Justin Bieber, Muse are also favorites according to sportsbook manager Richard Gardner.
By James Montgomery

Lady Gaga
Photo: Derek Storm/ Splash News

The 2010 MTV Video Music Awards are this Sunday, which means that there's still plenty of time to place your bets on the night's big Moonman winners. Not that we're actually encouraging gambling, but everyone likes to believe they can see into the future. Since we're not exactly clairvoyant, we went to one of the best oddsmakers in the business, Richard Gardner, sportsbook manager for Bodog.com.

If you're looking for some last-minute wagering advice, read on ... and good news for all you Gaga and Eminem fans out there: Gardner thinks it's going to be a very good night for both of them. Here are his picks, along with Bodog.com's odds for each of the show's big awards.

Best Female Video

Lady Gaga, "Bad Romance": 2/5
Katy Perry featuring Snoop Dogg, "California Gurls": 7/2
Taylor Swift, 'Fifteen' : 7/1
Beyoncé featuring Lady Gaga, "Video Phone": 8/1
Ke$ha, "Tik Tok": 11/1

Bodog's Take: "Although Best Female Video will probably go to Ms. Gaga at 2/5, Katy Perry and Snoop Dogg's "California Gurls" Candy Land trip is a strong contender at 7/2. Meanwhile, we don't think Taylor Swift will win for "Fifteen" with 7/1 odds, but if she does, Kanye will have to scramble to put a speech together."

Best Male Video

Eminem, "Not Afraid": 11/10
B.o.B featuring Hayley Williams, "Airplanes": 2/1
Jason Derülo, "In My Head": 4/1
Usher featuring Will.I.Am, "OMG": 11/2
Drake, "Find Your Love": 10/1

Bodog's Take: "Without a Gaga to contend with, the odds are more interesting for Best Male Video. Eminem's comeback is officially a success and thus, we're pitting the master of the internal rhyme as the favorite to win. We've given B.o.B and Hayley Williams the 2/1 second favorite, and although we are fans of Jason Derülo's song 'In My Head,' we don't necessarily like its chances to win at 4/1."

Best Rock Video

Muse, "Uprising": 7/5
Florence and the Machine, "Dog Days Are Over": 2/1
30 Seconds to Mars, "Kings and Queens": 4/1
Paramore, "Ignorance": 11/2
MGMT, "Flash Delirium": 6/1

Bodog's Take: "Muse is the favorite here at 7/5 for the sheer potency of the song 'Uprising,' while MGMT pulls up the rear at a respectable 6/1 with 'Flash Delirium.' This is a very close category with no heavy favorite and no real long shot. So far we've had a number of bettors taking a shot on 'Kings and Queens' at 4/1."

Best Hip-Hop Video

Eminem, "Not Afraid": 5/4
B.o.B featuring Hayley Williams, "Airplanes": 3/2
Drake, Kanye West, Lil Wayne and Eminem, "Forever": 3/1
Kid Cudi featuring MGMT and Ratatat, "Pursuit of Happiness": 8/1
Jay-Z and Swizz Beatz, "On to the Next One": 12/1

Bodog's Take: "Eminem is a favorite here at 5/4 because everyone likes a comeback. He's lost the weight, he's looking sharp, and he's working the introspective vibe that seems to be his best source of inspiration. Jay-Z and Swizz Beatz' 'On to the Next One' definitely gets points for originality, and while Jay-Z has no shortage of fans, we think the black-and-white video is a little too avant-garde to take the win."

