The Oscars usually throw up at least one surprise but judging by Paddy Power’s odds it doesn’t look like there’ll be any shock winners at this year’s awards ceremony.

With a red-hot frontrunner in nearly all categories, the 81st Academy Awards is shaping up to be one of the most predictable. Slumdog Millionaire is 1/12 to win Best Picture, while Danny Boyle is 1/10 to win Best Director. And Kate Winslet is tipped to follow on from her Golden Globe and BAFTA success and win the Best Actress Oscar for her role in The Reader at odds of just 2/5.

Dark Knight star Heath Ledger is the most hotly tipped at virtually unbackable odds of 1/100 to win a posthumous Oscar for his stunning performance as The Joker. So confident are Paddy Power that the late Heath will be acclaimed that they already paid out on him to win the Supporting Actor award way back on 22nd January when the nominations were first announced.

The closest category looks to be the Best Actor award which will see The Wrestler’s Mickey Rourke at 1/2 and Milk's Sean Penn at 7/4.

Darren Haines, spokesman for Paddy Power, said: "The betting suggests the Oscars are a foregone conclusion but punters should beware that an Oscars, BAFTAs and Golden Globe clean sweep across the major awards comes along about as often as an Arnold Schwarzenegger Oscars nomination."

Because there appears to be so many clear cut winners at this year’s Oscars, Paddy Power are trying to make things a little more interesting for punters including how long Kate Winslet's speech will last and whether England's rose will shed a tear. After her blubbering Golden Globe acceptance speech earlier this year it’s odds-on at 4/6 that she has a howl at the Oscars too!

Following the inauguration of President Barack Obama Paddy Power are betting on how many Oscar winners will mention the new President in their acceptance speech. One mention is at odds of 7/2 while two mentions gets odds of 4/1.

Cheeky punters can also avail of the generous 50/1 odds on a streaker interrupting proceedings at this year’s Oscars or the 200/1 odds on any actress taking to the stage with her dress tucked into her knickers!

Click here to see all the Oscar betting odds and to get your free bet on the Oscars at Paddypower