He's poised to earn a best actor nod for his coolly commanding turn in "Moneyball" as Billy Beane, the iconoclastic general manager of the Oakland A's.
Leonardo DiCaprio won a best actor nod for his portrayal of J Edgar Hoover in Clint Eastwood's biopic, as did Michael Fassbender for Shame.
The spy thriller starring Gary Oldman has been nominated for 11 Bafta awards, including a best actor nod for Oldman, best director for Tomas Alfredson, best film, and outstanding British film.
And I have to say, if Alan Rickman doesn't at least get a best supporting actor nod for his work in Harry Potter then I'm just about done with awards shows altogether.
It did however win a best supporting actor nod for the hotly tipped Christian Bale, and two for best supporting actress (Amy Adams and Melissa Leo).
Cold War thriller Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy follows with 11, including a leading actor nod for Gary Oldman.
After announcing the Orange British Academy Film Awards nominations, Daniel Radcliffe revealed that he was rooting for Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy star Gary Oldman who received a leading actor nod.
It is for the latter that Branagh gets a best supporting actor nod, for playing Laurence Olivier opposite Michelle Williams' Marilyn Monroe.
Ryan Gosling, also included here for The Ides of March, gets a second best actor nod for the romantic comedy Crazy, Stupid, Love.
It's possible that the best actor nod will do a National Television Award and split the vote between Smith and Cumberbatch, giving the nod to Jim Broadbent.