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WHERE ON THE WEB

Even before THIS year's Academy Award nominations are announced Feb. 12, the wagering is well under way. If you plan to put your 2 cents into the office pool, you can do more than watch a few movies to up your chances of winning.

Johnny Avello, director of race and sports at Bally's and Paris Las Vegas, didn't need to know who was nominated to release his Oscar odds. Back in December -- before the movie was even released -- he gave Will Smith's "Ali" 4-to-1 odds to take Best Picture.

So how does a legendary Vegas oddsmaker choose a winner? "You have to get into the Academy's head -- and that means getting a feel for the 'buzz' surrounding a movie," says Avello, who correctly called four out of six categories last year. "I read and talk to my staff at the casino. I have a friend in Hollywood that I call. Then I see what people are saying on the Net."

You can use the same technique. The best place online for getting into the head of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is probably right on its site, oscars.org. There, you can get a sense of how big the Academy's head is, plus a complete list of the nominees the day they're announced. Knowing what critics think can be useful, so check out the movie reviews at Entertainment Weekly magazine's ew.com. To find out what the public likes (another important buzz indicator), check the box-office scores -- and movie clips -- on the home page at www.ifilm.com. And for behind-the-scenes gossip and general insider stuff, go to aintitcoolnews.com.

Before you show your money, however, Avello warns: "Any type of gambling on the Oscars where money switches hands is illegal -- even in Nevada. I do the odds just for fun." And Web users, beware: Although you can lay some cash on your picks online, know that it's not entirely legal. If you want to see which movies, actors and actresses Avello thinks will win at the March 24 ceremony, go to ballysraceandsports.com and click on "Johnny's Exotic Odds."
-- Christina Wood

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My Web: Donald Faison

Movers, shakers and their bookmarks

Newlywed Faison, of NBC's "Scrubs", admits his wife "doesn't think I'm funny" in the hit sitcom. But his career isn't hurting. Faison, 27, also stars in the movie Big Fat Liar, opening next Friday. His picks for Web surfing:

Sports. At nba.com