The 2018 LoL NA LCS playoffs are going at full speed! Now that the quarterfinals matches are settled, we’re in for the high-stakes semifinals series between the top-4 teams in North America. With that in mind, we’re making a detailed betting cheat sheet to help you make the most out of the event.
Cloud9 vs Team SoloMid
What better way is there to kick off LoL NA LCS playoffs than the classic Cloud9 vs Team SoloMid matchup! This time, though, the series might tell a very different storyline. For one, Cloud9 went through their own version of a renaissance during the second half of the regular season.
Blaber was a godsend for the struggling lineup, and his presence alone made C9 much more decisive in teamfights and skirmishes. Moreover, Jensen is playing out of his mind in the mid lane, which makes for a very explosive jungle/mid duo. Then, there’s the top lane. Licorice is a monster that can put on a show on tanks and carries alike, which means C9 can be very flexible in their drafts. Oh, and they also have the Goldenglue/Svenskeren duo! Granted, these players aren’t as good as Cloud9’s starters, but they’re still strong enough to be used as secret weapons in a Bo5 series.
As for Team SoloMid, they’ve definitely seen better days. The bot lane of Zven and Mithy is unstable in the early game, which means TSM will have a hard time targeting C9’s biggest weakness. On top of that, Grig is a rookie and his inexperience shows when he has to jungle against top-tier opponents.
That said, you should never underrate TSM in a Bo5. At their core, they’re a veteran lineup that’s fully capable of stepping up to the plate in important matches. Combine that with the fact that Bjegsen and Hauntzer are playing some of the best games of their careers, and even the likes of Jensen and Licorice might feel challenged in the solo lanes.
BETTING ADVICE: This will be close, but it’s still C9’s LoL NA LCS playoffs series to lose. You can bet on Cloud9 scoring a 3-2 victory for odds of 4.45 at EsportsBetting.
Team Liquid vs 100 Thieves
We continue with a rematch of the spring finals! Team Liquid entered the LoL NA LCS playoffs as the undisputed favorites—and for good reason. Doublelift and Olleh are overwhelmingly dominant in the bot lane, and they often secure crushing advantages by outplaying their opponents. Meanwhile, Xmithie does a great job of capitalizing on their leads and protecting them from enemy ganks. Combine that with the immovable object that is Impact, and Team Liquid are as close to a perfect NA LCS lineup as you could get.
And yet, there’s always a but. The last few weeks revealed Pobelter is unstable in the laning phase, so he can easily cave under pressure from a strong jungle/mid duo. And as far as we’ve seen, TL have no idea how to play around a struggling mid laner.
Fortunately for them, 100 Thieves are the least likely team to exploit this. For one, Ryu isn’t exactly a mechanical monster himself, and he won’t have a significant edge over Pobelter in the laning phase. If that wasn’t enough, AnDa looks very shaky in the jungle, so he’ll have a hard time outmaneuvering Xmithie around the map.
Granted, it’s not all doom and gloom for 100T. Ssumday is the undisputed king of top lane, and he will act as a massive pressure point against Team Liquid. And while Cody Sun and Aphromoo aren’t that strong in lane, they make up for it with smart rotations and potent teamfighting. Even so, this won’t be enough to shut down Team Liquid’s carries, and 100 Thieves will have a hard time standing up to their opponents.
BETTING ADVICE: You can bet on Team Liquid defeating 100 Thieves with a 3-0 score for odds of 3.70 at Betway. If direct score bets are not your cup of tea, a -1.5 handicap wager on Team Liquid is another great choice for this LoL NA LCS playoffs matchup.
