The LEC Enters the Penultimate Week of the Spring Split

By BetOnline March 20, 2020

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Almost every traditional sport is on hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic wreaking havoc across the globe. However, the nature of Esports means that games like League of Legends, CS:GO, and DotA 2 can be played anywhere with an internet connection, so leagues in these games have only had small interruptions in their schedule. After taking a week off, the LEC (League of Legends – Europe) is back in action this weekend, and seven teams are hoping to brighten their playoff picture. You can bet on League of Legends each and every week at BetOnline.

SCHALKE 04 -196
TEAM VITALITY +142

These two teams have both been eliminated from playoff contention. Vitality has been the worst team in Europe this year. They are 1-13 with the worst gold differential per minute in the region, and they haven’t been able to make anything work. The team is a mess from top to bottom, and there is nothing for Vitality to really hang their hat on going forward. The play in the bottom lane and the mid lane hasn’t been great, so Cabochard has been repeatedly punished in the top lane.

Schalke are 3-11, but this team has shown noticeable improvement. Innaxe has been a marked improvement over Forg1ven in the bottom lane, and this team turned a corner after he was subbed in. The German organization has now won three of its last seven games, so look for them to pick up another win here.

ORIGEN -526
SK GAMING +324

This is a total mismatch. Origen are one of the best three teams in Europe, while SK Gaming are a bottom three squad. SK’s only victories have come against fellow bottom feeders Schalke and Vitality, and their lone win condition is AD Carry Crownshot. Sacre and Jenax have done little to strike fear into the hearts of their opponents, while Trick has not inspired much confidence in the jungle.

Origen is one of the best team-fighting teams in the region, and they have a proactive jungler in Xerxe who will make sure the lanes get ahead. They are better at every position than their counterparts in this game, so it would take a small miracle, or some cheese, for SK to pull off the upset. With that in mind, lay the chalk with Origen.

MISFITS GAMING -161
MAD LIONS +118

We’ve seen great things out of Misfits since a disastrous Week 1. Their only losses have been to teams that are more talented than them (Origen, Fnatic, and Rogue), and that should lead to Misfits clinching a spot in the postseason. This is a well-rounded squad, and their smart drafts should give them an edge over a MAD Lions side that is talented but raw.

The Lions should be better in the Summer Split as they form better chemistry. Right now, Orome doesn’t do enough damage on carries in the top lane and Humanoid is a liability in the mid lane. Carzzy can only do so much in the bottom lane, so take the favorite here too.

G2 ESPORTS -833
EXCEL ESPORTS +450

There’s no doubt that G2 is the most talented team in Europe. They were laughably better than the rest of the region in 2019, and when they are on, no one is stopping them. You can make the case that G2 have the best player at every position in Europe, but their lackadaisical attitude in the regular season means it’s difficult laying this much juice.

Excel are fighting for their playoff lives. At 7-7, they need to surpass one of the teams ahead of them in the standings, and they are running out of schedule. This time off has given them extra opportunity to come up with a specific gameplan to topple G2, and they are a decent bet at nearly 5-1.

FNATIC -278
ROGUE +200

Rogue has been one of the most exciting teams in Europe since the 2019 Summer Split. This team doesn’t have a weak link at any position, and any player is capable of leading the team to a win on any given day. All their losses have been against solid teams, but their big problem has been in draft. Stronger teams are outdrafting them and then winning those advantageous matchups even if Rogue has more talented players. A week off may have given Rogue the chance to address those problems though.
Fnatic aren’t that much more talented than Rogue. They have been much better in the draft, and that has been the difference between these two teams this season. My gut says that Rogue will have improved in this phase, giving them a shot at the upset.