2022 Beijing Winter Games odds, picks: Best bets for speed skating and freestyle skiing from veteran Olympics expert

The 2022 Beijing Winter Games continue Wednesday and Thursday, with the highlights qualifying for the freestyle skiing men's halfpipe final and the women's 1,000-meter speed skating gold-medal event. American Brittany Bowe is among the contenders in the long-track speed skating finals, while Team USA is heavily represented at the top of the men's halfpipe odds.

New Zealand's Nico Porteous is the +150 favorite in the men's halfpipe odds for the 2022 Beijing Winter Games, followed by Americans Aaron Blunck (+340) and Alex Ferreira (+470). Canada's Brendan Mackay is the +600 fourth choice, with Team USA's David Wise (+750) close behind.    

Before you lock in any Beijing Olympics 2022 picks or predictions, you need to see what SportsLine's Olympics expert, Mike Tierney, has to say. (Head over to SportsLine's 2022 Olympics page for more analysis and updates.)

A national sportswriter whose work appears in The New York Times and Los Angeles Times, Tierney has covered nine Olympic Games in person. For Rio in 2016, Tierney profited big-time. He told readers to bet Over on Team USA's gold medal count (41.5) and Over on Team USA's overall medal count (102.5). The result? 46 golds, 121 medals and two easy cashes.

For the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, Tierney hit two of his three predictions: Germany (+200) to win the most gold medals and the United States winning Under 10.5 gold medals (+110). And at last year's Tokyo Games, he correctly predicted the United States would go Over 111.5 total medals (-110).

Now, Tierney has analyzed Wednesday's and Thursday's events and locked in confident picks. We can tell you he isn't backing Porteous in the halfpipe, because the 20-year-old is "short on seasoning." You really have to see which American he has his sights on. Tierney also has a confident prediction on whether Bowe will make a bid for gold in the 1,000 meters. You ABSOLUTELY need to see what he has to say before locking in your picks. 

Who wins gold in the men's freestyle skiing halfpipe and women's long-track speed skating events? And which American should you look for to win a gold medal? Join SportsLine right now to find out whom you should back, all from the expert who has crushed his Olympic picks!

Here are Tierney's picks and analysis: 

Long-Track Speed Skating, Women's 1,000 meters
(Thursday 3:30 a.m. ET)
Miho Takagi, Japan (+120)
Why go with the favorite who seems stuck on silver-medal performances? Takagi gets the call over Jutta Leerdam of the Netherlands (+163) and the United States' Brittany Bowe (+800) because of her consistency -- three silvers -- and extra motivation. Japan was denied a gold in the team pursuit when Nana Takago, Miho's sister, fell on the last bend. Bowe is the sentimental favorite after giving up her spot in the 500 for teammate Erin Jackson, who took the gold medal, but the thoughtful gesture does not impact her chances here.
Odds: Caesars

Freestyle Skiing, Men's Halfpipe
(Qualifying Wednesday 11:30 p.m. ET; Finals Friday 1 a.m. ET)
Aaron Blunck, U.S. (+340)
This event could produce a crowded medals podium for the U.S., with three of the five lowest odds represented. The most decorated of the bunch is Blunck, He's a two-time world champion and a model of consistency, having medaled in six of the past eight World Cup competitions. The favorite, Nico Porteous of New Zealand, might be the most talented but, at age 20, is short on seasoning. The other Yanks are Alex Ferreira (+470), who earned silver in 2018, and David Wise (+750).
Odds: FanDuel 

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