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With the bottom three teams already decided, all eyes are on Astralis, Virtus Pro, and Team Liquid who are stuck at a 3W-1L record apiece as we head into the final day of ESL Pro League Season 13‘s Group D.
Our primary expectations for the group were met as these three teams purely outclassed Fnatic, Endpoint, and Evil Geniuses. But with all three teams holding the same record, it’s still anybody’s game for the coveted first spot that qualifies them for the high seed Play-Ins.
Here are our CS:GO betting predictions for the last day of action of ESL Pro League Season 13’s Group Stage!
ESL Pro League Season 13 Group D So Far
Although the group favorites did justify the expectations, it wasn’t all smooth sailing for them. Astralis firstly dropped their series against Evil Geniuses, a team that despite going 1-3 in the group’s did manage to give the favorites a run for their money. The Danes did manage to overcome the early setback, winning the next three matches in a row on the back of some stalwart plays from Nicolai “dev1ce” Reedtz who’s currently sporting a 1.26 rating for the event.
Virtus Pro were looking like their IEM Katowice, dropping only one series to the rejuvenated Astralis squad in the process. Their series against Evil Geniuses was by far the best one of the tournament so far, but their comms were lacking at certain times. VP’s performance still heavily depends on that of Mareks “YEKINDAR” Gaļinskis, but the young Latvian has shown a bit more maturity as of late.
Finally, we have Team Liquid, who have had a resurgence under the guidance of their new in-game leader Gabriel “FalleN” Toledo. Liquid’s Keith “NAF” Markovic has looked incredible in the tournament so far, but we’d be lying if we told you that Liquid’s placing was more or less the result of a combined team effort.
Out of the three teams that have already been eliminated, Evil Geniuses has looked a step above the rest. EG dropped their series against Fnatic, with the Swedes still looking as shadows of their former selves. Rounding out the group we have the scrappy Endpoint side who have managed to score a victory against Fnatic, but are still looking a level below the top teams in the world.
The Predictions
Astralis vs. Fnatic
Heading into the series, it’s pretty obvious who the favorites are. Astralis needs the win here if they want to end up in first place, and compared to the head-to-head matchup of Virtus Pro and Team Liquid have a chance to do just that.
Straight off the beat, it’s almost a guaranteed 2-0 for the Danes, as Fnatic is the worse team in every category imaginable.
Astralis does have a disdain for Fnatic’s best map Mirage, a map that will be almost certainly permabanned. The rest of the map pool leans heavily in Astralis’ favor, so expect this to be just another day in the office for the Danes.
Prediction: Astralis to win 2:0
Odds: 1.77
Betting Site: GG.bet
Team Liquid vs. Virtus Pro
This is definitely the most anticipated and contested matchup of the day. The winner of this matchup will be most likely tied for first place (unless Fnatic pulls of a modern-day miracle). Both teams are on nearly equal footing, although Virtus Pro are the slight favorites.
Although there is value bet potential on Team Liquid here, the safest and most likely option would be for the series to go all the way.
The map pools are quite even, as both teams have roughly the same preferences and win percentage on Inferno and Overpass. The match will most likely start with the standard embargoes on Nuke and Train, but Liquid is a team capable of taking the fight to VP’s Inferno.
Prediction: Total Maps | Over 2.5 |
Odds: 1.9
Betting Site: GG.bet
Evil Geniuses vs. Endpoint
The battle of the bottom feeders is honestly a one-sided affair. Evil Geniuses is a step above Endpoint in every way imaginable, and it’s going to be quite an upset of the Brits come out with a W from this series.
Despite their early elimination and loss versus Fnatic, Evil Geniuses have looked solid for a big part of Group D, and have shown us that they belong on this level of play. Endpoint, although improving day in day out, is still a pretty scrappy squad and are just plainly outgunned and outmaneuvered by EG.
EG has a lot of talent in their midst, but it will be crucial to see how Endpoint deals with Brehze’s constant aggression and lurking. EG will almost certainly lose their main kicker Nuke in the first ban phase and are looking like the stronger team on Endpoint’s most prefer map pick Inferno.
Expect this to be a clean victory for EG.
Prediction: Evil Geniuses to win 2:0
Odds: 2.12
Betting Site: GG.bet
