Canada vs USA World Juniors Semifinal Odds, Picks, and How to Watch

• Canada and Team USA engage this Wednesday evening in this semifinal for the World Juniors
• The Canadians are currently -200 betting favorites against the Americans in the World Juniors odds
• Read below for Canada vs USA odds, puck line and prediction for this immense matchup

Canada and Team USA meet at the 2023 World Juniors on Wednesday, January 4. Faceoff is set for just after 6:30 PM ET at Scotiabank Centre (Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada), and the game will be live on NHL Network and TSN. Now, both teams are trying to get to the Final on Thursday.

The Americans are currently a one-goal betting underdog and the total is set at 6.0 for this contest. When it comes to the USA, matchups like this truly play on tons of emotions.

Let’s look at the Canada vs USA odds and offer you our best bets and prediction.

Canada vs USA Odds

Odds as of January 4th at BetMGM Sportsbook. Get the BetMGM promo code for Canada vs USA. 

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Team USA is +155 on the moneyline, giving them a 39.22% implied probability to win.

USA Started Slow, Throttled Germany

Unfortunately, Head Coach Rand Pecknold feared and correctly assumed Team USA would start out slow in this tournament. He was right as the Americans lost to Slovakia in the group stage and finally picked things up at the tail end of the stage winning their group on the last day. Their three wins revealed some good news as they decided their goaltending conundrum. Trey Augustine stopped 14 shots over two periods before getting some much-needed rest.

Yes, the Americans demolished the Germans with three goals or more scored in each period. The 11-1 victory felt total and complete as the laughter allowed players to lighten up the mood a little.

Enjoying watching Lipkin and Team USA at the WJC. So many similarities between the way the US plays and the way Quinnipiac plays… details matter. The Pecknold Effect! https://t.co/3mhQ1GL8YZ

— Sarah Fraser (@sarahhood) January 4, 2023

Now, that rough start was a faded memory as Logan Cooley notched a hat trick. Cutter Gauthier and Red Savage added two goals each. Again, these are Under-20 aged players. Their average age is a mere 18.6. Keep this in mind and try not to get emotional yourselves.

The key for the Americans remains to keep things simple. Playing the Pecknold Way helps. This feels a bit familiar to two years ago in Edmonton where Trevor Zegras and company stunned the Canadians. If one is wondering about those odd-numbered years, well here you go!

If the USA lowers its mistakes and gets off to another solid start, the Canadians might start to doubt themselves a little on Wednesday.

Canada Escaped Slovakia, Aims Upward

Canada and Thomas Milic faced more questions than anyone can imagine. Millic, despite a goals-against average of 1.69, did allow three goals to Slovakia. This leaves Canadians and their fans with more goaltending doubt and questions. However, Shane Wright and Connor Bedard led a 57-shot barrage as Canada escaped their quarterfinal matchup with a dramatic 4-3 overtime win. Bedard’s highlight reel goal gets all the accolades, but the 40+ scoring chances has Canada bullish for another spot in the Gold Medal Game.

Yes, the country now faces a team that has been quite a thorn in their side the past couple of decades on and off. This is the behemoth clash with the two most-favored teams in this tournament.

WJC: Luke Hughes (NJD) when told CAN def Brandt Clarke (LAK) said Canada's physicality could be a factor: "I think we've got some big boys up front & we're a pretty tough group. I think we're really mentally tough, too. So he can say what he wants." #WJC2023

— Mike Morreale (@mikemorrealeNHL) January 3, 2023

This game begs a big question. Can Canada assert their will and their “might” against Team USA? Both teams employ some physical players. However, in this tournament, the Canadians showed their willingness to mix it up a bit more. They moved Slovakia all over the ice and set up so many quality chances. That quarterfinal would have easily been a rout if not for Slovakia’s goaltender, Adam Gajan.

Guess what the Canadians face on Wednesday? They are up against an American team with Trey Augustine filling into his role as a starter. There is a little feeling of historical deja-vu.

Simply, Canada must not let up. They did against Slovakia for a bit and that nearly cost the Canadians.

Canada vs USA Prediction

Most pundits have Team USA losing this one on the moneyline. Any team that has less than a 40% chance of victory is a noticeable underdog. Now, there is history like we mentioned above. That cannot be discounted.

Given how the Canadians always have a few question marks in goal, if the Americans strike first, look out!

Finally, the USA is the team who has none of the pressure at the moment. That is all on Canada. Expect plenty of momentum-changing times and quite an atmosphere. This tilt will be electric!

Picks:  Team USA ML (+155), Over 6.5 (+110)