The last weekend of the 2021 LCS Spring Split was somewhat lackluster. Evil Geniuses’ win over Team SoloMid coupled with Immortals’ loss to 100 Thieves on Friday assured that the six playoff teams were decided before the final two matchdays of the split. Only playoff positioning was on the line, and we saw Dignitas stumble to fall out of the top four and into the losers’ bracket.
The four teams playing this weekend will get the opportunity to play again if they lose. The winners of these matches will go on to face each other in two weeks for a spot in the LCS Mid-Season Showdown Finals, while the losers will face Dignitas and Evil Geniuses next week in an elimination series.
2021 LCS Mid-Season Showdown First Round Odds
Team Liquid -205
Team SoloMid +150
This line is interesting considering Team Liquid lost to Team SoloMid in both of the regular season meetings between these two teams, and they finished the split with the same record at 12-6.
TSM lost both of its games with Dignitas and FlyQuest, but this team went 5-1 against the top four teams in the LCS. As we have seen in the past, the most successful organization in North American League of Legends has risen to the occasion despite the memes and constant haranguing to win the biggest games. That makes them the pick at these odds.
We have seen some reserved play from TSM mid laner PowerOfEvil. He has largely played control mages, as that has been the standard this meta. Still, he is responsible for most of his team’s damage per Games of Legends.
Team Liquid mid laner Jensen has had a lot more variation in his picks. He has played largely control mages, but we have also seen games of Yone, Seraphine, Veigar, and Ahri. That might lead to more flexibility for Liquid, yet Seraphine is the only pick that is really viable.
The key for TSM will be the bottom lane. Tactical has not been as great as some thought he would be after replacing the legendary Doublelift, but CoreJJ is still one of the best supports in the world. TSM spent $6 million this offseason to sign SwordArt in order to match up at that position, and he has been solid at setting up bottom laner Lost and succeeding in team fights.
Cloud9 -325
100 Thieves +230
The Thieves finished 11-7 this season and were the logical choice of a first-round opponent for Cloud9. C9 beat 100 Thieves in both of their regular season meetings, and the Thieves are 1-5 against the three teams in the winners’ bracket.
It’s hard to see a way 100 Thieves win this week. Star top laner Ssumday has not been performing well at all this season, and the mid lane is a concern as Damonte and Ry0ma have continually moved in and out of the lineup over the last month.
Jungler Closer has been solid, but the bottom lane has been the real strength with FBI performing extremely well. Huhi’s transition from mid laner to support has gone very well too, giving the Thieves some potential for chicanery.
Cloud9 are coming together at the right time though. Perkz has looked much better in the mid lane, recapturing the form that made him a multiple time champion with G2 Esports. Fudge is playing well in the top lane, and Blaber continues to thrive in the jungle. The biggest concern is the bottom lane as Zven has not been at his best for.
At BookMaker Sportsbook, our team of writers breaks down every betting matchup on the wagering board. Esports are exploding in popularity and BookMaker has you covered for all of your betting needs. From League of Legends to CS:GO, BookMaker has all the Esports betting lines you can hope for. Open an account and get in on the action today!
