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Columbus Blue Jackets vs Colorado Avalanche Picks and Predictions – Saturday, January 10, 2026
The Columbus Blue Jackets hit Ball Arena for a Saturday matinee against the Colorado Avalanche on January 10, 2026, with puck drop at 4:00 PM ET on ESPN+. This is a tough travel spot for Columbus in more ways than one. They’re coming in with the fewest points in the Eastern Conference, and the defensive numbers have been leaking again, especially on this current trip.
Colorado is basically a different team at home. The Avalanche are 18-0-2 on their ice and riding a long home winning streak, and it keeps showing up the same way. They get to their game early, they tilt the shot and chance balance, and they punish mistakes fast. It also helps that they’re coming off an 8-2 statement win to open this homestand.
The market is pricing this like a mismatch, and it’s hard to argue with the direction. Colorado is sitting around -298 on the moneyline with Columbus coming back at +240, and the total is 6.5 with juice to the Over. The only real pause is goalie clarity and whether Columbus can slow the game down enough to survive the first ten minutes.
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Columbus Blue Jackets vs Colorado Avalanche Odds
These are the current betting lines, and bettors should always monitor updated numbers throughout the day using the latest NHL odds.
| Team | Moneyline | Puck Line | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus Blue Jackets | +240 | +1.5 (+100) | O 6.5 (-135) / U 6.5 (+114) |
| Colorado Avalanche | -298 | -1.5 (-120) | O 6.5 (-135) / U 6.5 (+114) |
Columbus Blue Jackets Betting Form
Columbus is in that frustrating stretch where the effort is not the problem, but the game states are. They’ve dropped four of the last five, and the pattern lately has been allowing too many clean looks early, then chasing the game and opening up even more risk. When you’re giving up five in three straight, you’re not living in a world where plus money dogs are comfortable.
The offensive side still has some bite. Zach Werenski is driving a lot of what they do, and there’s enough finishing in the top six to steal a game if the puck is bouncing their way. But five-on-five defending has not held up, and the penalty kill can’t afford a sloppy night against a team that creates chances in layers. If you want the quick snapshot of how this team has been performing lately, the Columbus Blue Jackets stats and results page tells the story.
Availability matters here, so monitor the Columbus Blue Jackets injury report before puck drop. Columbus doesn’t have the depth to absorb multiple absences on the back end and still handle Colorado’s pace through the neutral zone.
Colorado Avalanche Betting Form
Colorado keeps cashing at home because the process is clean. They get the puck back quickly, they turn rebounds into extended zone time, and they’re comfortable winning in different scripts. The recent 8-2 win over Ottawa wasn’t just a hot shooting night, it was another reminder that this team can bury you if your goaltending or coverage wobbles for even a short stretch.
There is one thing bettors have to keep in mind, though. Colorado has key injuries right now, including Mackenzie Blackwood being out, and that changes how you treat the total if the wrong goalie matchup shows up. If Scott Wedgewood starts again, fine, but I’d still rather confirm it than assume. It’s the kind of slate spot where a goalie confirmation can move a moneyline a little and a total even more, especially with the number already at 6.5.
If you’re tracking trends and matchup context, the Colorado Avalanche schedule and stats page is a good baseline. And with the lineup not fully stable right now, the Colorado Avalanche injury report is worth checking close to puck drop.
Columbus Blue Jackets vs Colorado Avalanche Matchup Breakdown
This matchup starts with pace. Colorado wants quick exits, fast entries, and second chances off the forecheck. Columbus has to slow that down, win more wall battles than it usually does, and avoid the kind of soft turnovers that turn into odd-man rushes. That’s easy to say, harder to do in Denver when the Avalanche are flying.
The goaltending angle is the swing point for whether this becomes a cover conversation or a sweat. Columbus has been rotating through a few options lately and the results have been uneven. Colorado is also dealing with Blackwood being out, so there’s at least a path where the back door opens and the total gets dragged upward. Still, Colorado’s five-on-five profile is strong enough that they can protect a lead without turning it into chaos.
A few edges I keep coming back to:
- Colorado’s home pace and shot volume forcing Columbus into long defensive shifts
- Columbus’ recent goals-against trend making a +1.5 puck line feel thin if they fall behind early
- Special teams leverage, because Colorado can turn one sloppy penalty kill sequence into a game breaker
If you like to sanity-check these kinds of spots, the NHL betting guide is useful for translating pace, goalie variance, and special teams into side and total decisions. And if you’re thinking bigger picture on pricing, the Stanley Cup betting guide helps explain why elite teams at home can stay expensive for long stretches without it automatically meaning “no value.”
Columbus Blue Jackets vs Colorado Avalanche Predictions and Best Bets
My first lean is Colorado, but the question is how to bet it without paying a pure tax. The moneyline is high for a reason. Colorado is dominant at home, Columbus has been giving up goals in bunches, and the Avalanche can score without needing a perfect power-play night. If you bet Colorado often, this is the type of matchup you circle, even if it’s not fun laying -298.
The puck line is where it gets interesting. Colorado -1.5 at a reasonable price makes sense if you think Columbus’ defense keeps cracking the same way it has on this trip. The risk is the backdoor, especially if Colorado’s goalie situation turns messy or if they get into a looser game than they want. But honestly, if Columbus is down one late, they’re going to have to open the ice, and Colorado is built to finish that.
On the total, 6.5 with juice to the Over tells you what the market expects. I get it. Columbus games can spiral, and Colorado can get to four by itself. Still, I’m a little cautious here because Colorado can also win in a more controlled script at home, and if Columbus can’t generate sustained offense, you’re relying on one team to do most of the work. This is one where I’d like to know the confirmed starters in net before I get stubborn about Over or Under.
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Best Bet: Colorado Avalanche -1.5 (-120).
NHL Picks and Handicappers on ScoresAndStats
If you’re betting NHL daily, the edge is rarely one stat. It’s timing, number-shopping, and knowing when a matchup is being priced more by reputation than by current form. Checking today’s NHL picks helps because you can see how different handicappers are attacking the same board, including whether they’re laying a favorite, taking a puck line, or finding a total that’s mispriced.
ScoresAndStats also keeps it transparent. You can compare styles across the top sports handicappers, then validate performance and ROI on the handicapper leaderboard before you tail anyone. And if you want more volume or you’re building a bigger card, you can always buy expert picks and keep everything organized through the NHL previews hub.
