G2 (World rank: #7) vs. Movistar Riders (World rank: #18) – 12:00 P.M. ET

Moneyline Odds: G2 (-375) | Movistar Riders (+290)

Round Handicap: G2 -4.5 (-120) | Movistar Riders +4.5 (Even)

  • This is a best-of-three series on LAN for Group A of IEM Dallas 2022
  • G2 - Rating at event: N/A
  • G2 - Rating past three months: NiKo 1.17 | m0NESY 1.14 | huNter-  1.13 | JACKZ 0.95 | Aleskib 0.90
  • Movistar Riders - Rating at event: N/A
  • Movistar Riders - Rating past three months: SunPayus  1.19 | alex 1.10 | mopoz 1.01 | DeathZz 0.98 | dav1g  0.94

Prediction/Narrative: G2 wins 16-9.

G2 are one of the biggest favorites on the slate, they are one of the highest-ranked teams at the event, and they are playing with their full roster unlike some of the other top contenders. G2 have a 26-17 W/L record across 43 maps played on LAN with this lineup, and 43 out of their 51 maps played have been in a LAN environment, so they should be ready to go. Movistar Riders have played well on LAN in the past, but G2 should still be the clear better team here. I think G2 actually have a great shot at winning this entire tournament and I expect them to make a statement against a weaker team like Movistar Riders.

Favorite Draftkings Plays (In order of priority): 

huNter- ($8,000) | NiKo ($10,400) | m0NESY ($9,800) | Aleksib ($5,800) | JACKZ ($7,000) | SunPayus ($6,600) 

 

ENCE (World rank: #3) vs. MOUZ (World rank: #20) – 12:00 P.M. ET

Moneyline Odds: ENCE (Even) | MOUZ (-120)

Round Handicap: ENCE +2.5 (-150) | MOUZ +4.5 (+125)

  • This is a best-of-three series on LAN for Group A of IEM Dallas 2022
  • ENCE - Rating at event: N/A
  • ENCE - Rating past three months: dycha 1.11 | hades  1.08 | Maden 1.03 | Snappi 1.00 | Snax 0.89
  • MOUZ - Rating at event: N/A
  • MOUZ - Rating past three months: frozen 1.16 | torzsi 1.15 | Bymas 1.11 | JDC  1.02 | dexter 0.96

Prediction/Narrative: MOUZ wins 16-14.

The big storyline here is that Spinx was unable to travel with ENCE, so Snax is standing in. Spinx has established himself as one of the best riflers in the world and he is easily a top 10 player in the world in 2022, so replacing him will not be easy. Snax is a capable replacement, and he is Polish like dycha & hades, but ENCE will obviously not be playing their best Counter-Strike at IEM Dallas. MOUZ have a 22-11 W/L record across 33 maps played with their lineup, and they have been itching to make some noise after missing the Major. I’ll take MOUZ in a close one here with ENCE missing their best player.

Favorite Draftkings Plays (In order of priority): 

Bymas ($6,600) | torzsi ($7,400) | frozen ($9,000) | Snax ($5,000) | hades ($7,400) | dycha ($8,400) 

 

FaZe (World rank: #1) vs. Encore (World rank: #70) – 1:10 P.M. ET

Moneyline Odds: FaZe (-1750) | Encore (+1025)

Round Handicap: FaZe -8.5 (-115) | Encore +8.5 (-105)

  • This is a best-of-three series on LAN for Group A of IEM Dallas 2022
  • FaZe - Rating at event: N/A
  • FaZe - Rating past three months: ropz 1.15 | broky  1.15 | rain 1.14 | Twistzz 1.10 | karrigan 0.96
  • Encore - Rating at event: N/A
  • Encore - Rating past three months: Liki 0.99 | Sterling 0.94 | HaZR 0.94 | SaVage  0.88 | ap0c 0.86

Prediction/Narrative: FaZe wins 16-6.

FaZe just won the biggest event of the year at PGL Major Antwerp, and they are the number one team in the world at the moment. It makes sense to see them as the biggest favorite on this slate, especially in such a soft-matchup against Encore (FKA LookingForOrg). FaZe have a 33-15 W/L record across 48 maps played on LAN with this lineup, and they will be looking to win this event as part of a potential Intel Grand Slam run. There is absolutely no reason to pick against FaZe on this slate with such a soft opening match-up.

Favorite Draftkings Plays (In order of priority): 

Twistzz ($7,400) | broky ($10,200) | rain ($8,800) | ropz ($10,600) | karrigan ($6,400) 

 

Vitality (World rank: #10) vs. Astralis (World rank: #12) – 1:10 P.M. ET

Moneyline Odds: Vitality (-150) | Astralis (+125)

Round Handicap: Vitality -2.5 (-105) | Astralis +2.5 (-115)

  • This is a best-of-three series on LAN for Group A of IEM Dallas 2022
  • Vitality - Rating at event: N/A
  • Vitality - Rating past three months: ZywOo 1.20 | Magisk 1.08 | dupreeh 1.02 | apEX 0.95 | misutaaa  0.92
  • Astralis - Rating at event: N/A
  • Astralis - Rating past three months: blameF 1.25 | k0nfig 1.13 | Farlig 1.02 | gla1ve  0.96 | Xyp9x 0.93

Prediction/Narrative: Astralis wins 16-13.

Vitality have gotten the best of this match-up in the past, but I think this Astralis roster is trending in a better direction. Vitality have a losing record on LAN at 20-21 W/L across 42 maps played, while Astralis are 19-18 W/L across 37 maps played. I see this as a winnable spot for Astralis, and their superstars are cheap on Draftkings with blameF at $7,800, k0nfig at $7,000, and Farlig at $6,600. I’d rather roll the dice on a cheap Astralis and hope that the Danes can turn things around against a Vitality roster that has been unconvincing at times. 

