Find the best Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics odds with Pinnacle Sports

Find the best Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics odds with Pinnacle Sports

By Michael Gales Jan 20, 2014

Tweet

With the start of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi less than a month away, we give you an insight into the main Winter Olympics betting markets available at Pinnacle Sports, how to bet on them and a reminder that they offer unbeatable value.

How many medals will each nation win?

Pinnacle Sports are offering you the chance to bet on the number of gold medals each nation will win at Sochi 2014.

Norway are expected to do well at the Games and their gold medal benchmark is set at 11.5 gold’s with the OVER offered at 1.617*.  After underperforming in the last two Winter Olympics where they won a combined 11 Gold medals, they are expected to return to the top of the gold medal chart like they did in 2002 when they secured 13.

Behind the Norwegians the USA, hosts Russia and Germany all have their OVER/UNDER set at 10.5 gold medals, while Canada’s yardstick is at 9.5 gold’s.

Four years ago Canada topped the gold medal table with 14. However, no nation in the last five Winter Olympics has ever topped the gold medal table in two successive Winter Olympics.

Ice Hockey

Ice Hockey is amongst the most popular sports bet on at the Winter Olympics. Since 1996 the event has been competitive, with Sweden (2006), Canada (2002 & 2010) and the Czech Republic (1998) all winning gold after years of dominance from Russia in the 60s, 70s and 80s.

Early betting markets have Canada as the slight 3.170* favourites, while Russia are priced at 3.300* despite having the significance of home advantage. However, the last time Canada claimed gold outside of North America was way back in 1952, when they beat the Americans in Norway.

Elsewhere Sweden have been in fantastic form in recent months and are priced as third favourites at 5.200*, while the USA can be backed at 8.110*. The NHL will be suspended during the Olympics, read here to see what impact will an Olympic year have?

Cross-Country Skiing

A number of medals are up for grabs in this ferocious sport, which is regarded as one of the toughest in the world. At the Nordic Ski World Championship’s last year Norway led the way winning seven of the ten medals on offer – which may explain their high Over/Under in the overall medals market.

Norwegian Petter Northug is the main attraction and is the current favourite to win gold in the 30km Skiatahlon 2.110*, 50km Mass Start Free 3.650* and the Olympic Sprint Free 4.330*.

In the men’s team Cross-Country Skiing events Norway also lead the way in the 4x10km relay 1.741*, while they are slightly behind Russia 2.890* in the team sprint classical 3.840*.

Curling

Ten nations will compete for the gold across both men and women’s Curling.  In the men’s team event Canada are the 1.585* favourites ahead of Sweden who can be backed at 5.490*.

Great Britain women have an excellent chance of a medal after Scotland’s women claimed gold at last year’s World Championships and they are at 3.870* to take the gold, while favourites Canada are priced at 2.120*.

Will the weather have an affect?

The role that the weather will play on outdoor events in Sochi continues to draw substantial attention. Last February Sochi saw temperatures reach as high as 63 degrees Fahrenheit, and rarely dipped into the low 30s.

The prospect of warm weather disrupting ski events and the possibility of flooding and even avalanches could influence the outcome of the outdoor events.

On the potential lack of snow, the 2006 Olympian Jenn Heil stated “In Sochi the snow conditions will be challenging because they will be changing all the time. But the snow will be there.”

Understanding how these changeable snow conditions will affect the competitors could give you an edge on 2014 Winter Olympics Betting.

2014 Winter Olympics Betting Markets

Below is a table with links to the 2014 Winter Olympics betting markets currently on offer by Pinnacle Sports:

Event

Market

Olympic Medal Count

Total Gold Medals

Biathlon

20km Individual – Men

Biathlon

10km Sprint – Men

Biathlon

12.5km Pursuit – Men

Biathlon

15km Mass Start – Men

Biathlon

4×7.5km Relay – Men

Biathlon

15km Individual – Women

Biathlon

10km Pursuit – Women

Biathlon

12.5km Mass Start – Women

Biathlon

4x6km Relay – Women

Biathlon

4x6km/7.5km Relay – Mixed

Cross Country Skiing

15km Classical – Men

Cross Country Skiing

30km Skiathlon – Men

Cross Country Skiing

50km Mass Start Free – Men

Cross Country Skiing

4x10km Relay – Men

Cross Country Skiing

Sprint Free – Men

Cross Country Skiing

Team Sprint Classical – Men

Cross Country Skiing

10km Classical – Women

Cross Country Skiing

15km Skiathlon – Women

Cross Country Skiing

30km Mass Start Free – Women

Cross Country Skiing

4x5km Relay – Women

Cross Country Skiing

Sprint Free – Women

Curling

Futures – Men

Curling

Futures – Women

Figure Skating

Singles – Men

Figure Skating

Singles – Women

Figure Skating

Pair Skating

Figure Skating

Ice Dance

Ice Hockey

Futures – Men

Ice Hockey

Futures – Women

Luge

Singles – Men

Luge

Doubles – Men

Luge

Singles – Women

Skeleton

Singles – Men

Skeleton

Singles – Women

Ski Jumping

Individual Large Hill – Men

Speed Skating

500m – Men

Speed Skating

1000m – Men

Speed Skating

1500m – Men

Speed Skating

5000m – Men

Speed Skating

10000m – Men

Speed Skating

500m – Women

Speed Skating

1000m – Women

Speed Skating

1500m – Women

Speed Skating

3000m – Women

Speed Skating

5000m – Women

*Odds subject to change

If you have feedback, comments or questions regarding this article, please email the author or send us a tweet on Twitter.