As the dust settles on the playoff games from Saturday, both the LEC and LCS gear up for another best-of-five series each. While each of the series on Saturday was competitive in their own right, Sunday’s series look to be more one-sided, at least on paper. Team Liquid feels like the top of the LCS and an argument can be made that they could be the best in the entire West. They will face off against the young guns in Evil Geniuses, who look for revenge after their loss at the hands of TL in the Lock-In tournament. The LCS matchup will be the ultimate showdown between youthful aggression and the calculated experience of a veteran team. In the European Championship, we see the lower-seeded team in G2 as the odds on favorites to win the matchup against the third-seeded Misfits. Plenty of places to find high value or pay a premium price across this slate, so let’s dive in!

(+133) Misfits Gaming v G2 Esports (-175)

(-420) Team Liquid v Evil Geniuses (+285)

 

League of Legends European Championship: Misfits Gaming v G2 Esports

Game Breakdown: While the Misfits squad is the third seed in the European playoffs, they may be one of the weakest upper bracket teams we have seen in a while. In a best-of-one-style regular season, Misfits could draft in a way to almost always get Vetheo in situations where he could carry. Vetheo, MSF mid laner, was one of the highest performing mid laners that Europe has ever seen. He nearly broke the 100 kill mark in the regular season and he led all players in that category. G2 will rely on the control that they get out of their jungler (Jankos) and the early game pressure from their top laner (BrokenBlade). I would not be surprised to see an interesting use of rotations by G2 to keep Vetheo outnumbered wherever he goes. If he isn’t allowed to gain advantages in the early game, beating Misfits in late-game teamfights gets much easier.

Favorite Picks: Vetheo (MSF: $7,000), Jankos (G2: $6,800), BrokenBlade (G2: $6,600), G2 Esports ($5,200)

Value Picks: Neon (MSF: $10,800/$7,200), Shlatan (MSF: $6,400), Misfits ($5,000)

Cann’s Match Pick: G2 Esports (3-2) 

 

League of Legends Championship Series: Team Liquid v Evil Geniuses 

Game Breakdown: There really isn’t any reason for this series to be close. Team Liquid have put together arguably the greatest roster the LCS has ever seen. Every player on the roster has seen both domestic and international success. Each role has a player, at least on paper, who can be a game-deciding factor in their own right. The edge for TL in this matchup will be in the middle and bottom lanes. The leadership and game awareness the team gets from Bjergsen (mid lane) and CoreJJ (support) are second to none and the raw skill and carry potential from Hans sama (ADC) is enough to lock in TL as clear favorites here. Evil Geniuses will need to focus on the jungle (Inspired) moving into the top lane and taking advantage of the volatility that Bwipo brings. If Inspired can get the EG top laner (Impact) into a position where he is secure and transfer power elsewhere, we have seen TL can lose matches this way. Many times they draft for uniqueness and diversity in the top lane but have been burned by Bwipo being a liability. I can see EG picking up one win in this manner but make no mistake, Team Liquid will not draft themselves into a series loss.

Favorite Picks: Hans sama (TL: $11,400/$7,600), Bjergsen (TL: $11,100/$7,400), Core JJ (TL: $5,800), Team Liquid ($5,400)

Value Picks: Inspired (EG: $6,600), Impact ($6,000), Vulcan ($5,200)

Cann’s Match Pick: Team Liquid (3-1)  
 

DraftKings Example Lineup

Captain (x1.5): Bjergsen (TL: $11,100)

Alternate: Vetheo (MSF: $10,500)

Top: BrokenBlade (G2: $6,600)

Alternate: Bwipo (TL: $6,400)

Jungle: Shlatan (MSF: $6,400)

Mid: Vetheo (MSF: $7,000)

ADC: Hans sama (TL: $7,600)

Alternate: Flakked (G2: $7,400)

Support: CoreJJ (TL: $5,800)

Team: Misfits ($5,000)

 

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