Winter Olympics Betting Preview

With just a few days remaining before they light the cauldron to begin the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, bettors are running out of time if they want to strike gold on some Olympic bets.

At Bovada Sportsbook they have odds on almost every event on the Olympic schedule, but the most popular bet will likely be the medal totals. The current favorite to take home the most medals in Pyeongchang is Norway at +140.

Four years ago in Sochi, the Norwegians finished third in medals with 26 behind the Russians, who nabbed 29, and the United States with 28. With the doping scandal taking the Russian team down a peg this time around, and forcing their eligible athletes to adopt a new name, Norway looks like the team to beat overall.

The odds for a few other countries on the futures for most medals include Germany at +200, USA at +375 and Canada at +700. The USA led the medal count in Vancouver back in 2010, marking the only time the Americans have won the most medals in the last four Winter Olympics.

There are also odds on who will take the most gold medals, with Norway the favorite again at -120. In Sochi they tied the Russians with 11 gold medals. Following Norway on the gold-medal odds are Germany at +200, USA at +700 and Canada at +1200.

Looking at a few specific events where USA is favored to strike gold, topping the list is women’s hockey, which is a two-nation battle between USA and Canada. At Bovada Sportsbook, USA is a -120 favorite and Canada an even-money underdog. Canada has won the last three gold medals in women’s hockey.

The most recognizable American Olympian is arguably downhill skier Lindsey Vonn. She did not compete in Sochi due to a knee injury, but returns in Pyeongchang looking to add to her two medals from previous Games.

At Bovada Sportsbook they have odds on Vonn in three events – the Super G, the downhill and the alpine combined. In the Super G and the downhill, she’s the favorite: +110 in the Super G and -120 in the downhill. In the combined, she’s a long shot at +2500.

One other former Olympic champion returning from injury who is worth watching in Pyeongchang is snowboarder Shaun White. A two-time gold medalist in the halfpipe, White finished fourth in the event in Sochi and in late 2017 suffered a gruesome injury to his face that some thought would keep him out of Pyeongchang. He will compete and he’s a +185 favorite to win another gold.