Winter Olympics Betting

The 2014 Winter Olympics from Sochi gets underway (officially) on Friday evening with an opening ceremony that is sure to have more glitz and glamour than an episode of Dancing on Ice. Here is our guide to the best of the bets throughout the games.

The main event of the tournament is the Ice Hockey (primarily the Male version) and it is Canada who are the 9/4 (GENERAL) favourites for the Gold. The Canadians have won two of the last three Olympic tournaments however both these wins came on North American soil. In Sidney Crosby they have the elite talent of the game though he must adjust to European conditions and at these prices it is worth looking elsewhere for the eventual medal winner. Russia are the 12/5 (BWIN) second favourites and despite some talented players the weight of expectation and a tough draw mean they offer no appeal at these prices.

Sweden at 11/2 (bet365) will be tough to beat though the absence of Henrik Sedin will be a big blow and as such the 2013 World Champions might be worth swerving. The real value is in Switzerland are excellent value at 33/1 especially with ladbrokes who are paying out each way a quarter the odds on all medalists. The Swiss finished second in the 2013 World Championship and in goalie Jonas Hillier they will be tough to score against.

Bookmakers are going 4/6 (paddy Power) that we get over 3.5 medals and evens (paddy Power) that we get three or under. In terms of Gold medals it is 1/2 (BWIN) that we get one or more and 7/5 with the same firm that we do not pick up a single one. The main hope for a medal is Lizzy Yarnold in the Skeleton after winning the 2013-14 overall World Cup title, winning four of the eight races and finishing on the podium in the other three. Lizzy can be backed at 6/4 (sportingbet/ BETVICTOR) and 4/11 (BETVICTOR) to grab a medal while fellow Brit Shelley Rudman is 4/5 (BETVICTOR) to grab a medal and 7/1 (SKYBET/boylesports/paddy Power) for Gold.

Elise Christie also holds a good chance of a medal in the Short track speed skating following a Gold at the Europeans and a Bronze at the last Worlds and 10/1 (BWIN) looks huge.

In terms of team events the best medal hope might come in the Curling where the Female team are the 11/2 (GENERAL) third favourites behind Canada and Sweden. Another team with high hopes are the two man Male Bobsleigh team who missed out on a medal at the Worlds by 0.07sec. The better bet is US driver Steven Holcomb it as the US man has been dominant in recent World Cup events and it is crazy to see him as big as 7/4 (william hill) for the Gold. Holcomb is an inspirational character who battled back from depression and attempted suicide following an eye illness that affected his career. Surgery saved his vision and in 2010 he was part of the four man team to win four man Gold so he knows how to get the job done on the big occassion.

Finally, a look at the medals table which I hope will present in-running options throughout the tournament. Going into the opening ceremony Norway were 5/4 (GENERAL) favourites for most Golds ahead of the US (11/4-GENERAL), Germany (8/1-bet365/ladbrokes), Canada (10/1-william hill) and Russia (14/1-paddy Power). In terms of most medals it is the US who head this market at 11/10 (WINNER), Norway are 15/8 (boylesports/paddy Power) and Germany 13/2 (bet365/william hill).

BEST OF THE BETS

GOLD: Steven Holcomb to win two man Bobsleigh, 7/4 (william hill)
SILVER: Switzerland, EW in the Mens Ice Hockey, 33/1 (ladbrokes)
BRONZE: Elise Christie to win medal in 1500m Short Track Speed Skating, 10/1 (BWIN)

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11/02/2014     © Frixo 2026