- Scotland (+250) is favored to repeat at the World Men’s Curling Championship
- Sweden (+400) and Canada (+450) are both skipped by Olympic gold medalists
- The tournament takes place in Schaffhausen, Switzerland from March 30 to April 7, 2024
Bruce Mouat’s squad blew out Canada in last year’s final to score Scotland its first gold medal in 14 years. Can the Scots go back-to-back? Will Sweden resume the dominance it showed in winning the previous four World Men’s Curling Championships? Or might the Canadians claim their first title since 2017?
Before we examine the odds to win the event, check out all the Sports & Competitions to bet on in 2024. Here’s also where you can see the latest Sports Betting Odds & Picks.
World Men’s Curling Championship
Scotland’s repeat bid
Interestingly enough, Bruce Mouat’s Scotland (+250) team didn’t actually win their country’s national title. They were destroyed 9-1 in the semifinal. Despite that ugly result, the Scottish Curling association decided to award Mouat’s foursome the chance to defend their world title.
Otherwise, the 2022 Olympic silver medalists have had a strong season. Back in November, they defeated Sweden to claim their third-consecutive European Curling Championship before capturing the Grand Slam of Curling Canadian Open title back in January.
Bruce Mouat draws to the 8-foot to become European Champions! 🥇
Watch live on the Curling Channel: https://t.co/GPY4dr5un6 #ECC #curling pic.twitter.com/lW1BJZ9Xgh
— World Curling (@worldcurling) November 25, 2023
Why Italy?
It’s strange to see Italy (+375) with shorter odds than Sweden (+400) and Canada (+450). Joël Retornaz’s team has a single bronze medal (2022) in nine trips to the World Curling Championships.
However, Retornaz has been red hot on the Grand Slam circuit, winning three straight titles to close out 2023. The 40-year-old skip also went 9-0 at the 2023 European Curling Championships before being ousted by Sweden in the semifinal.
Other Contenders
Sweden (+400) won four-straight World Men’s Curling Championships from 2018-2022 before suffering a 9-1 loss to Canada in last year’s semifinal qualification game. Niklas Edin’s rink also endured a tough 6-5 loss to Scotland at the 2023 European Championships. Will the reigning Olympic Gold medalists get their swagger back in Switzerland?
Switzerland (+450) went 11-1 at the 2023 Worlds before losing to Canada in the semifinals and settling for bronze. Yannick Schwaller’s squad also secured the bronze medal at the 2023 European Championship, falling 7-4 to Scotland in the semifinals.
ICYMI: Brad Gushue spoiled Saskatchewan’s party at the 2024 Montana’s Brier.
The two-time defending champion beat Saskatchewan’s Mike McEwen 9-5 on Sunday at the Brandt Centre to win his sixth Canadian men’s curling championship.https://t.co/5xzCNuBCIk
— 650 CKOM (@CKOMNews) March 11, 2024
Best Bet
Canada (+450) has left the last five Worlds empty handed. Brad Gushue skipped his team to an Olympic gold medal back in 2006, but hasn’t claimed a world title since 2017 and settled for bronze in Beijing in 2022.
Still, the man has six Brier championships and is arguably the most-accomplished Canadian men’s curler of all-time. We’ll bet on the Newfoundlander to get back atop the podium in Schaffhausen.
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