XXIII Olympic Winter Games: “Russia” Expected to Win Hockey Gold

Without NHL Players Russia Favorite in Hockey at XXIII Olympic Winter Games

The XXIII Olympic Winter Games begin this Friday in Pyeongchang, South Korea. This year’s festival will see 102 events spread across 15 different disciplines. The NBC Family of stations will have all the coverage in the USA. Check local listings for times. The betting odds are available right now at Bovada Sportsbook. Of the 92 nations participating, Norway is the +110 favorite to take home the most medals, followed by Germany at +150 and Team USA at +375. Bet on the Winter Games at Bovada and get a free 50% bonus. The odds probably seem a bit strange. Russia is not included in the odds as a nation. Their Olympic Committee was banned from the games because of giving players performance enhancing drugs. Therefore they were cheating at a high level. A delegation of 169 athletes will be allowed to perform under the banner “Olympic Athletes of Russia”. That delegation is favored at even money to win the men’s Ice Hockey gold medal. Canada and Sweden are tied for second at +450. Team USA trails at +1000, with no players from the NHL in attendance this year. Most professional leagues in Europe will take an Olympic break, including Russia’s Kontinental Hockey League. Team USA is in much better shape with odds at –130 to win the gold medal in women’s Ice Hockey. Canada is the favorite at +110. The Canadians have taken home the gold medal at each of the last four Games. They beat the US in the finals on three occasions. Canada is now vulnerable at the Olympic Games. This follows the 2017 retirement of Hayley Wickenheiser. Get your Winter Olympics odds at Bovada today.