LCS Spring Season Week #4 Top Picks and Predictions
Published: Feb 25, 2021
The LCS is in full disarray as every team has beaten one another before the first round robin had been completed. With the parity of the league closer than ever, the chance for upsets is at an all-time high and hot picks are up for grabs. This week, we’re looking at TSM to pick up an upset win over Team Liquid in their Friday matchup, and with the bottom half teams more motivated than ever, this is the ideal atmosphere for teams to make big swings before playoffs.
Team Liquid vs. Team SoloMid (Day One)
Team Liquid are firmly a top-four team in the LCS despite their record. The LCS lock-in champions have hit a slump since the start of regular season, but they have shown they aren’t to be taken lightly when all their players are on the same page. However, TSM have come out like a banshee since the regular-season start and their record so far has shown those improvements.
Putting Huni, PowerOfEvil, and SwordArt on valuable picks like Gnar, Azir and Pantheon have driven them to controlled team wins (when they aren’t getting baron stolen by Dardoch). Continuing that trend of winning the game via draft and putting your elite players on comfort picks will be integral to success in this game. The frailties from Liquid have come from the bottom lane this year as Tactical has looked rather average and CoreJJ has made uncharacteristic mistakes in the late game.
If TSM can capitalize on those mistakes, there’s value in picking them up for a sleeper win against a streaky Liquid in Week Four.
Pick: TSM
Odds: 2.63
Betting Site: GG.bet
Golden Guardians vs. Immortals (Day Two)
Golden Guardians have looked out of sorts in the early weeks of competition, but the bottom half of the ladder made noticeable upset victories last week and this may be another one of those games where a young Golden Guardians can continue to build their confidence. As we’ve highlighted before, Immortals are one of those teams that play up against better opponents and play down against lesser foes.
If GG plays off that trend, we envision a world where the Guardians can win the second round of this encounter, especially considering GG won the first round way back in Week One. Immortals possess valuable promise in players like Revenge and Insanity, but GG has their own interesting tactics at play when Niles shows his flair on Gangplank or Ablazeolive gets his way with Twisted Fate. GG plays smarter as a team and they will look to this game as their best shot at victory for the weekend. Good value on a low-risk encounter.
Pick: Golden Guardians
Odds: 2.40
Betting Site: Luckbox
Dignitas vs. 100 Thieves (Day Two)
While it’s obvious to see that Dignitas isn’t on the same level as some of the teams on their half of the table, there’s no denying the skill it took to get them this far. Aphromoo enjoyed plaudits as player of the week last week and rightfully deserved it. One of the last remaining OG’s of the LCS scene, Aphromoo has piloted this team to victory and redeemed his career this season after many fans wrote him off after a dismal send-off at 100 Thieves just a few years prior.
This time around, he faces his former teammate and protege Huhi in the bot lane, and that’s where this matchup gets interesting. Huhi was one of the best Supports in NA last year, but this year his recent performances have been called into question. Where Huhi has looked vulnerable in terms of play making and late game decisions, Aphromoo has excelled. On top of that, Dardoch continues to be the x-factor for this team and his level of play will elevate Dignitas to the top level.
Pick: Dignitas
Odds: 2.75
Betting Site: Unikrn
FlyQuest vs. Team SoloMid (Day Three)
FlyQuest have fallen into a slide the past few weeks, but this encounter against TSM is their chance for redemption. After last weeks loss to Dignitas, TSM have shown they can be beat by lesser opponents and a nutty jungler, FlyQuest have both of those components in their wildcard of Josedeodo.
Long term, they are going to want to find better opportunities for victory. As of late, their top laner has proven to be a liability and when Licorice gets focused heavily it gets increasingly difficult for them to find advantages. In this game, they will need to enable Johnsun in order to get ahead and seek out map advantages elsewhere on the basis of that control.
Pick: FlyQuest
Odds: 3.10
Betting Site: Winners.bet
Dignitas vs. CLG (Day Three)
We picked CLG twice last week, and they let us down both times, but there’s something about the strength of schedule this week that gives us hope for an upset. CLG is just starting to get their footing alongside Broxah, and with Finn developing more confidence every week, this might be another opportunity for them to get a much-needed second (and possibly third) victory under their belts.
The Dignitas hype train is just getting started, but something tells us that the steam will be running out soon once teams figure out their strengths. CLG is definitely one of those teams on the list that can surpass Dignitas’ current strength once they get their act together. Let’s see if this is the week they turn the narrative.
Pick: CLG
Odds: 2.81
Betting Site: GG.bet
