'Saving Private Ryan' odds-on Oscar pick

Art Manteris, longtime oddsmaker at the Las Vegas Hilton, also picked Nick Nolte and Gwyneth Paltrow to win the best actor and actress Oscars at Sunday night's 71st Academy Awards presentation.

Nolte is a 7-5 pick for his role in "Affliction," while Paltrow is a 4-5 favorite for "Shakespeare in Love."

Manteris makes "Saving Private Ryan" a 1-3 pick to win best picture, followed by "Shakespeare in Love" at 3-1 and "Life is Beautiful" at 5-1. "Elizabeth is 15-1 and "The Thin Red Line" is 20-1.

The odds are for entertainment purposes only, as betting is allowed in Las Vegas sports books only on legitimate sporting events.

Behind Nolte in the best actor category, according to the odds, is Tom Hanks ("Saving Private Ryan)" at 2-1 and Roberto Benigni ("Life Is Beautiful") at 4-1. Ian McKellen ("Gods and Monsters") is at 6-1, while Ed Norton ("American History X") is 10-1.

Cate Blanchett ("Elizabeth") follows Paltrow in the best actress category at 7-5, followed by Meryl Streep ("One True Thing") at 8-1. Emily Watson ("Hilary and Jackie") is 12-1, while Fernanda Montenegro ("Central Station") is 30-1.

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