Since this is the opening day of the LCS Summer 2021, I’ll keep the previews short as there is not much use talking about things that we already know from the last split. Still, we like a few solid betting opportunities, and as per usual, the opening week’s theme is underdogs.
Team Liquid vs TSM
Friday, June 4 – 15:00 PST
Team Liquid are the better team, but I’m not a big fan of betting on the favorites on the opening day of the split – and at least a few rounds after that. What’s more, you can’t really say that TSM are that much worse than Liquid.
Since this is the opening match of the LCS 2021 Summer, the best advice I can give you is to not bet on Liquid. You either take TSM at the offered price or let this one go.
Prediction: TSM to win – 2.10 at Bet365
Evil Geniuses vs Dignitas
Friday, June 4 – 16:00 PST
A match I am not too excited to bet on. Even though Evil Geniuses come off as a better team, they’re also a squad I won’t be betting on when they’re priced as the favourites.
As mentioned in our LCS 2021 Summer preview, Evil Geniuses are the type of team that will lose against teams they should beat and occasionally defeat teams they shouldn’t be able to. This is an individually solid team, but they’re also one of the most volatile in the league.
Dignitas have impressed me last split, and I expect great things from them this split as well (playoffs). Still, they’re somewhat unpredictable as I am still unsure whether they’ll manage to look as solid during LCS Summer as they did in spring.
This one is way too risky for me. Its better to wait a couple of weeks to see how these two teams shape up.
No Prediction
Golden Guardians vs Cloud9
Friday, June 4 – 17:00 PST
Straight up, this is a spot where you take Golden Guardians. Like every year before, favourites can and fall usually do in the opening weeks of the split/season, but there are a few more reasons why I believe Cloud9 can slip here.
They’re fresh off the Mid-Season Invitational, and have replaced their starting ADC, with whom the team likely hasn’t established a strong synergy yet. You can’t blame them since C9 haven’t had enough time to do so.
Golden Guardians were by far the worst team in the league last season, but you have to be slightly more optimistic about them for this split. With the addition of Colin “Solo” Earnest, Golden Guardians got themselves a veteran figure who will lead the youngsters throughout the split.
Perhaps someone like Solo was needed to get Golden Guardians off the ground, but we’ll have to wait and see whether that’s the case. Regardless, this is a spot where you can take the underdogs who have a legitimate chance to cause an upset.
Prediction: GG +9.5 kills – 1.80
Prediction: Golden Guardians to win – 5.50 (0.5 units)
100 Thieves vs Immortals
Friday, June 4 – 18:00 PST
As much as I don’t like taking the favourites so early into the split, siding with 100 Thieves for this match is the only bet I’m comfortable taking. Even though we don’t know how well Felix “Abbedagge” Braun will fit in with the team, 100T should do more than fine even if the ex-Schalke 04 Esports mid laner is somewhat serviceable.
100T had strong potential last split but failed to show it mainly due to their weak mid lane. With Abbedagge they should be a top-four team with ease. Immortals are a team I expect to show some improvement this split, but they’re individually outclassed by 100T in all positions.
The only way IMT can win here is if 100T blunder, which they shouldn’t now that they have a far more stable player in the mid lane.
Prediction: 100 Thieves to win – 1.44 at Bet365
FlyQuest vs Counter Logic Gaming
Friday, June 4 – 19:00 PST
This is an easy bet on Counter Logic Gaming for me. They have had a poor run through the LCS Spring, but you have to take into account all the struggles this team had to go through before the season even began, namely Mads “Broxah” Brock-Pedersen’s visa issues.
And it’s not like CLG are a bad team. They are clearly better than FlyQuest, both due to the individual quality of the players and the experience they have.
I wouldn’t get my hopes up and expect CLG to compete for the playoffs, But they should do more than fine against bottom-table teams such as FlyQuest.
Prediction: Counter Logic Gaming to win – 1.83 at Bet365
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