Slovakia will try to earn a men's hockey Olympic medal for the first time when it squares off against Sweden on Saturday in the bronze medal game of the 2022 Beijing Olympics at the National Indoor Stadium in Beijing. Since Czechoslovakia split into two sovereign nations in 1993, Slovakia has never earned a medal; its best finish was fourth in 2010. (The former Czechoslovakia earned four silver and four bronze medals.) The Slovaks will face Sweden, which has earned nine medals, tied for the third most all-time. 

The opening faceoff is set for 8:10 a.m. ET. Sweden is a -270 money-line favorite (risk $270 to win $100) in the latest Sweden vs. Slovakia odds from Caesars Sportsbook, while the over-under for total goals is 5.5 Before locking in any Slovakia vs. Sweden picks or Beijing Olympics 2022 predictions, you need to see what SportsLine's Olympics expert, Mike Tierney, has to say.

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 Saturday's Sweden vs. Slovakia bronze medal game and locked in his picks and Olympics predictions. You can visit SportsLine now to see his Beijing Olympics men's hockey bronze medal game pick. Now, here are several betting lines and trends for Slovakia vs. Sweden:

  • Slovakia vs. Sweden money line: Slovakia +210, Sweden -270
  • Slovakia vs. Sweden over-under: 5.5 goals
  • Slovakia vs. Sweden puck line: Sweden -1.5 (+120)

Why Sweden will cover

Lucas Wallmark has been one of the top goal scorers in Beijing. The former player for the NHL's Hurricanes, Panthers and Blackhawks, Wallmark has scored five goals in Beijing, tied for the most of any player. He scored in each of the team's first four games, including the game-winning goal in the quarterfinal victory over Canada.

In addition, the Swedes enter Saturday knowing they've already beaten Slovakia. On Feb. 11, Sweden blitzed Slovakia with three goals in the first period and never looked back in a 4-1 win. Both Joakim Nordstrom and Max Friberg had a goal and an assist for the Swedes.

Why Slovakia will cover

No team has generated more shots during the Olympics than Slovakia. In six games, the Slovaks have taken 206 shots, an average of 34.3 shots per game. By contrast Sweden averages just 29.2 shots per game. In the first meetings between these teams, in the preliminary round, Slovakia outshot Sweden, 42-30.

In addition, Slovakia has been a much better team since Patrik Rybar took over as goaltender midway through the first game against Sweden. In the quarterfinal victory against the United States he made 33 saves on 35 shots and shut out the Americans in the overtime shootout. In the semifinal against Finland, he stopped 25 of 26 shots. Slovakia's other two goaltenders allowed nine goals on 42 shots in 80 minutes of action.

How to make Beijing Winter Olympics picks

Tierney is leaning under on the goal total, but his more confident pick is on one side. He knows a crucial x-factor that makes one side a must-back. He's only sharing what it is, and all of his Olympics 2022 picks and predictions, at SportsLine.

Who wins Sweden vs. Slovakia on Saturday? And what x-factor makes one side a must-back? Visit SportsLine now to get Mike Tierney's predictions for Slovakia vs. Sweden and the Beijing Winter Olympics, all from the renowned sportswriter who's covered nine Olympics in person and cashed big in 2016, '18 and '21, and find out.