Updated Oscar predictions

Many like to think that Oscar race begins with the Toronto Film Festival, and since I live for all things related to movie award shows, I somewhat agree. So while the TIFF may not have reached its conclusion yet, I thought I would make an updated set of predictions, this time taking into account the 10 Best Picture nominees rule, and reviews and buzz coming out of test screenings and film festivals (these are only for the "BIG SIX" categories).

Best Picture:

What I'm Predicting (in no order): The Lovely Bones, Invictus, Nine, Up in the Air, Avatar, An Education, Precious, Bright Star, The Hurt Locker, Up
Other Strong Contenders: A Serious Man, Where the Wild Things Are, Inglourious Basterds
Don't Count Out: The Road, Capitalism: A Love Story, (500) Days of Summer, The White Ribbon, Broken Embraces, Amelia, TREE OF LIFE
Left-Field Dark Horses: District 9, A Single Man

Best Director:

What I'm Predicting (in no order): Peter Jackson - The Lovely Bones, Clint Eastwood - Invictus, Rob Marshall - Nine, Jason Reitman - Up in the Air, Kathryn Bigelow - The Hurt Locker (PLEASE)
Other Strong Contenders: James Cameron - Avatar, Lee Daniels - Precious, Jane Campion - Bright Star, Lone Scherfig - An Education, Terrence Malick - Tree of Life, Spike Jonze - Where the Wild Things Are, Joel and Ethan Coen - A Serious Man, John Hillcoat - The Road
Don't Count Out: Mira Nair - Amelia, Marc Webb - (500) Days of Summer, Michael Haneke - The White Ribbon
Left-Field Dark Horses: Quentin Tarantino - Inglourious Basterds, Neill Blomkamp - District 9, Tom Ford - A Single Man

Best Actor:

What I'm Predicting (in no order): Viggo Mortensen - The Road, George Clooney - Up in the Air, Daniel Day-Lewis - Nine, Morgan Freeman - Invictus, Robert Duvall - Get Low
Other Strong Contenders: Jeremy Renner - The Hurt Locker, Hugh Dancy - Adam, Matt Damon - The Informant!, Colin Firth - A Single Man
Don't Count Out: Johnny Depp - Public Enemies, Michael Stuhlberg - A Serious Man
Left-Field Dark Horses: Sam Rockwell - Moon, Sean Penn - Tree of Life, Ben Whishaw - Bright Star

Best Actress:

What I'm Predicting (in no order): Carey Mulligan - An Education, Gabourey Sidibe - Precious, Meryl Streep - Julie and Julia, Penelope Cruz - Broken Embraces, Abbie Cornish - Bright Star
Other Strong Contenders: Hilary Swank - Amelia, Saoirse Ronan - The Lovely Bones, Julianne Moore - A Single Man
Don't Count Out: Tilda Swinton - Julia, Audrey Tatou - Coco Before Chanel
Left-Field Dark Horses: Michelle Pfeiffer - Cheri

Best Supporting Actor:

What I'm Predicting (in no order): Christoph Waltz - Inglourious Basterds, Stanley Tucci - The Lovely Bones, Alfred Molina - An Education, Peter Sarsgaard - An Education, Matt Damon - Invictus
Other Strong Contenders: Robert Duvall - The Road, Richard Kind - A Serious Man, Anthony Mackie - The Hurt Locker, Jeff Bridges - The Men Who Stare at Goats, Kodi Smit-McPhee - The Road
Don't Count Out: Peter Capaldi - In the Loop (PLEASE!!!), Paul Schneider - Bright Star
Left-Field Dark Horses: Stanley Tucci - Julie and Julia, Brad Pitt - Tree of Life

Best Supporting Actress:

What I'm Predicting (in no order): Mo'Nique - Precious, Marion Cotillard - Nine, Penelope Cruz - Nine, Anna Kendrick - Up in the Air, Susan Sarandon - The Lovely Bones
Other Strong Contenders: Vera Farmiga - Up in the Air, Rachel Weisz - The Lovely Bones, Judi Dench - Nine, Melanie Laurent - Inglourious Basterds
Don't Count Out: Marion Cotillard - Public Enemies, Fergie - Nine
Left-Field Dark Horses: Sophia Loren - Nine