Best Pop Video

Lady Gaga, "Bad Romance": 1/2
Katy Perry featuring Snoop Dogg, "California Gurls": 3/1
Beyoncé featuring Lady Gaga, "Video Phone": 13/2
Ke$ha, "Tik Tok": 7/1
B.o.B featuring Bruno Mars, "Nothing on You": 12/1

Bodog's Take: " 'Bad Romance' is an obvious favorite here at 1/2, based on nothing more than the Gaga factor. Katy Perry with Snoop Dogg is second favorite here at 3/1 with 'California Gurls,' while B.o.B featuring Bruno Mars is the long shot at 12/1 for 'Nothing on You.' "

Best New Artist

Justin Bieber featuring Ludacris, "Baby": 4/5
Ke$ha, "Tik Tok": 2/1
Jason Derülo, "In My Head": 7/2
Nicki Minaj featuring Sean Garrett, "Massive Attack": 12/1
Broken Bells, "The Ghost Inside": 14/1

Bodog's Take: "We can't imagine a world where Justin Bieber doesn't win for Best New Artist, which is why he's a huge favorite at 4/5. The legions of fans out there with Bieber fever will make the difference and likely secure Bieber more hardware for his already buckling shelf. On the other side of the odds spectrum, Broken Bells' 'Ghost Inside' is thought-provoking and engaging, but the buzz just isn't there to make this one a contender. For those who disagree, the money is there to be made, as they pay out extremely well at 12/1."

Video of the Year

Lady Gaga, "Bad Romance": 1/1
Lady Gaga featuring Beyoncé, "Telephone": 5/2
Eminem, "Not Afraid": 11/2
B.o.B featuring Hayley Williams — "Airplanes": 6/1
Florence and the Machine, "Dog Days Are Over": 10/1
30 Seconds to Mars, "Kings and Queens": 12/1

Bodog's Take: "Although we wouldn't put our money on her being able to walk through an airport gracefully, Bodog's odds suggest that Lady Gaga will take home the Video of the Year Award for 'Bad Romance,' a video so edgy you just can't take your eyes off it. It's safe to say we're expecting the 2010 VMAs to feature a lot of Gaga. Meanwhile, the long shot of the bunch is 'Kings and Queens,' by 30 Seconds to Mars."

Who are you betting on to take home the Moonmen? Share your predictions in the comments!

The 27th annual MTV Video Music Awards will be broadcast live from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday. The party starts with MTV News' VMA Pre-Show at 8 p.m., followed by the main event at 9 p.m. ET. Fans can go to VMA.MTV.com (or text VMA to 97979 if they are Verizon subscribers) to vote for Best New Artist from now through Sunday.

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The 40-year-old MC is rewriting the hip-hop handbook, powering through perhaps his most dominant year yet.
By Jayson Rodriguez

Jay-Z performs at Comerica Park on Thursday in Detroit, Michigan
Photo: Getty Images

Although it's been almost exactly one year since Jay-ZAlicia Keys took their hometown anthem to the World Series, performing the number before game 2 of the baseball championships between the New York Yankees and the Philadelphia Phillies. The Roc Nation CEO then rode shotgun with Alex Rodriguez during the Yankees victory parade in Manhattan. As the celebration wrapped, Jay performed his tune, which Derek Jeter had used as his at-bat music throughout the playoffs.

Jay-Z scored a big win on his own just a month after the Yanks clinched the chip when he earned his first career #1 record as "Empire State of Mind" topped the Billboard Hot 100. The iconic MC has amassed a total of 11 number one albums, but this was his first solo #1 single.

As is nearly always the case with Jay-Z, business was good, too.

He became a Broadway producer, along with Will and Jada Pinkett-Smith, when he invested in the Tony-winning Broadway play "Fela!" The investment was among one of the many money moves that helped Jay-Z to top the Forbes "Hip-Hop Cash Kings" list this year, the third time in four years he's done so.

2010 also started off on the right foot as Jay-Z took home the award for Best International Male Solo Artist at the Brit Awards.

Domestically, Jay boasted about hearing his music playing in the background when he called President Barack Obama. He later visited the White House with his wife, Beyoncé.

In the spring, Jay-Z joined a Brooklyn conglomerate, consisting of the Governor of New York, the Brooklyn borough president and the Russian billionaire owner of the Nets — Jay owns a small share of the team — to break ground on the New Jersey Nets' future arena.

But it wasn't only baseball and basketball pros who wanted a piece of Jay. In June a spokesperson for the New York Racing Association announced "Empire State of Mind" would be played during the142nd running of the Belmont Stakes, replacing Frank Sinatra's classic "New York, New York."

