At least one online bookmaker is banking big on home-ice advantage in the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.
Bovada has released its odds for the men’s hockey tournament, installing Russia as the favorite to win gold.
Russia 11/5
Canada 9/4
Sweden 4/1
USA 6/1
Czech Republic 17/2
Finland 10/1
Switzerland 20/1
Slovakia 25/1
Norway 200/1
Latvia 400/1
Austria 900/1
Slovenia 900/1
While we’re not sure we would’ve come up with the same odds (has Bovada seen Russia’s defense?), we can definitely appreciate how badly Alex Ovechkin and company want to win gold in February -- particularly after their disappointing performance in Vancouver three years ago, when they were eliminated in the quarterfinals, falling to Canada by a score of 7-3.
“Don’t judge our team by one game,” Ovechkin said following the defeat. “We are still strong.”