Olympic Hockey

[Feddz]

Not going to lock in any of my bets yet, since I'll be going a little against the grain (read: against Canadian homer bettors) so will wait until the start of the tourney is closer hoping for better lines, but I will almost for sure be betting:

Sweden to win gold (currently +463) (hate Henrik being out though...)
Finland to win group B (currently +333) (Mikko maybe out too hurts a lot)

USA Women to win gold (currently -105)


Other bets I'm considering:

Russia to win group A -203
Sweden to win group C -207
Canada to NOT win gold -230 (if this gets bet down to under -200 I will hit it pretty hard)

Look, Canada is the best team in this tournament on paper. But they were the best team on paper in 2006 as well - the last time Olympic hockey was played on the big ice, as it will be in Sochi - and in 2006 they went out in the quarterfinals, as did the Americans. It was much the same in 1998 in Nagano, where again the European teams filled with players who grew up on the big ice dominated. When did both Canada and USA excel in Olympic hockey (recently)? 2002, in Salt Lake City (NHL ice), and 2010, in Vancouver (NHL ice), where Canada won gold both times, and the USA won silver both times. This is not a coincidence, and should be strongly considered before you make your OMGWEHASSIDNEYCROSBYIBET1MIRRIONDOLLARS bet. I will be cheering like hell for Canada, but history tells me not to get too optimistic.

 

[skins85]

agree with sweden and they have great value. i would like russia but all the pressure is on ovechkin and while i am a caps fan he hasn't prevailed under pressure despite the fact that he is a scoring machine right now. best of luck on the plays.

 

[powerz]

Feddz GL - with these plays I completely agree - CDN and USA early exits again

 

[Feddz]

Thanks for the input lads. Might not make my bet on Finland after all - will wait to see what the value is like in a couple of days. Mikko confirmed out and now so is Fillppula, after breaking his ankle last night. That is 2 pretty bit losses for a team that was going to really struggle to score with them. They will still have the best goaltending, but who will score for them?

 

[coffeedrinker]

yeah Canada is not landing gold this time..i think...although would love to see it with St Louis in the lineup. Savour 2010, there were no excuses in that one... but this time round it's a tall order.

was the ice surface in salt lake nhl size? i thought it was olympic sized...

 

[Feddz]

yeah Canada is not landing gold this time..i think...although would love to see it with St Louis in the lineup. Savour 2010, there were no excuses in that one... but this time round it's a tall order.

was the ice surface in salt lake nhl size? i thought it was olympic sized...

If memory serves it was a size in between IIHF and NHL, as a compromise for both groups. But I could be wrong...

 

[MSUSpartans]

Looks like we are thinking the same thing.

Here is what I took:

Sweden to win gold: 9/2
Finland to win gold: 11/1
Will Sweden win a medal? Yes -150
Will Finland win a medal? Yes +170

US Women to win gold: 1/1
Total Number of gold medals: Canada u9.5 (-150)
Most overall medals: USA 10/11
Who will win more medals? USA -300 vs Canada

(Sorry my Canadian friends, not trying to start something with those selections lol. Just think they are good bets)


For fun this morning:
US Women -3.5 (-150) vs Finland

To me its all about goaltending. And Sweden and Finland have it. 11-1 is great value, although losing Filps and Koivu does hurt a lot for Finland. They and Sweden get the nod between the pipes. Canada has no value here. Yes they have the best team on paper like you said, neither they nor the US has won outside north America, and I expect that trend to continue. U.S. is very inexperienced (still cant believe they left off Johnson). Will Russia collapse under the immense pressure or will they somehow step up and play a complete 2 way game? They're D is weak. They are going to have to score a TON to win, and I wonder how tough they will be when playing from behind.

 

[coffeedrinker]

speaking of players that didn't make the cut, i'm amazed Okposo was left off the US team...

 

[Feddz]

Nice bets MSU, I agree with pretty well all of them.

First game bet - Canada vs Switzerland:
4U Switzerland +9.5 +108

 

[MSUSpartans]

If memory serves it was a size in between IIHF and NHL, as a compromise for both groups. But I could be wrong...

I thought it was standard olympic size

 

[MSUSpartans]

Nice bets MSU, I agree with pretty well all of them.

First game bet - Canada vs Switzerland:
4U Switzerland +9.5 +108

Damn 3-1 final. That fin goalie kept them in it, it should have been about 8-1. I like yours. Going to throw a tiny amount on it.