In spite of his lofty ambitions and achievements, Jay-Z continues to be grounded in music. The rapper has been in the studio a plenty, with the likes of Swizz Beatz, Jack White and Dr. Dre.

Hov was also the musical act during the Mother's Day episode of "Saturday Night Live" — the highest-rated "SNL" in 18 months — and he dedicated his tune "Forever Young" to host Betty White.

Just last month, Kanye West announced that he and Jay would complete a collaborative album. And this month, Jay is co-headlining with Eminem on their Home and Home concert series. After Eminem stole the show at the first stop, Detroit, expectations for Jay-Z at Yankee Stadium next Monday and Tuesday are higher than, well, the Empire State Building.

Needless to say, Jay should be scoring a Moonman or two this weekend.

The 27th annual MTV Video Music Awards will be broadcast live from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday. The party starts with MTV News' VMA Pre-Show at 8 p.m., followed by the main event at 9 p.m. ET. Fans can go to VMA.MTV.com (or text VMA to 97979 if they are Verizon subscribers) to vote for Best New Artist from now through Sunday.

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Brad Fischetti and Devin Lima have both stayed in the business since band split up in 2002.
By Gil Kaufman

LFO
Photo: Arista

After his band's spotlight faded, LFO singer Rich Cronin, who passed away Wednesday, spent his time writing songs for other singers and appearing on VH1's 2007 reality show "Mission: Man Band," in which he tried to revive his career alongside some other boy band veterans.

But what became of Cronin's fellow Lyte Funky Ones? A day after Cronin died at the age of 35, former LFO member Brad Fischetti spoke to spoke to Entertainment Weekly.

"He was one of the funniest people on the planet," said Fischetti, who was hoping to mount a tour with Cronin and third member Devin Lima later this year as a follow-up to a successful set of reunion shows in 2009. "Nobody could tell a story like Rich. He used to say, 'Never let a few facts get in the way of a good story.' "

Fischetti recalled the day in 2005 when he found out Cronin had leukemia, and how the "Summer Girls" singer/songwriter thought he'd never be able to perform again. "None of us thought we'd ever be on the stage again as LFO," said Fischetti. "He fought hard, man. He beat leukemia twice. And beat a stroke. He was a fighter."

Fischetti has kept a low profile since LFO split up in 2002, preferring to remain behind the scenes and nurture new talent through his label 111 Records. He did record a solo album, Sari, in 2007; at the time he described its sound as a mix of Coldplay, David Bowie, Pink Floyd and Radiohead. 111 has released albums by former LFO bassist Dan Walters, Kiernan McMullan, the Spill Canvas, Canon, Inkwell, the Windupdeads and Rookie of the Year.

Fischetti said the reunion tour last summer reminded him of the special bond the trio had during their late-'90s peak. Cronin was weakened by chemotherapy, a stem-cell transplant and a stroke that left him with such severe leg pain that Fischetti and Lima had to help the singer get dressed before shows and carry him on stage. But the tour was still a highlight.

"He was so happy," Fischetti said. "We really became soul mates. Devin and I both realized how much we loved him, despite the differences we had in the past. In New York City at the Highline Ballroom, he thanked the crowd at the end of the show. I'll always have that voice in my mind, because it was such a sincere thank you. Really, that's the memory that's sticking out in my brain."

Lima released his first solo track in 2006, a cover of the Sly & the Family Stone song "If You Want Me To Stay" for the tribute album Different Strokes by Different Folks. Though it caused some head-scratching at the time, it led to him performing in a tribute to Stone on the 2006 Grammy Awards alongside Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith, Maroon 5, Joss Stone, John Legend and will.i.am.

Lima released Mozart Popart, his first album with his band Cadbury Diesel, in 2008. The disc helped push Lima past the bubblegum tunes of his past, thanks to the rock and roll feel of songs like "Hangin' With You" and the soulful R&B tune "Me Veda."

Fischetti and Lima are currently collaborating on a new hip-hop project called The Xiles. They released a Christmas EP last year and revealed in December that they'd already begun recording their debut album, American Genie: Volume 1.

• LFO (Lyte Funky Ones)