LAS VEGAS ODDS ON THE OSCARS.

One Las Vegas oddsmaker insists that indie films are going to claim the majority of the Oscar nominations when February rolls around.

Lenny Del Genio of Bally's Las Vegas pegs ``Secrets & Lies'' and ``Shine'' as even money to be nominated in the best picture category. Rounding out his top five are ``The English Patient'' (2-to-1), ``Fargo'' (5-to-1) and - the only studio film - ``Jerry Maguire'' (10-to-1).

According to Del Genio, veteran actresses should dominate the acting categories.

``The best roles this year were all performed by seasoned females, making the choices difficult for voters, so the outcome could be unpredictable due to vote-splitting,'' said Del Genio.

His handicap has both Brenda Blethyn of ``Secrets & Lies'' and Kristin Scott Thomas of ``The English Patient'' as even money. He lists Shirley MacLaine's performance in ``The Evening Star'' as 3-to-1, Frances McDormand in ``Fargo'' as 4-to-1 and Nicole Kidman in ``The Portrait of a Lady'' as 10-to-1.

For best actor, he called Geoffrey Rush in the late-season entry ``Shine'' an even-money pick. Other best actors include: Ralph Fiennes for ``The English Patient'' (2-to-1), Kevin Costner in ``Tin Cup'' (5-to-1), Billy Bob Thornton in ``Sling Blade'' and Mel Gibson in ``Ransom'' (both 10-to-1).

For best director, Del Genio picked Joel Coen for ``Fargo'' as even money followed by Scott Hicks for ``Shine'' (2-to-1), Anthony Minghella for ``The English Patient'' (3-to-1), Milos Forman for ``The People vs. Larry Flynt'' (8-to-1) and Mike Leigh for ``Secrets & Lies'' (10-to-1).

For best supporting actor, the oddsmaker went with Cuba Gooding Jr. in ``Jerry Maguire'' (even money), James Woods in ``Ghosts of Mississippi'' (2-to-1), Paul Scofield in ``The Crucible'' (3-to-1) Samuel L. Jackson in ``A Time to Kill'' (5-to-1) and Edward Norton in ``Primal Fear'' (10-to-1).

For best supporting actress, he went with Marion Ross in ``The Evening Star'' and Lauren Bacall of ``The Mirror Has Two Faces'' (even money), Joan Allen in ``The Crucible'' (2-to-1), Barbara Hershey in ``The Portrait of a Lady'' (5-to-1) and Marianne Jean-Baptiste in ``Secrets & Lies'' (10-to-1).

Bets on the Academy Award winners are not accepted in Vegas.

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2 Photos

Photo: (1) Ralph Fiennes dances with Kristin Scott Thomas in ``The English Patient.''

(2) Cuba Gooding Jr., left, has a shot at best supporting actor for his work with Tom Cruise in ``Jerry Maguire.''