2025 NAACP Image Awards Odds and Predictions 

While major entertainment awards shows like the Golden Globes and BAFTAs have dominated the news waves recently, another big event is on the horizon that puts the spotlight on people of color.

If you haven’t heard of it before, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Image Awards (NAACP) goes down on February 22nd, and will recognize the best performances in film, television, literature, music, and more.

The 2025 NAACP Image Awards odds are live at entertainment sportsbooks, so now is the time to get your bets in. Need some help prioritizing which wagers should be targeted? I’ve got your back, as I’ll look at the latest odds and offer my winner predictions for the top categories.

What Are NAACP Image Awards?

The NAACP Image Awards exist to honor the best performances from people of color, across numerous media platforms such as music, film, and television. The event aims to honor deserving talents that may otherwise get overlooked in other awards shows.

When Are The NAACP Image Awards?

The NAACP Image Awards began in 1967 and happen yearly. They will occur on February 22nd in 2025 at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, California.

How To Watch the NAACP Image Awards?

The NAACP Image Awards can be viewed on BET and CBS, starting at 8:00 pm EST.

NAACP Image Awards Odds

Check out the latest NAACP Image Awards odds, courtesy of the top online betting sites:

There are not a lot of NAACP Image Awards betting markets at the top entertainment sportsbooks, as it’s a smaller and lesser known event like the Independent Spirit Awards. Even so, for the wagers that are live at online betting sites, the odds are not too bad.

The top betting favorites are reasonably priced, while the main challengers have alluring odds. At first glance, I’m not entirely sold that we’re in for a lot of upsets, but no matter how you view these awards, it’s quite likely we’re getting good value.

You can use my NAACP picks above as they stand, or read on for a little more reasoning as to why I think my prediction will be a hit for each category. 

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NAACP Image Awards Predictions

Check out our predictions for the 56^th NAACP Image Awards:

Best Picture

• The Piano Lesson (-300)
• The Six Triple Eight (+200)
• Bob Marley: One Love (+500)
• Bad Boys: Ride or Die (+1000)

The Piano Lesson is the clear favorite to win best picture at the 2025 NAACP Image Awards. The fact that Bad Boys: Ride or Die is one of three challengers in this race may tell us all we need to know.esw

The price leans heavily in The Piano Lesson’s favor, while the Malcolm Washington vehicle has a star studded cast, has racked up 20 awards on the Hollywood award show circuit, and scored a solid 89% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Alternatively, Bob Marley: One Love was not well received by critics, and The Six Triple Eight is really just surviving off of an awesome performance out of Kerry Washington.

It’s The Piano Lesson all the way here, and it’s honestly not even close. I’d be smashing this bet at the current -300 betting odds.

Bet: The Piano Lesson (-300)

Best Actor

• Colman Domingo (-400)
• John David Washington (+350)
• Kingsley Ben-Adir (+400)
• Martin Lawrence (+900)
• Andre Holland (+900)

This one isn’t quite as easy to call. You have an even bigger favorite with Colman Domingo set to win best actor, but he actually has at least one legit contender threatening to take him down.

For what it’s worth, Domingo was sensational in the critically acclaimed Sing Sing (97% on Rotten Tomatoes) – a moving film that was nominated for three Oscars. Domingo is to thank for one of those nods, as he’s also in the running for this same award at this year’s Academy Awards.

He’s not a good bet to win, of course, which makes it even more likely that he’s rewarded for his exceptional efforts at the NAACP Image Awards. He’s already taken home this award at the Satellite Awards and the Gotham Awards, so there’s also precedence for a big win.

My only cause for pause centers around the surging John David Washington. The son of the great Denzel Washington, John David has made his career almost solely on his own behalf, and he’s impressed at nearly every turn.

He’s undeniably at his best in The Piano Lesson, where he ditches his trademark beard and carries one of the better movies of the year. He did win the Spotlight Award at the Chicago International Film Festival, so while an upset is unlikely, it wouldn’t be totally out of left field.

Bet: Colman Domingo (-400)

Best Actress

• Cynthia Erivo (-200)
• Kerry Washington (+200)
• Lashana Lynch (+300)
• Regina King (+800)

I went into this NAACP category thinking Cynthia Erivo was a no-brainer pick. That still may be the case, but there is no denying that the best actress category is as stacked as any at this event.