Favorite Draftkings Plays (In order of priority): 

k0nfig ($7,000) | blameF ($7,800) | Farlig ($6,600) | ZywOo ($9,400) | gla1ve ($5,800) 

 

FURIA (World rank: #8) vs. Imperial (World rank: #15) – 2:20 P.M. ET

Moneyline Odds: FURIA (-180) | Imperial (+150)

Round Handicap: FURIA -2.5 (-135) | Imperial +2.5 (+110)

  • This is a best-of-three series on LAN for Group B of IEM Dallas 2022
  • FURIA - Rating at event: N/A
  • FURIA - Rating past three months: yuurih 1.22 | KSCERATO  1.16 | arT 1.06 | saffee 1.04 | drop 1.03
  • Imperial - Rating at event: N/A
  • Imperial - Rating past three months: fer 1.23 | boltz 1.13 | FalleN 1.11 | VINI  1.10 | fnx 0.94

Prediction/Narrative: Imperial wins 16-14.

This is a Brazilian derby and seemingly anything can happen when two teams from this region face off against each other. We haven’t seen these lineups play yet, but FURIA have done slightly better so far at LAN events. Still, Imperial proved that their lineup is legit after their run through the Challengers Stage at PGL Major Antwerp, and I think they will continue to work towards a run at the Brazilian Major later in the year. Imperial have a 14-11 W/L record across 25 maps played on LAN, while FURIA Have a 24-18 W/L record across 42 maps played. FURIA have an edge on paper, but I’d prefer to take the underdog with this being a best-of-one format between two teams from the same region. I’m expecting a close map here that could go either way.

Favorite Draftkings Plays (In order of priority): 

fer ($7,800) | FalleN ($6,200) | VINI ($5,600) | KSCERATO ($8,200) | boltz ($7,000) | saffee ($6,400) | yuurih ($9,200) 

 

Ninjas in Pyjamas (World rank: #5) vs. BIG (World rank: #16) – 2:30 P.M. ET

Moneyline Odds: Ninjas in Pyjamas (-110) | BIG (-110)

Round Handicap: Ninjas in Pyjamas -2.5 (+115) | BIG +2.5 (-140)

  • This is a best-of-three series on LAN for Group B of IEM Dallas 2022
  • Ninjas in Pyjamas - Rating at event: N/A
  • Ninjas in Pyjamas - Rating past three months: REZ 1.20 | Brollan 1.14 | Plopski 1.03 | es3tag 0.98 | ztr 0.98
  • BIG - Rating at event: N/A
  • BIG - Rating past three months: syrsoN 1.17 | tabseN 1.14 | faveN 1.12 | Krimbo 1.05 | tiziaN 0.97

Prediction/Narrative: BIG wins 16-12.

The biggest storyline here is that hampus is unable to travel with NiP, and ztr is standing in. We’ve seen ztr stand-in from Young Ninjas in the past, and his fragging was lackluster, but he seems to be a very smart player. NiP have shown that their system is so good that plugging in new players does not significantly affect them, but I’m still not expecting much from them without their IGL. BIG have a 10-10 W/L record across 20 maps played on LAN with this lineup, and they are starting to come into form since adding Krimbo and faveN. I think BIG will take advantage of this spot against NiP playing with a stand-in

Favorite Draftkings Plays (In order of priority): 

syrsoN ($8,400) | tabseN ($7,600) | Krimbo ($6,000) | faveN ($6,800) | Brollan ($7,600) | REZ ($8,600) 

 

Complexity (World rank: #24) vs. MIBR (World rank: #22) – 3:30 P.M. ET

Moneyline Odds: Complexity (-130) | MIBR (+105)

Round Handicap: Complexity -2.5 (+120) | MIBR +3.5 (-145)

  • This is a best-of-three series on LAN for Group B of IEM Dallas 2022
  • Complexity - Rating at event: N/A
  • Complexity - Rating past three months: floppy 1.16 | Grim 1.10 | junior 1.03 | FaNg 0.99 | JT 0.96
  • MIBR - Rating at event: N/A
  • MIBR - Rating past three months: JOTA 1.25 | chelo 1.18 | exit 1.09 | Tuurtle  1.09 | B1T N/A

Prediction/Narrative: Complexity wins 16-11.

MIBR have gotten the best of this match-up in the past, but Complexity have the advantage of playing in their home country with this event taking place in Dallas. Beyond that, MIBR are playing with BIT as a stand-in since brnz4n (who recently replaced WOOD7) is unable to travel with the team. This is the Brazilian BIT, not the superstar b1t from NAVI, so please don’t get them confused. Complexity have a 6-5 W/L record across 11 maps played on LAN against their own region, and I think they will step up on their home turf in this spot. The oddsmakers have Complexity as a slight favorite, but Draftkings has them as the cheaper team, so this could be a great value spot.

Favorite Draftkings Plays (In order of priority): 

floppy ($7,600) | junior ($6,000) | Grim ($6,800) | FaNg ($5,400) | JOTA ($9,600) | exit ($6,400) 

 

*Top Stacks: FaZe, G2, Complexity, Astralis, BIG, MOUZ, Imperial

*Favorite Captains: broky, huNter-, rain, NiKo, floppy, blameF, syrsoN, ropz, m0NESY, fer, frozen, ZywOo, KSCERATO, JOTA

*Favorite Value Plays: Twistzz, k0nfig, Bymas, junior, Aleskib, torzsi, tabseN, Farlig, Grim, FalleN, karrigan, Krimbo, JACKZ, FaNg, VINI, Brollan, Snax