2022 Emmys Picks and Predictions

Michael Crosson Sports Betting Expert

5 minute read

The 74th Primetime Emmy Awards is set for Monday, September 12 from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, California and will air on NBC at 8:00 p.m. ET. Although entertainment market betting on the ceremony is not currently legal in the United States, it is legal in certain parts of Europe - as Paddy Power provides odds and Emmys expert Michael Crosson provides his best bets for the upcoming show.

Ted Lasso to Win Outstanding Comedy Series -120

Last year, Ted Lasso cemented its spot in Emmys record books by receiving 20 nominations and winning seven awards in its first season on Apple TV, making it the most nominated freshman comedy series in Emmys history, barely surpassing the 19 nominations Glee received back in 2010. Barry (+333), Abbott Elementary (+333), and Hacks (+400) are listed as the strongest contenders on the board. However, Barry and Hacks are very unique shows, and they often utilize dark humor to balance out some incredibly somber tones, which works beautifully within the context of both shows; but when it comes to winning “Outstanding Comedy” awards, I think it puts them at a slight disadvantage.

Abbott Elementary is a bit of a Wild Card at +333, as ABC’s Office-style sitcom set in a Philadelphia elementary school is one of the most charming programs on air, and nearly perfect at what it intends to deliver. However, it’s a formula we’ve seen countless times; and frankly, I think we’ve seen it done better. My dark horse to win this category would actually be Only Murders in the Building at +1600. The first season of Hulu’s comedy/mystery helmed by Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez debuted its Season 2 finale in late-August, which didn’t give the oddsmakers much time to feel the public pulse on this line. Season 1 might be slightly underwhelming, but I believe the latest season’s balance between witty comedy and strong storytelling rivals Ted Lasso more than any of the other contenders in this category. It's still Ted Lasso’s to lose, and I think you’re getting decent value at -120, but I won’t be totally shocked if Only Murders makes a run at this year’s ceremony.

Jason Sudeikis (Ted Lasso) to Win Outstanding Lead Actor for a Comedy Series +163

Bill Hader took home the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for Seasons 1 and 2 of Barry, however, he’s never gone up against Jason Sudeikis as Coach Ted Lasso, who also won best lead in the show’s first season on air. Barry is an excellent show, and Hader is flawless as the depressed hitman lead, but comedically, the character is a bit one-note, and I think you need to bring more laughs to the table to top Sudeikis.

Whereas Ted Lasso, as a show, may have taken a minor step back in Season 2 compared to its predecessor, but I still felt Sudeikis took an enormous step forward as Coach Lasso. In Season 1, Sudeikis plays a relentless optimist that wrestles with almost every terrible thing that could happen to a professional sports coach, allowing him to add just enough nuance to his comedic performance to secure the lead actor Emmy. In Season 2, however, I think Sudeikis actually struck the perfect balance within the role, as the show adds a team therapist who’s also up for an Emmy (Sarah Niles), and they really explore what makes Coach Lasso tick, giving him much more to sink his teeth into dramatically, while still expanding upon comedic beats voters fell in love with in Season 1.

Updated on 04/20/2024

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Hannah Einbinder (Hacks) to Win Outstanding Supporting Actress for a Comedy Series +450

Hannah Waddingham (-275) is the favorite in this category after taking home last year’s Emmy for her incredible performance as the antagonist turned best friend to Coach Ted Lasso in the show’s freshman season. In the most recent season, however, Waddingham’s performance is just as strong, but her character takes a major step back narratively as she settles into more of a hopeless romantic role instead of the manipulative team owner voters loved in Season 1.

If Waddingham doesn’t win, I think this could be a toss-up between a handful of names; but personally, my choice would be Hannah Einbinder for her role as Ava in Hacks. Einbinder’s performance might not exactly be the most nuanced within this category, but Hacks is brilliantly written, and she’s a perfect fit alongside Jean Smart who’s favored to win her second lead actress Emmy for her role as Deborah Vance. However, one could argue Einbinder is the actual star of Hacks, so it would be nice to see Ava get some award recognition if the academy rewards Smart again for dunking all of Ava’s perfect setups.

Alexandra Daddario (The White Lotus) to Win Outstanding Supporting Actress for a Limited Series +2000

This one’s definitely a longshot, but I think there might actually be decent value on the board in this category. Jennifer Coolidge (-700) is listed as a heavy favorite to win Outstanding Supporting Actress for a Limited Series; and from the outside looking in, that seems to make sense, as she’s the most prestigious actress on the board by a decent margin. However, if Coolidge is removed from White Lotus, the show probably doesn’t lose much comedically or narratively; and it probably still gets nominated to win Outstanding Limited Series. There’s nothing lacking from her performance specifically. Her scenes were well-acted and enjoyable. She just wasn’t given much to work with and was relatively inconsequential to Mike White’s brilliantly woven plot.

There’s two other strong performers on the board from Dopesick in Kaitlyn Devers and Mare Winnigham. However, I’d actually cast my vote to a different White Lotus actress, and that’s Alexandra Daddario for her role as an incredibly troubled honeymooner. White Lotus is designed to make the viewer feel all the different stressors that the ensemble cast encounters on their vacation; and while Coolidge provided some much-needed comedic relief throughout, I don’t think anybody portrayed that tension better than Daddario.

Michael Crosson

Michael Crosson began his time at VegasInsider as a freelance NBA writer back in 2019 while he continued to study Psychology and Biology at James Madison University. Following his graduation in 2021, Michael joined the team full-time, and he's been with VI ever since. Michael still writes NBA, NFL, and MLB for VI, as well as gambling industry news. He's also become a crucial part of our editorial production team. More from Michael Crosson