[Optional]

Does anyone know enough about KHL and Euro leagues to cap this well?

Also note, it's a weird system. The 3 group winners plus the best 2nd place finisher get a bye through to the Quarter finals. The other 8 play off to meet them there.




Group A
Canada -200
Czech Republic +225
Switzerland +600
South Korea +10000

Czech Rep have 16 KHL players on the roster and Canada has 12. The other two only have players from their home leagues and will probably get smashed by the top two.

Need to do more research on the Czechs and Cannucks before firing but think that +225 might be worth a shot.


Group B
Russia -667
United States +350
Slovakia +2000
Slovenia +10000

Russia should easily top this group. Tough to pick a true clear 2nd place finisher I think. Think USA might be a bit over valued there. Would prob take a shot on Slovenia to come 2nd in group if a book offers it. I'm probably way off though, as the books think Slovakia the better chance. And USA will probably do a miracle on ice with the college kids. Might just lay off this group totally in the end. Still 5 days to decide.


Group C
Sweden -167
Finland +150
Norway +1600
Germany +1400

A bit like Group A, I think Sweden and Finland will smash the other two who only have home league players. But Finland hasn't even announced a team so hard to guess who might top this one.



Another wrinkle to consider. Even though the best 2nd place group finisher gets a bye into the Qtrs, they will almost certainly face the next best 2nd place group finisher in the quarters (as they play off against the lowest ranked team to get there).

Then the winner of that will have to play the best of the group winners in the Semi Final.

This means not just topping your group, but being able to have a better goal difference than any other group winner, will be a serious advantage in getting to the final.


Sooo... which group has the worst two teams who are going to give up masses of goals?

The odds say the Russia/USA group but I don't think the Slovs are going to be the walkovers those odds suggest.

I'm thinking Group A with Korea and the Swiss, both unranked hockey nations, is going to be the one to produce the top group qualifier.

It should also produce the best 2nd place finisher too, who has a tough path from there, and if they got through that, would then be quite likely to face their other Group A partner again in the Semi Final. I suspect both teams will know what the need to do and pretty much ensure one of them get top seed in qtrs.



Sorry for the long brain fart, but looking at the tournament system I think one of the semi finals is quite likely to be Canada v Czech Rep.

The other one is tougher to intuit from the system, but I think it's pretty certain the other semi-final will involve Russia v either Sweden/Finland/USA.

There will be a playoff for the Bronze medal between Canada/Czech v Whoever Russia beat in the semi. I expect whoever has to face Russia in that game will be giving it everything and still get smashed. I am suspecting they may not back up as well as the loser of the first semi. So Canada and Czech are best chances to medal overall I think.



Early bets;

Gold Medal: Russia +120 3u

Any Medal: Czech Rep +175 1u

[JIBBBY]

I just know it was all Canada and USA last Olympics going for the gold.. Russia it seems has the juice... I thought they were banned from the Olympics for juicing..

I need to catch up on this.. I'll cap it in the morning.. Thanks for the heads up Opti!!

[hotcross]

Optional, the "sure thing" is women's hockey at the Olympic games.

Canada and USA women are far ahead of all the others. Finland a good choice for third place.

[Optional]

I just know it was all Canada and USA last Olympics going for the gold.. Russia it seems has the juice... I thought they were banned from the Olympics for juicing..

I need to catch up on this.. I'll cap it in the morning.. Thanks for the heads up Opti!!

They are calling the team "Olympic Athletes from Russia". They can only use players who have been tested by a non-disgraced sporting body. Apparently KHL qualifies so they have all 25 team members taken from KHL.

[Optional]

Optional, the "sure thing" is women's hockey at the Olympic games.

Canada and USA women are far ahead of all the others. Finland a good choice for third place.

Which one of them is the sure thing though? USA -115 or Canada +110?

Finland +110 for a medal with Russia +200 and Sweden +225 left me thinking it was all too close to pick, especially knowing zero about womens hockey.


But that does start tomorrow instead of in 5 days.

Japan +240 v Sweden -270
Swiss -667 v Korea +375

Then USA -2500 v Finland +800 on Saturday.

All looks too tough :\

[hotcross]

I'm not much of a futures player, nor women's sports in general. Just the 50 thousand foot view.

My plan is to make small profits on individual matches with both the USA and Canada women teams.

As for men's, I'm sure you know the NHL players will not be participating judging from your picks. I'm not too interested in the men's hockey due to this factor of not including the top competitive players.

[19th Hole]

The Russians participate under the Olympic banner.

[Optional]

Added another unit on Gold Medal: Russia +138 at Ladbrokes.

Should have shopped better to start with

[Optional]

I'm not much of a futures player, nor women's sports in general. Just the 50 thousand foot view.

My plan is to make small profits on individual matches with both the USA and Canada women teams.

As for men's, I'm sure you know the NHL players will not be participating judging from your picks. I'm not too interested in the men's hockey due to this factor of not including the top competitive players.

