When Can We Make Final Predictions?

The official nominations for the 79th Annual Academy Awards are going to be announced on Tuesday, January 23. The question is: when can we make our final predictions for the nominees? Right now, I'm predicting The Departed, Dreamgirls, The Queen, Babel and Little Miss Sunshine to get the Best Picture nods. But, in a year as varied as 2006 was, doesn't there have to be some sort of surprise in the Best Picture lineup? And will Best Director truly honor the best direction in a film (which is where United 93 would dominate), or just reward some of the films that didn't get a Best Picture nomination (Children of Men, Letters From Iwo Jima, Flags of our Fathers, Pan's Labyrinth)? Best Director is the biggest mystery for me right now. And, if Leo goes supporting for The Departed, would he win? Probably. And, if he goes supporting, will he get a Best Actor nod for Blood Diamond? All these questions will be answered on Tuesday. Until then, myself and the other writers will post their final predix by Monday.