(-210) Misfits v exceL eSports (+165)

(+350) SK Gaming v MAD Lions (-550)

(+220) FC Schalke 04 v Rogue (-300)

(-325) Fnatic v Astralis (+230)

(+165) Team Vitality v G2 Esports (-210)

I feel like the beginning of the LEC has been a bit of a headache thus far. Upsets, roster swaps, and teams not performing where they should be. Moving into the third week we should start seeing some more chalky line ups and favorites delivering throughout the weekend. I think we should see some pretty explosive matches, especially between FNC and AST, keep your eyes open for some big points! Let’s dive in!

Game #1 Misfits v exceL eSports

Cann’s Pick: Misfits

Game #2: SK Gaming v MAD Lions

Cann’s Pick: MAD Lions

Game #3: FC Schalke 04 v Rogue

Cann’s Pick: Rogue

Game #4: Fnatic v Astralis

Cann’s Pick: Fnatic 

Game #5: Team Vitality v G2 Esports

Cann’s Pick: G2 Esports

 

Captain

Favorite: Rekkles (G2: $12,000) This is your European kill leader with 31 kills in 5 games. In that same time he has had just over 1 death per game and participated in 40% of G2’s first blood kills. With Vitality’s love of fighting, this match is going to be a bloodbath. Even when they are behind, Vitality’s will keep fighting. I see a lot of opportunities for Rekkles to farm kills and assists in this match.  

Value Pick: Patrik (XL: $9,300)

Top Lane

Favorite: HiRit (MSF: $6,800) This is the best performing top laner versus one of the lowest performing top laners in the LEC. He has 24 kills and 34 assists in his 5 matches which sets him up to pull almost 5 kills and 7 assists per game. This price for that productivity is out of this world, especially into a shakier team like XL. I fully expect for HiRit to be put onto a more aggressive champion to put a lot of pressure on Kryze and get and early lead.  

Value Pick: Whiteknight (AST: $5,800)

Jungle

Favorite: Bwipo (FNC: $7,200) I give Bwipo a lot of flak. I think his is somewhat mindless in his aggression sometimes and can have a tendency to lose sight of the larger macro picture. You know what he has proved to me this split thus far as a jungler? Macro don’t matter if the enemy team is dead. This man has 19 kills and 50 assists in 5 games. He moves from lane to lane, and objective to objective looking for fights. There may not be a better statistical jungler right now in the LEC than Bwipo, and it pains me to say that. 

Value Pick: Jankos (G2: $6,600) 

Mid Lane

Favorite: Humanoid (MAD: $7,800) I like this pick, but not crazy on the price. I think Humanoid can really punish weaker teams/opponents and SK’s Blue/Twohoyrz fit this category to a tee. The two mid laners combined have the same number of kills as Humanoid (17) and 17 less assists (14 to 31 assists). Elyoya (MAD jungler), will look to sit mid and get him ahead in the lane. I like Humanoid in this role instead of captain because I can see so many more of his points will be assists and you really want kills coming from the captain role.   

Value Pick: Video (MSF: $7,000)   

ADC

Favorite: Upset (FNC: $8,200) Upset is second in line for the LEC kill leader. Upset has 29 kills and 39 assists in his 5 games played. I love how FNC picks around him (80% pick control rate) and he cashes in with a 74% team kill participation rate. There is almost a perfect balance between the aggression of FNC’s support (Hyllisang) and the control of Upset. He has the second highest gold differential at 10 minutes (+420). This match will be explosive and full of fighting as FNC take on AST on Friday. 

Value Pick: Hans sama (RGE: $7,400) 

Support

Favorite: Hylissang (FNC: $5,400) It makes sense that if you pick up Upset, you grab the FNC support. While he can be a touch death prone (averaging around 4 per game) he also is second in assist (59). I like the idea of the pressure that Hylli and the FNC jungler (Bwipo) will be able to create on the AST bot lane. There is really high upside to this pick, but know that there is a possibility that his deaths could get out of hand.  

Value Pick: Mikyx (G2: $5,200) 

Team

Favorite: Rogue ($5,200) Rogue has historically taken care of the lower level teams and struggles more against the kings of Europe. This is playing out the same way this year with the only two losses this split coming against G2 and FNC. Rogue should have a pretty easy time reaping in tons of objectives (their strength as a team) against the less organized S04 on Friday.  

Value Pick: Misfits ($4,800) 


Cann’s Example Lineup

Captain (x1.5): Rekkles ($12,000)

Alternate: Carzzy ($11,700)

Top: Whiteknight ($5,800)

Jungle: Jankos ($6,600)

Alternate: Inspired ($6,200)
Mid: Vetheo ($7,000)

ADC: Upset ($8,200)

Alternate: Hans sama ($7,400)

Support: Mikyx ($5,200)

Team: Misfits ($4,800)