 

[slapshot]

If memory serves it was a size in between IIHF and NHL, as a compromise for both groups. But I could be wrong...

yep think they went 200 x 92

 

[MSUSpartans]

Nice call feddz. Off to a good start.

 

[scottcarter]

Canadian women and men will win gold me thinks


WINTER OLYMPICS 2014 - PICK WINNER ICE HOCKEY MEN

02/12/2014 @ 09:00 AM

TNT

[81001] CANADA +205

WINTER OLYMPICS - PICK WINNER ICE HOCKEY WOMEN

02/12/2014 @ 09:00 AM

TNT

[81025] CANADA (IH WOMEN) -105

 

[Feddz]

Women's hockey tonight:

6U USA -6.5 -104 The Canadians put up 64 shots on the Swiss, and gave up 14, and I think the Americans are the better team. The line was -9 for Canada's game vs the Swiss, and is only a lot lower for this one because the USA were held to a close (on the scoreboard) win against Finland, while the score in the CAN-SUI game really flattered Switzerland. I think after the close game the US just had, that they really lay the wood to the Swiss today. If the Swiss start the same goalie, I just hope that she's still gassed from the Canadian game and starts to wilt as the game wears on. The US only won 5-0 over the Swiss at last year's Worlds, but in that game they outshot the Swiss 61-6. Schelling likely starting for the Swiss, and it looks like Schaus for the US, which scares me a bit, but either way, I really like the Americans to run up the score in this one.

3U Finland +4.5 -147 Wish I could wait until gametime for a better line, as I hate the juice and expect Canadians to bet it down a bit, but I'll hopefully still be sleeping at puck drop!

 

[VegasVic]

Missed your USA early morning play but I'm going to tail you on Finland. I also like the Russian (mens) to advance. I hate the juice as well but tried a adjusted parlay at 5dimes. I've got Finland at +5 -205 with Russia winning group A at -195 for +125.

I also took Canada to win gold in mens as soon as it came out at +225. Do you advise buying back some at the current -185 on the field, wait for a lower line, or ride out the value I've got already?

 

[JohnBlue123]

Good stuff feddz. On fins +4. Let's get it.

 

[Feddz]

Women's hockey tonight:

6U USA -6.5 -104 The Canadians put up 64 shots on the Swiss, and gave up 14, and I think the Americans are the better team. The line was -9 for Canada's game vs the Swiss, and is only a lot lower for this one because the USA were held to a close (on the scoreboard) win against Finland, while the score in the CAN-SUI game really flattered Switzerland. I think after the close game the US just had, that they really lay the wood to the Swiss today. If the Swiss start the same goalie, I just hope that she's still gassed from the Canadian game and starts to wilt as the game wears on. The US only won 5-0 over the Swiss at last year's Worlds, but in that game they outshot the Swiss 61-6. Schelling likely starting for the Swiss, and it looks like Schaus for the US, which scares me a bit, but either way, I really like the Americans to run up the score in this one.

3U Finland +4.5 -147 Wish I could wait until gametime for a better line, as I hate the juice and expect Canadians to bet it down a bit, but I'll hopefully still be sleeping at puck drop!

2-0, +9.00U on the day
3-0, +13.32U overall

 

[coffeedrinker]

great start...

 

[JohnBlue123]

Women's hockey tonight:

6U USA -6.5 -104 The Canadians put up 64 shots on the Swiss, and gave up 14, and I think the Americans are the better team. The line was -9 for Canada's game vs the Swiss, and is only a lot lower for this one because the USA were held to a close (on the scoreboard) win against Finland, while the score in the CAN-SUI game really flattered Switzerland. I think after the close game the US just had, that they really lay the wood to the Swiss today. If the Swiss start the same goalie, I just hope that she's still gassed from the Canadian game and starts to wilt as the game wears on. The US only won 5-0 over the Swiss at last year's Worlds, but in that game they outshot the Swiss 61-6. Schelling likely starting for the Swiss, and it looks like Schaus for the US, which scares me a bit, but either way, I really like the Americans to run up the score in this one.

3U Finland +4.5 -147 Wish I could wait until gametime for a better line, as I hate the juice and expect Canadians to bet it down a bit, but I'll hopefully still be sleeping at puck drop!

Nice calls!