League of Legends: LCS Week 7, Day 1 predictions
By Josh Tyler
FlyQuest (4-8) vs. CLG (7-5)
FlyQuest is technically still in the playoff hunt, but they need to pick up at least two games on two of the four teams ahead of them – leapfrog 100 Thieves, Clutch, Golden Guardians, and OpTic. Unfortunately, in their remaining schedule, they only face 100 Thieves and Clutch, so they’re going to need to start picking up some wins in games they shouldn’t.
On the other side, this is a prime opportunity for CLG to recover from their stumble last weekend and potentially pick up a game on TSM or C9 or both. The big match-up will be in the top lane, between FlyQuest’s best player, V1per, and CLG’s MVP candidate, Ruin.
Prediction: CLG
Team Liquid (9-3) vs. Clutch Gaming (5-7)
Clutch is in a similar position to FlyQuest and 100 Thieves, but they’re the team with the worst chance to get an upset today based on their competition. However, there have been rumblings that Liquid hasn’t been taking their opponents that seriously this split.
To me, however, this is a mistake either in Liquid being arrogant or excusing Liquid’s poor play. Last weekend, they may have won both games, but their match against CLG did not look clean at all. I don’t think they should have any problems today, considering Clutch’s best player – Cody Sun – should have no chance against MVP-candidate Doublelift.
Prediction: Liquid
Echo Fox (3-9) vs. OpTic (6-6)
This is a must-win game for OpTic, who has been drowning in losses following their hot start. Echo Fox might have beaten C9 last week, but that was more due to Cloud9 losing the game than Echo Fox doing things to win it. Fortunately for Echo Fox, there might not be a team in the LCS more willing to knee-cap their own success than OpTic.
Most of the lanes in this game are pretty one-sided (top should be favored to Echo Fox, mid and jungle to OpTic) so a big key will be which bot lane duo can outperform the other: Apollo/Hakuho or Arrow/BIG? I’d favor the Echo Fox duo myself, so I’ll make them my spicy upset pick for the week.
Prediction: Echo Fox
CLG Ruin should be an MVP candidate. dark. Next
The LCS play resumes today at 5 PM EST on Twitch.tv/RiotGames.