LCS Spring Season Week #2 Top Picks and Predictions
Published: Feb 12, 2021 - Last Updated: Jul 18, 2023
Another week of LCS action and the competition seems more even amongst the top and bottom halves of the table. Because of that, expect the results to be a lot more volatile this week as teams like TSM, CLG, and Immortals look to bounce back from ugly losses in an attempt to turn the fortunes of their season.
Cloud9 faces a hectic schedule against formidable opponents in Evil Geniuses and 100 Thieves, and Team Liquid’s easy week this year should propel them into first place if all goes well, but nothing is guaranteed in a clown fiesta league like the LCS. This week we have five upset picks over the course of the three day weekend that can be leveraged at a high value.
Evil Geniuses vs. Cloud9 (Day One)
This week’s strength of schedule will be a lot to overcome for Cloud9 as they face Evil Geniuses, 100 Thieves and FlyQuest all in the same weekend. As much as we’d love to see C9 and Perkz absolutely smurf over the competition, we can assume one or two blemishes are coming their way as game plans will be stretched thin between three serious competitors.
Evil Geniuses need to start gathering wins in order to stay afloat in the playoff picture. Their catalyst for victory this game will be their newest signing Impact. Last week, Impact made some key picks with his engagements on champions like Gnar, but his team was unable to follow up on the damage routinely.
Because this is the first game of the week for C9, and because EG will most likely be focusing on this game the hardest this weekend, the chances for an upset on the side of Evil Geniuses isn’t completely out of question. Deftly has continued to show improvements when utilized on the weak side of the map. Keeping up those tactics and playing efficiently in the mid and late game will surely guide them to victory.
Pick: Evil Geniuses
Odds: 2.29
Betting Site: GG.Bet Review
Golden Guardians vs. Dignitas (Day Two)
Golden Guardians are one of those teams that are starting to click despite the massive gulf in salary and player development that they suffer from. However, players like Niles and Iconic have shown that it is important to bet on North American talent every once in a while, and this is yet another instance where GG shows promise.
As much as we would like to give Dignitas the advantage due to veteran experience, their solo laners have proven to be a legitimate liability at different phases of the game. These are obvious growing pains that need to be ironed out, but at the moment it seems like Golden Guardians are closer to finding that team identity than their competitors, and that’s why they get the nod for this game despite their underdog status. Look for a big game from their top laner Niles in order for them to come out on top.
Pick: Golden Guardians
Odds: 2.07
Betting Site: Luckbox Review
FlyQuest vs. CLG (Day Two)
FlyQuest have looked so darn good in the early stages of games, mainly due to their over performing Jungler from Argentina, Josedeodo. The South American import had run rampant since joining the league, doing the tango on all competitors foreign and domestic as he excels with his farm heavy jungle pressure.
However, this game against CLG will be a tough one considering the strength of schedule and CLG’s incessant need for a win after their dismal outing last week. CLG have really solid laners and their ability to get early advantages is actually quite impressive. Shoring up those mid and late game decisions as they look to cruise to a victory will be vital for their confidence as they hope to bring in their European jungler as soon as possible to keep racking up those wins.
CLG don’t want to let the wheels fall off entirely before he makes his mark. Expect a hard fought but well deserved CLG win in this encounter.
Pick: CLG
Odds: 2.25
Betting Site: Unikrn Review
100 Thieves vs. Cloud 9 (Day Two)
Although we’re picking against Cloud9 twice this week, it’s not without good reason. 100 Thieves and Evil Geniuses both possess strengths where C9 have clear weaknesses in the top lane. Obviously, Fudge is continuing to develop and even showing some of his carry potential against lesser competition, but this isn’t going to be that on Saturday.
Ssumday has been performing like a man possessed since he’s been given this new team for the 2021 season. Not only that, but 100T can also match Cloud9 at their best given the strength of FBI and Huhi these past few months. At the end of 2020 Summer, many fans and analysts considered the former Golden Guardians bot lane to have been the best in the region.
As they continue to develop confidence and good form, expect games like this to be the difference maker between 100 Thieves being a top four team with no real threat for first place goals, or a legitimate contender in the division with incentives to become LCS champion. Winning these games will be crucial to their success during the long season. On weeks where C9’s attention will be divided because of other strong opponents, this is when the iron needs to strike hot.
Pick: 100 Thieves
Odds: 2.23
Betting Site: GG.Bet
Immortals vs. TSM (Day Three)
TSM continue to nose dive off a cliff down the LCS Power Rankings after underwhelming performances back-to-back-to-BACK last week. Despite winning against CLG, that didn’t really show anything other than they know how to drive their way in and out of a clown fiesta, but against a craftier team like Immortals, their big margins as a favorite feel incredibly undeserved.
Immortals continue to develop talent in weird places. Their top laner Revenge has been showing his worth and has earned significant praise from the community for NOT being one of those hyped Academy top laners but still coming into the league and performing well above expectations. Part of that reason is because he has a team of unselfish players around him that are focused on making the best play, and not the play they think works best because they have no direction.
From the outside looking in, Immortals is one of the better coached teams this split given their strong drafts and over-performing of results compared to their expectation. Expect Immortals to match strengths in this game and show TSM just how much more they need to improve in order to succeed in the LCS.
Pick: Immortals
Odds: 2.75
Betting Site: Bet365 Review
