With Ricky Gervais as host, the Golden Globe Awards will be worth watching anyway, but for those who want to spice up their viewing interest with a little punt on the likely winner, we're giving our top tips for success.
 
Best Picture - Drama
AVATAR 3/1 William Hill
Avatar has been all the rage with punters to pick up this award and although much of the value has now gone, we can still see some appeal in jumping on the bandwagon. As well as being a huge box-office hit, James Cameron's ground-breaking piece has attracted more media coverage than any other movie over the past year, even provoking criticism from the Vatican! The Golden Globes will always be in the shadows of the Oscars regarding sheer size, but they can steal a march in backing controversial films first - and handing this gong to Avatar would create far more headlines than supporting Up In The Air.
 
Best Actor - Drama
GEORGE CLOONEY 11/10 Boylesport
This may sound a bit obvious, but only big names walk way with this title, so we're going to dismiss our own Colin Firth, third favourite at 9/1 with bet365, as just short of the elite category required. Jeff Bridges comes close and has been well backed, but he has been around for plenty long long enough without ever quite hitting the heights needed in our book. So that just leaves George Clooney as a solid favourite after turning in a career-defining display in Up In The Air. Clooney's transition from ER heartthrob to also shining on the big screen has been pretty smooth and he can take the final step up to superstardom here before enjoying a lengthy stay at the top.
 
Best Actress - Drama
GABOUREY SIDIBE 11/4 bet365
Kate Winslet, Julie Christie and Helen Mirren have given Britain a hat-trick in this category over the past three years, which makes Carey Mulligan an uneasy favourite from our point of view. Sandra Bullock also makes limited appeal as it is just too safe a choice and preference is for newcomer Gabourey Sidibe to steal the show for her superb performance in Precious. Already a huge hit at the Sundance Film Festival and Cannes Film Festival, it has the backing of some powerful American figures, none more so than Oprah Winfrey, and Sidibe looks its best hope for success.