At -110, Team Canada's implied probability to win gold is 52.38%.  That may not seem high but against a field of 11 competitors, but it really is crushing.

StanJames have updated their odds and the Canadian hockey team's price now has a negative value.

With the roster for Team Canada now finalized a lot of sports bettors are more confident in backing their team in Olympic ice hockey.

At present it appears to be a two horse race in the futures market but Team Canada do have the competition crushed.  Here are the odds to win the gold medal at the Vancouver Olympics for all teams according to Stan James:

1.  Team Canada, -110 (10/11)
2.  Team Russia, +225 (9/4)
3.  Team Sweden, +500 (5/1)
4.  Team USA, +800 (8/1)
5.  Team Czech Republic, +1400 (14/1)
6.  Team Finland, +1600 (16/1)
7.  Team Slovakia, +4400 (44/1)
8.  Team Switzerland, +22500 (225/1)
9.  Team Germany, +40000 (400/1)
10. Team Latvia, +100000 (1000/1)
11. Team Belarus, +100000 (1000/1)
12. Team Norway, +200000 (2000/1)

At -110, Team Canada's implied probability to win gold is 52.38%.  That may not seem high but against a field of 11 competitors, but it really is crushing.

In trying to figure out if Team Canada's odds have value you simply need to ask yourself if they have a better chance of winning gold than 52.38%. 

In our view, this Canadian team is not as strong as the one that won gold in Salt Lake City (although the GM is probably better) but they still could run the tables in Vancouver.  Their chances of winning gold are probably closer to 65% with Russia posing the most serious threat.

There are a couple things that are going to motivate the Canadian team that aren't going to be present with the other teams.  Firstly, Team Canada will be playing at home and winning gold in front of your home country is a once in a lifetime opportunity.  Secondly, when Team Canada suffered a 7th place finish in Italy in 2006, including a loss to Switzerland, it was downright embarrassing and this is the first chance for the Canadian national team to bounce back from that.  Canadian hockey took a major hit in Italy and now, truthfully, the Canadians have something to prove.

When one team has the futures market crushed for an event, like Team Canada does here, it really limits your betting options.  You either have to pound one of the favorites hard or you have sprinkle a few of the longshots.  Keeping in mind that most of the longshots do not really stand a chance to win gold, pounding Canada is the only alternative.

Our recommendation is to live or die with Canada in this one.