The 2023 IIHF World Championship continues on Saturday, May 20, with a Group B matchup between Norway and Czech Republic.
- Norway vs Czech Republic Game Info
- Norway vs Czech Republic Odds & Spread
- Norway vs Czech Republic Betting Trends
- Norway vs Czech Republic Prediction & Pick
- Norway vs Czech Republic Best Bet
Norway vs Czech Republic Game Info
- Date:'Saturday, May 20, 2023
- Time:'5:20 a.m. ET
- Venue:'Arena Riga — Riga, Latvia
Two teams vying to stay competitive in Group B meet head-to-head at the IIHF World Championship on Saturday. Norway has come up short in three of its first four games with only one victory over Slovenia. Meanwhile, the Czech Republic has suffered just one loss to Latvia across four contests.
Norway vs Czech Republic Odds & Spread
- Moneyline:'NOR: (+520) | CZE: (-800)
- Spread:'NOR: +2.5 (-110) | CZE: -2.5 (-110)
- Total:'5.5 — Over: (-106) | Under: (-114)
The Czech Republic enters this contest as the clear favorite on the moneyline and spread per FanDuel Sportsbook's odds. This group stage clash also features an over/under of 5.5 goals with the under favored at -114 odds.
Norway vs Czech Republic Betting Trends
- Norway is 1-2-1 in the 2023 IIHF World Championship group stage.
- Czech Republic is 3-0-1 in the 2023 IIHF World Championship group stage.
- Norway failed to make it out of the group stage at the 2022 IIHF World Championship.
- Czech Republic reached the semifinals round of the 2022 IIHF World Championship.
- Czech Republic is 4-0 straight up in its last four head-to-head matchups against Norway.
Norway vs Czech Republic Prediction & Pick
This is the definition of a mismatch. The Czech Republic has looked stellar outside an upset loss to Latvia, ranking tied for fifth in both goals scored (17) and goals allowed (9) through four group stage games. Norway has been great on defense, but it ranks all the way down at 15th in goals scored (5).
An inability to get the offense going will prove devastating for Norway. The Czech Republic has taken down Norway in each of the last four head-to-head matchups and three of those four gam es were decided by at least 3 goals. Anything but a big win for the Czech Republic would be surprising here.
A victory is needed if the Czech Republic want any shot of working its way up the Group B standings.
Final Score Prediction:'Norway: 1 | Czech Republic: 4
Norway vs Czech Republic Best Bet
Backing a Czech Republic blowout win is the way to go here for a few reasons. As mentioned above, it's the outcome that has come out of three of the last four meetings between these teams. Not only that, but the Czech Republic simply has a talent overload on the roster. Dominik Kubalik leads all IIHF players in points (10) so far, while Roman Cervenka ranks tied fifth (6). They'll pour it on in this one.