🏒 USA vs. Slovakia Prediction & Odds: Olympic Hockey Semifinal Best Bets
I'm expecting to hear "Free Bird" several times once the puck is dropped at 3:10 p.m. ET on Friday, which means I'm backing the Americans in my USA vs. Slovakia prediction.
The United States are massive -900 favorites in this one, so we're shifting to the puck line to find some value and making our play of the day a player prop surrounding quarterfinal hero Quinn Hughes.
🏒 USA vs. Slovakia picks & odds: Feb. 20
Our expert Olympic hockey picks are based on the latest betting odds at the best sports betting sites.
| Bet type | Prediction | Units | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Game prediction | United States -2.5 (-130) | 1u to win 0.88u | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Over/Under total | Over 5.5 (-130) | 0.5u to win 0.44u | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Player prop bet | Quinn Hughes to record 2+ points (+235) | 1u to win 2.67u | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Total wagered: 2.5 units | Max profit: 3.99 units
💰 USA vs. Slovakia prediction & best bet: USA -2.5 (-130)
Slovakia has proven to be a thorn in the side of the hockey powerhouses at the Olympics, beating Finland earlier in the tournament while taking a close loss to the Swedes just a few days later. However, they've yet to see a roster as deep as the Americans and will have a tough time keeping this one close. Remember, Slovakia only has seven NHL players on its roster - more than likely, this will be a blowout come the third period, and USA's collision course toward Canada will come to fruition.
The time to play this is now before the public money likely pours in on the USA closer to puck drop. We'll see this puck line move closer to -145.
Score prediction: USA 6, Slovakia 1
🔥 Best USA vs. Slovakia player prop bet: Quinn Hughes 2+ points (+235)
Hughes was the hero for the United States in the quarterfinal game against Sweden and has been all over the ice for the Americans throughout the tournament. I'd price this play closer to +150, so the one-unit exposure was an easy decision - these edges don't come around often. Hughes has registered two points in two games and has at least one in every game played at these Olympics. I'll take those odds every single day at +235.
💡 How I'm betting USA vs. Slovakia
Friday's Olympic card is built around matchup edges I’ve identified, with unit sizes adjusted based on where I see the strongest value. While I typically keep plus-money plays closer to 0.3 units, the Hughes wager is one of those spots where the data supports increasing exposure to a full unit. All in, I’m risking about $125 - 2.5 total units, with my standard unit size set at $50.
📊 What is the puck line for USA vs. Slovakia?
| Team | Puck line |
|---|---|
| USA | -2.5 (-130) |
| Slovakia | +2.5 (+105) |
📺 How to watch USA vs. Slovakia
- Date: Friday, Feb. 20
- Puck drop: 3:10 p.m. ET
- Location: Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena (Milan, Italy)
- TV: CBC, CBC Gem, Peacock
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