Erivo is extremely deserving as the top betting favorite. She excelled in the nuanced role of Elphaba in Wicked, portraying a damaged soul that finds her true calling, while also exhibiting insanely good singing ability.

Of course, Kerry Washington was fantastic in The Six Triple Eight, Lashana Lynch was unforgettable in Bob Marley: One Love, and the great Regina King feels oddly overlooked despite an exceptional performance in Shirley.

King is an amazing value at her +800 price tag, while every actress here has at least a mild case – and all offer alluring betting odds.

Erivo really hasn’t been given the proper credit she’s due, though. She’s nailed every role she’s ever seen, but this is the first time she’s being seriously rewarded for her acting ability. I probably would have handed her some hardware before this (The Outsider and Harriet, anyone?), but that doesn’t mean she shouldn’t finally get a big win.

Unlikely to secure a win at the 2025 Oscars, I’d be shocked if the NAACP Image Awards didn’t reward her for her brilliant efforts in Wicked.

Bet: Cynthia Erivo (-200)

Best Supporting Actor

• Corey Hawkins (-200)
• Brian Tyree Henry (+300)
• Samuel L. Jackson (+300)
• David Alan Grier (+400)
• Denzel Washington (+700)

Kieran Culking has been cleaning up in this category at pre-Oscars awards shows like the SAG Awards and Critics Choice Awards, but he won’t steal Corey Hawkins’ thunder on the NAACP stage.

This one looks to be Hawkins’ to lose, as he enters as a nice -200 favorite. He was sublime in The Piano Lesson and he won this same award at the AAFCA.

He’s not totally alone here, of course. The legendary Denzel Washington is in the mix, while another living icon in Samuel L. Jackson can’t be completely ignored – and was nearly as impactful in the same movie Hawkins was in.

I think tossing cursory bets on these two brilliant actors is worth a shot, but this category is still almost certainly going to Corey Hawkins.

Bet: Corey Hawkins (-200)

Best Supporting Actress

• Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor (-150)
• Danielle Deadwyler (+250)
• Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor (+400)
• Ebony Obsidian (+900)
• Lynn Whitfield (+900)

There’s a pretty great chance this night ends with Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor claiming the best supporting actress award. Just make sure you choose the right movie when placing your bet.

Amazingly, the 55-year old actress is up for two shots at this award, as she’s been nominated both for her performance in Nickel Boys, as well as her work in Exhibiting Forgiveness. Her role of Hattie in Nickel Boys is far more critically acclaimed, but it might make sense to toss bets on both options.

That said, I’d go far more heavily on her to win for her work in Nickel Boys.

Want another option to consider? Danielle Deadwyler is probably the only real challenger here. She was majestic in The Piano Lesson, which is one of the top films drawing rave reviews going into the NAACP Image Awards.

Bet: Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor (-150)

Best Voice Performance

• Lupita Nyong’o (-300)
• Aaron Pierre (+300)
• Anika Noni Rose (+400)
• Ayo Edebiri (+450)
• Blue Ivy Carter (+500)

Another award that seems to be locked up going into the 2025 NAACP Image Awards is best voice performance, where Black Panther alum Lupita Nyong’o is the clear favorite.

She impressed as Roz, rubbing elbows with the likes of Pedro Pascal and Kit Connor in a film that wildly impressed (97% on Rotten Tomatoes).

Aaron Pierre and Anika Noni Rose both left a mark in Mufasa: The Lion King, but they fall short when compared to Nyong’o.

I can’t leave without tossing some praise toward Blue Ivy Carter. It’s usually her mom that dominates both here and at the Grammys, but Beyonce’s daughter impressed with her voice work in Mufasa: The Lion King.

She’s the least likely to win here, but she also offers the most intriguing odds at +500.

That said, I find it difficult to get away from the top 2025 NAACP Image Awards favorites, and that trend continues here. I fully expect Lupita Nyong’o to take home the win and make it a clean sweep for the betting favorites for all of the award categories presently available to wager on.

Bet: Lupita Nyong’o (-300)

NAACP Image Awards 2024

The following is a recap of who won the major categories for the 2024 NAACP Image Awards: