Who will win: Breaking Bad It's time. A four-time loser, the intoxicating drama is more poised than ever to finally win the big one. Bad can do it on merit alone for the tension-filled first half of its last season, but the deafening buzz for its final batch of episodes (the series' penultimate episode will air opposite the Emmys) ought to push it over the edge. And there's the biggest advantage of all: It aired new episodes during the Emmy voting period.

Watch out for: Homeland You can't count out the reigning champ that ended Mad Men's four-year streak and became the first show to win the series prize and both lead drama acting awards since 1993. Homeland's second season wasn't flawless, but its high points ("Q&A") might be unmatched.

Who will win: Damian Lewis, Homeland Lewis' tour-de-force turn in his episode submission, "Q&A," aka Brody and Carrie's explosive interrogation showdown, will be very tough to beat. He also already did the hard work last year: winning (and taking down an undefeated favorite) on his inaugural nomination.

Watch out for: Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad Cranston suffered his first Emmy loss for Bad last year, but would anyone be surprised if he wound up in the winners' circle again for his increasingly diabolical Walter White? If he wins, he'd tie Dennis Franz as the category's only other four-time winner.

Who will win: Claire Danes, Homeland Will Claire Danes ever stop winning awards? Maybe one day, but not when she gives a an acting master class in a superb episode such as "Q&A." Fun fact: If she and Lewis both repeat, they would be the first pair of co-stars to win back-to-back lead statuettes.

Watch out for: Vera Farmiga, Bates Motel Kerry Washington (Scandal) has the buzz — not to mention chance to make history as the first African-American actress to win this category — but Farmiga's stunning, full-bodied portrayal of Norma Bates is a revelation. She had enough support to get a surprise nomination, so don't be shocked if she pulls off the upset.

Who will win: Mandy Patinkin, Homeland Holla! Saul is the heart of Homeland and Patinkin, who won his only Emmy in 1995 for Chicago Hope and wasn't even nominated last year, has the most emotionally affecting episode submission, "The Choice," the season finale in which Saul prays over the bombing victims. His only speed bump? Patinkin has admittedly burned a few bridges in Hollywood, but no one can deny that he's one helluva actor.

Watch out for: Aaron Paul, Breaking Bad If Saul is the heart of Homeland, then Jesse is Breaking Bad's equivalent — and Emmy voters love him. Last year, Paul became the first person in 16 years to win this award more than once and now can become the first to win it three times. There's also his co-star, Jonathan Banks — who's the first to be nominated in this category for two shows (Wiseguys being the other) — but if Giancarlo Esposito couldn't beat Paul last year, Banks has less of a chance for a quieter performance. Besides, Paul is just choice.

Who will win: Anna Gunn, Breaking Bad People might hate Skyler White, but you must bow down to Anna Gunn, who absolutely owns her episode submission, "Fifty-One." It's a spectacular showcase for her, from the beautifully creepy pool scene to her powerful delivery in this immortal exchange: Walt: "What are you waiting for?" Skyler: "For the cancer to come back."

Watch out for: Maggie Smith, Downton Abbey The Emmys just love their Maggie Smith! The Downton scene-stealer has never lost an Emmy race for the show and as we all know, she can win on her name alone.

Who will win: Modern Family Though Modern Family's fourth season was uneven, the three-time defending champ is still an Emmy favorite and has the most broad appeal of all the nominees. Its support might have waned a slight bit (two-time and defending supporting actor winner Eric Stonestreet was snubbed), but like Mad Men before it on the drama side, it looks to have enough momentum to sneak out a fourth straight win. Should it win, it would join The Dick Van Dyke Show, All in the Family and Cheers as four-time winners. (Frasier leads with five wins.)

Watch out for: 30 Rock If voter fatigue has set in for Modern Family, 30 Rock could capitalize for its pitch-perfect final season. The comedy, which three-peated in this category before Modern Family came to town, has the most nods (13) among the comedy nominees and finally broke its dubious three-year streak of not winning a single Emmy at the Creative Arts ceremony with a casting prize. (Sadly, it did not win original music and lyrics for "The Rural Juror.") Only five shows have won series awards for their final seasons: The Dick Van Dyke Show, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Barney Miller, Everybody Loves Raymond and The Sopranos.

Who will win: Louis C.K., Louie C.K. is up for a record-breaking nine awards this year and don't be surprised if he walks away with this one. Though he has said he doesn't consider himself an actor, C.K. is devastating in his submission, " Daddy's Girlfriend, Part 1," in which he delivers a self-deprecating, poignant speech as he asks out Parker Posey's character. His only problem? No one has won in the modern era for playing a version of themselves.

Watch out for: Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory Before Jon Cryer's shocking win last year for Two and a Half Men, Parsons was the new Emmy prom king, having won two in a row. He can pick up right where he left off with another flashy, broad performance in "The Habitation Configuration." He'd be the fifth person to win this award three times after Dick Van Dyke, Don Adams, John Lithgow and Tony Shalhoub.

Who will win: Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep A 14-time nominee (a record for actresses in the comedy genre) and three-time winner, JLD is primed to repeat with a gut-busting submission ("Running," in which she literally runs into a glass door) that allowed her to show off another side (the drugged-up kind) to her neurotic Selina. No one since Everybody Loves Raymond's Patricia Heaton 11 years ago has won back-to-back awards in this category.

Watch out for: Tina Fey, 30 Rock Emmy voters aren't a sentimental bunch, but given their ever-lasting love for Fey (she has seven nominations this year and seven career wins), they could give her a farewell prize — especially if they were as moved as we were by her heartwarming scenes with Tracy Morgan and Alec Baldwin in the series finale, which is her submission. The fact that she co-wrote the final half-hour, for which she is also nominated, doesn't hurt.

Who will win: Ty Burrell, Modern Family Don't bet against a Modern man until they all lose. Burrell and the snubbed Eric Stonestreet have alternated wins the past three years, and the former is in great position to win again. So frequently the goofiest and warmest part of the show, Burrell brings the LOLs in his submission, "Mistery Date," which features Phil in a classic sitcom misunderstanding.

Watch out for: Ed O'Neill, Modern Family If the Emmys want to spread the wealth, O'Neill could very well be next, especially having submitted "Bringing Up Baby," in which Jay learns that he's having another kid. Lest we forget, O'Neill has never won an Emmy (and was never even nominated for one until 2011), but voters finally gave Bob Newhart one this year (for his guest appearance on The Big Bang Theory), so if they feel extra magnanimous, O'Neill might get his.

Who will win: Jane Krakowski, 30 Rock Krakowski, who returned to the short list after getting dropped last year, shined in 30 Rock's last season and in her submission, the series finale. You know exactly what we're talking about: Her hysterical, emotional and tongue-twisting performance of "The Rural Juror". Even if Krakowski doesn't win, we will never forget her!

Watch out for: Julie Bowen, Modern Family This category loves three-peats — there's been one for four consecutive decades. Voters like the two-time defending champ. You do the math.

Who will win: The Amazing Race Race will go for a staggering 10th trophy in 11 nominations (only Top Chef has managed to dethrone it). Why does it have no rivals? Because its production is unrivaled. Every other show films on a set; Race films around the world.

Watch out for: The Voice A two-time nominee, The Voice is the "newest" out of the rest of the nominees, and if voters want a fresh face, you can't go wrong with the highly rated show.