the 2019 Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series?

*All odds taken 07/19/19

Julia Louis-Dreyfus is a force to be reckoned with in this category, winning seven times out of twelve nominations.

Even more impressive, she’s won six times for Veep, alone, ending up on top each time she’s been nominated for this role.

She’s won against impressive competition many times, too. Can she do it again?

Her main competition is Rachel Brosnahan for The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, who won last year (a year Louis-Dreyfus wasn’t nominated as Veep was on a gap year). But Louis-Dreyfus is the boss– she’s the Veep after all.

Pick: Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Veep) (-1000)

Who Will Win the 2019 Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series?

*All odds taken 07/19/19

Some tough competition in this category, which pits shows with a lot of history (Veep, Schitt’s Creek) against newer favorites like Russian Doll and Fleabag.

Fans really missed Veep during its year off, meaning some rewards may be coming its way. Again a tight race between Veep (which won the last three times it was nominated) and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (last year’s winner).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8VcWR9Cvo4

Even with Barry as the dark horse and Russian Doll as the wild card, we are likely to see Veep‘s return to the spotlight as the biggest hit of the bunch.

Pick: Veep (-400)

Who Will Win the 2019 Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series?

*All odds taken 07/19/19

You’d have to be totally in the dark to think anything other than Game Of Thrones has even a shadow of a chance of winning this category.

After the blockbuster returned for its final season, you couldn’t turn a corner, a magazine page, or a channel without hearing something about the show. It’s one of the most beloved and successful productions in television history.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LfJwEDkO2g

Oh, you didn’t like the way the show ended? Voters didn’t seem to share that sentiment. Leading this year’s nominations with a record-shattering 32, Game Of Thrones has this one in the bag.

Pick: Game Of Thrones (-600)

Who Will Win the 2019 Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series?

*All odds taken 07/19/19

A much closer category here sees neck-and-neck odds between Jason Bateman (Ozark) and Bob Odenkirk (Better Call Saul). Both performances have a major chance to win.

This is Odenkirk’s fourth nomination for Saul, and Bateman’s second for Ozark. With last year’s winner (Matthew Rhys on The Americans) out of this year’s competition, both stars have a higher chance to win.

We also have previous winner Sterling K. Brown up for this award for his performance in This Is Us. But given the traction Ozark has seen this season, expect a win from Bateman.

Pick: Jason Bateman (Ozark) (+140)

Who Will Win the 2019 Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series?

*All odds taken 07/19/19

Sandra Oh has become an awards-show darling since her debut in Killing Eve. She’s already won a Critics’ Choice Award, a Golden Globe, and a SAG Award for this performance.

Though she lost in this category last year to Claire Foy in The Crown, this could be her year. Foy is out of the running this year.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1Qq63KE6d0

Oh’s biggest competitor is Emilia Clarke, the beloved Game Of Thrones star. But given Clarke’s surprising omission from this category each other year and the criticism her character faced this season, it’s likely Oh will finally get the Emmy.

Pick: Sandra Oh (Killing Eve) (-700)