Yeah, it appears USA has only 5 or 6 top line players, then a bunch from various Euro leagues, who I assume were not good enough to make an NHL squad even as a development prospect on a feeder team. Plus some NCAA players.


Really hoping someone will chime in with good info about both USA and and Slovenia/akia teams

[cincinnatikid513]

where's australia's hockey team

[Optional]

where's australia's hockey team

Training with the Jamacian bobsled team

[cincinnatikid513]

Training with the Jamacian bobsled team

i was surprised how many aussies competing winter olympics 45 athletes

[Mase of Base]

i was surprised how many aussies competing winter olympics 45 athletes

I'm optis neighbour in terms of countries (New Zealand) and I've never understood it! We actually have winters and decent mountains but suck. One medal in history. On the hockey don't know sorry! Was gonna play unders blindly.

[Optional]

I'm optis neighbour in terms of countries (New Zealand) and I've never understood it! We actually have winters and decent mountains but suck. One medal in history. On the hockey don't know sorry! Was gonna play unders blindly.

With goal difference setting the seeds for knockout rounds, I was thinking overs in group stage.

[Optional]

Optional, the "sure thing" is women's hockey at the Olympic games.

Canada and USA women are far ahead of all the others. Finland a good choice for third place.

Ok Hotcross. Pressure on, do not destroy me here!


USA Women -3.5 +110 v Finland Women at about 3am ET

[hotcross]

yeah, not sure I love that line

remember I said Finland a good choice for third place

moneyline being offered? can't find one for this game

[lakerboy]

Trash event now

[big joe 1212]

The KHL players are superior in these games. Hoping Russia chokes as usual.

[Optional]

yeah, not sure I love that line

remember I said Finland a good choice for third place

moneyline being offered? can't find one for this game

-1250 at Ladbrokes

[hotcross]

I think moneyline is free money but obviously too high to work with.

It's not a 3 way line is it? Regulation draw would be a push??

[Optional]

I think moneyline is free money but obviously too high to work with.

It's not a 3 way line is it? Regulation draw would be a push??

It was, 2way its USA -2500

+900 Draw
+1400 Finland
-1250 USA

USA -2.5 -227
-3.5 +105
-4.5 +220

And then exact winning margin. USA by 3 +333 the fave, and USA by 6+ +425 next.

No totals.

[lakerboy]

Sad to see the degen level in here

[hotcross]

shut up LB you know we have love for you but hockey also. Olympics are about love of the sport especially.

Optional, took at look at the women's rosters for both teams and they look quite fierce and manly...let's just say not Diggity thread-worthy

[lakerboy]

Hotcross I tell them it like it is. This is degen level nonsense. Keep guessing

[Optional]

Sad to see the degen level in here

HAHA... yes this is. But blame Hotcross.

[KingHawkins]

I fired on Finland +3.5 (-115), as well as Canada -5.5 (-160). Pure degen plays. pretty large wager on Canada too, eating that juice. I think they steamroll.

[jrgum3]

Took a shot on Sweden winning the whole thing at +450. Hard to say what will happen with no NHL players participating in this event. I do think that makes it wide open though for a country like Sweden to come out of nowhere and take the gold.

[Optional]

I fired on Finland +3.5 (-115), as well as Canada -5.5 (-160). Pure degen plays. pretty large wager on Canada too, eating that juice. I think they steamroll.

Can't wish you luck but I'm actually looking forward to this starting now. lol

Took a shot on Sweden winning the whole thing at +450. Hard to say what will happen with no NHL players participating in this event. I do think that makes it wide open though for a country like Sweden to come out of nowhere and take the gold.

Dayum, everyone against me! Ye of little faith. ;-)

[19th Hole]

Opti...Do you have access to ZCODE?

Killer on KHL and Euro Hockey.

[Optional]

Anyone else watching this?

Uho... USA dominant but looks like typical women's sport issue. Can't score points. :\

[Optional]

Opti...Do you have access to ZCODE?

Killer on KHL and Euro Hockey.

No. Not really into systems. More of a fundamentals guy.

[funnyb25]

Books may grade all Russia winners as no action. There is no Russia. Keep in mind when placing wagers. BOL

[darrell74]

Which one of them is the sure thing though? USA -115 or Canada +110?

Finland +110 for a medal with Russia +200 and Sweden +225 left me thinking it was all too close to pick, especially knowing zero about womens hockey.


But that does start tomorrow instead of in 5 days.

Japan +240 v Sweden -270
Swiss -667 v Korea +375

Then USA -2500 v Finland +800 on Saturday.

All looks too tough :\

USA hanging on 2-1 lead late in third.
Good game to watch
Finnish got a competitive team

[Optional]

Finnish goal tender was superb.

Frustrating to watch how bad they were at finishing off sitting on a -3.5 bet though.

I fired on Finland +3.5 (-115)

Easy winner

[KingHawkins]

Finnish goal tender was superb.

Frustrating to watch how bad they were at finishing off sitting on a -3.5 bet though.




Easy winner

Sorry to be on other side as you. We both lost in the end, Canada should and could have covered the 5.5, but they didn't, and the books beat us both.