2010 WINTER OLYMPICS FIGURE SKATING LATEST ODDS AND BETTING TIPS

Some of the hottest skating action at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics isn't going to be on the short-track course. Top UK bookmaker William Hill has become one of the first online betting sites to offer a full selection of wagering on the figure skating events at the 2010 Games. You'll find a full smattering of odds on the pairs, women's free skate, men's free skate and the venerable bane of all boyfriends - the ice dance. 
Kim Yu-Na, the national darling of South Korea, is a very solid favourite to dominate her competition with an odds-on price of 8/15. Yu-Na ranks as the reigning 2009 World Champion and the Four Continents Champion of the same year. She has been a major factor in nearly every competition she enters and I think we will see massive betting volume piling onto the South Korean starlet, who lives and trains in Toronto, Canada. 

Japanese skater Mao Asada is expected to provide the main competition and, currently ranked 3rd in the world, she remains in solid place for a podium finish. It will likely take the performance of a lifetime if Kim Yu-Na lives up to expectations, so I think her 6/1 price is a bit short. Miki Ando has beaten Kim Yu-Na in competition this year and is a solid selection at 7/1. You'll also find Canada's Joannie Rochette trading at the same price and I think if she gets off to a good start, she could become a major factor. I think Rochette plays the spoiler here. 
In the Men's Free Skating at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, we're seeing Russian sensation Evgeni Plushenko installed as the 1/2 favourite. He is a justifiable selection at such a short price likely because he took the gold in Turin 2006 and has maintained his momentum since returning from a hiatus. The Saint Petersburg-born reigning Grand Prix Final Champion is definitely the one to beat. 
American Champion Evan Lysacek is the 2nd favourite at an 8/1 listing and is expected to improve on his fourth place finish from Turin. Switzerlands Stephane Lambiel is within striking-distance at a 9/1 price while Colorado-born Jeremy Abbott trades at 12/1. 
Patrick Chan's odds to win the 2010 Men's Figure Skating are a lengthy 16/1, but I think he may be poised for a break-out performance and could be the one to take advantage if any of the top 3 make mistakes. I think the crowd will be firmly behind him and this is a test of that young man on the biggest stage and being able to cope with that pressure is what seperates gold medallists from also-rans. 
The Shen/Zhao partnership is expected to dominate the 2010 Pairs Figure Skating and they trade at an 11/10 price. Savchencko/Szolkowy are nearly even with the leaders at a 7/4 price. This market looks one of the most up in the air with Pang/Tong at 7/1 and Kawaguchi/Smirnov trading at the same price. 
The Virtue/Moir pairing in the 2010 Ice Dance are the slim leaders in another wide open pairs market. They trade at a 2/1 price while Davis/White's partnership is listed at a competitive 5/2 listing. You'll also find Domnina/Shabalin teaming up for a 3/1 listing with Belbin/Agosto round out the main contenders at 9/2. This one is up in the air, so I'm hesitant to really push too hard on this one.