Monday’s Olympics Predictions
The Winter Olympics action for Tuesday features the men’s hockey tournament getting started along with some strong curling matchups. Here’s our predictions for the top events.
Men’s Ice Hockey
The 12-team playoff field is set and, according to oddsmakers at YouWager, the Russian team remains the favorite with -105 odds. Other short odds to win are Canada (+300) and Sweden (+750). Sweden actually holds the top seed in the playoffs after winning all three prelim games. Russia went 2-0-1, suffering a surprising loss to Slovakia. The Russians still have scored the most goals in the prelims, a total of 14 while allowing just five. Canada scored 11 goals while allowing four and I think they can give Russia the best match. However, the Russian team can scored in droves when they get rolling. MEN’S HOCKEY PREDICTION: RUSSIA -105
Ice Dancing
The Ice Dancing competition enters its final skate tonight in the free dance. Oddsmakers see the Canadian team of Virtue and Moir as the favorites to win with -120 odds while French team Papadakis and Cizeron are listed with +105 odds. The next closest odds are +1500. Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir set a world record in their short dance, posting an 83.67. That was nearly 2 points better than the French pair. The next closest team is nearly 6 points back. Virtue and Moir won gold in 2010 and silver in 2014. Their experience should help them finish things off in tonight’s final skate. ICE DANCING PREDICTION: TESSA VIRTUE & SCOTT MOIR -120
Men’s Curling: Great Britain vs. Norway
A pair of 3-3 teams meet up later tonight in need of a win. Oddsmakers have this as a nearly even match, with Great Britain holding -120 odds while Norway sits with -110 odds. Great Britain started fast, but has lost its last two matches. Norway has more experience on this global stage and was a world championship team in 2015. Norway also is even on its +/- while Great Britain is -7. I like the consistency of Norway, and its history, a little more in this match. CURLING PREDICTION: NORWAY -110