2019 VMA Odds & Props: Ariana Grande Favored to Win Artist of the Year, Old Town Road to Win Best Song, Billie Eilish Best New Artist

By JJ De La Torre in Entertainment
Updated: April 22, 2020 at 8:36 am EDTPublished:

- The upcoming MTV VMAs are set to honor the year’s best songs, music videos, and artists
- Taylor Swift and Ariana Grande lead the nominees with ten each
- This year’s MTV VMAs air on Monday, August 26 from the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey
The music industry is revving up for its most fun award show of the year, the 2019 MTV Video Music Awards on August 26, 2019.
The year’s hottest songs, music videos, and artists are coming to a head, vying for the beloved ‘moon man’ trophies.
2019 MTV Video Music Awards Video of the Year Odds
Video | Odds |
---|---|
“Thank U, Next” (Ariana Grande) | +150 |
“Bad Guy” (Billie Eilish) | +250 |
“Old Town Road” (Lil Nas X Feat. Billy Ray Cyrus) | +300 |
“You Need To Calm Down” (Taylor Swift) | +400 |
“Sucker” (Jonas Brothers) | +450 |
“A Lot” (21 Savage Feat. J. Cole) | +700 |
All odds taken 8/2/19.
In terms of memorable music videos, none were more impactful than “Thank U, Next”. The beloved clip that saw Grande filling in for title characters on her favorite films such as Mean Girls was an internet sensation.
Pick: “Thank U, Next” – Ariana Grande (+150)Â
2019 MTV Video Music Awards Artist of the Year Odds
Artist | Odds |
---|---|
Ariana Grande | +120 |
Billie Eilish | +250 |
Jonas Brothers | +300 |
Cardi B | +450 |
Shawn Mendes | +550 |
Halsey | +600 |
This was definitely Ariana’s year. With countless songs and videos to her credit, she stayed in the charts (and the public eye) all year long with an onslaught of hits.
Pick: Ariana Grande (+120)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2EMdlNLij0
2019 MTV Video Music Awards Song of the Year Odds
Song | Odds |
---|---|
“Old Town Road” (Lil Nas X Feat. Billy Ray Cyrus) | -150 |
“Thank U, Next” (Ariana Grande) | +250 |
“You Need To Calm Down” (Taylor Swift) | +400 |
“Shallow” (Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga) | +500 |
“In My Feelings” (Drake) | +550 |
“Sucker” (Jonas Brothers) | +600 |
Given their record-breaking chart performance, Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus have this one in the bag. You can’t turn a corner without hearing “Old Town Road” being played, or at least spoken about.
Pick: “Old Town Road” – Lil Nas X Feat. Billy Ray Cyrus (-150)
2019 MTV Video Music Awards Best New Artist Odds
Artist | Odds |
---|---|
Billie Eilish | -180 |
Lil Nas X | +250 |
Lizzo | +500 |
Ava Max | +650 |
H.E.R | +700 |
Rosalia | +850 |
This year, Billie Eilish brought something unique and unpredictable to the music scene with her unapologetic sound. In an industry of soundalike vocalists, Eilish stood out in a big way.
Pick: Billie Eilish (-180)

2019 MTV Video Music Awards Best Collaboration Odds
Artist | Odds |
---|---|
“Boy With Luv” (BTS Feat. Halsey) | -160 |
“Old Town Road” (Lil Nas X Feat. Billy Ray Cyrus) | +250 |
“Shallow” (Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga) | +450 |
“I Don’t Care” (Ed Sheeran and Justin Bieber) | +550 |
“Me!” (Taylor Swift Feat. Brendon Urie) | +600 |
“Señorita” (Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello) | +700 |
Considering that winners of the VMAs are selected by fan votes, it’s very easy to see BTS cleaning up in this category. With their beloved ‘Army’ of fans at their disposal, they’ve been cleaning up at award shows all year.
Pick: “Boy With Luv” – BTS Feat. Halsey (-160)
2019 MTV Video Music Awards Best Hip Hop Video Odds
Artist | Odds |
---|---|
“Old Town Road” (Lil Nas X Feat. Billy Ray Cyrus) | -200 |
“A Lot” (21 Savage Feat. J. Cole) | +200 |
“Money” (Cardi B) | +300 |
“Rule The World” (2 Chainz Feat. Ariana Grande) | +450 |
“Sicko Mode” (Travis Scott Feat. Drake) | +500 |
“Higher” (DJ Khaled Feat. Nipsey Hussle and John Legend) | +600 |
Although 21 Savage could sweep it due to being in the news all year, this was Old Town Road’s year. Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus deserve this win after having to contend with Billboard earlier in the year in a debate about the song being “Hip-Hop enough.”
Pick: “Old Town Road” – Lil Nas X Feat. Billy Ray Cyrus (-200)
2019 MTV Video Music Awards Best Rock Video Odds
Artist | Odds |
---|---|
“Natural” (Imagine Dragons) | +150 |
“High Hopes” (Panic at the Disco) | +225 |
“Low” (Lenny Kravitz) | +350 |
“Bishop’s Knife” (Fall Out Boy) | +400 |
“My Blood” (Twenty One Pilots) | +500 |
“Love It If We Made It” (The 1975) | +600 |
Last year’s winners Imagine Dragons are a favorite here, but “High Hopes” was the catchy, crossover hit of the year. This tune garnered Panic at the Disco new fans and wowed their pre-existing fan base with their newfound breadth.
Pick: “High Hopes” – Panic at the Disco (+225)
Will Lady Gaga Arrive With New Boyfriend Dan Horton Odds
Result | Odds |
---|---|
Yes | +160 |
No | -200 |
Fans were shaken at Gaga’s mysterious arrival at a recent event with sound engineer Dan Horton. Has Gaga found true love this time? It’s too early to tell. But given her colorful history with the VMAs (we remember you, meat dress), it’s more likely she’ll step out on her own this year.
Pick: No (-200)
Odds on How Many Times Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello Kiss During VMAs
Result | Odds |
---|---|
Over 1.5 Times During VMAs | -130 |
Under 1.5 Times During VMAs | +100 |
The “Señorita” co-singers have made waves with news of their recent romance. And the VMAs seem like the perfect opportunity to flaunt that relationship. Expect an overload of PDA on your screens from these two. Don’t say we didn’t warn you.
Pick: Over 1.5 (-130)
Odds Ariana Grande Will Cry During Her Performance
Result | Odds |
---|---|
Yes | -180 |
No | +140 |
Though her song suggests she has “No Tears Left To Cry”, Grande is expected to shed some tears onstage during her performance at this year’s telecast.
Pick: Yes (-180)
Odds Beyoncé Performs a Song From The Lion King at the VMAs?
Result | Odds |
---|---|
Yes | +600 |
No | -1000 |
By the time the VMAs air, The Lion King will have already been in theatres for over a month. At that point, the film will be old news.
Pick: No (-1000)
Odds That MTV Will Remove Michael Jackson’s Name From the Video Vanguard Award in 2019?
Result | Odds |
---|---|
Yes | -160 |
No | +120 |
After a year of finally listening to victims of sexual assault, especially surrounding Michael Jackson and the HBOÂ Leaving Neverland documentary, it’s pretty easy to see Jackson’s name removed from this award.
Pick: Yes (-160)

Entertainment Writer
As an active entertainment aficionado, the former Editor-in-Chief for the Capilano Courier, JJ also co-founded Lords of Dogwood, a Vancouver-based entertainment site in 2013. His writing has been found in ION Magazine, the North Shore News, and The Strand.