LEC July 29: SK Gaming Are Currently Tied in 9th Place Despite Only Losing

• Misfits Gaming have recently sold their LEC seat to Team Heretics
• Mad Lions will face Fnatic in a blockbuster matchup this Friday
• G2 will be looking to continue their impressive run of recent form in the LEC

SK Gaming

SK Gaming vs Astralis Prediction

There is a lot to play for in this match with a playoffs spot up for grabs. SK Gaming are currently tied in 9th place despite only losing one less game compared to Astralis, who are tied with three other teams in 6th place. Every game going forward counts with Astralis winning their last match and SK Gaming losing out. That one game has shifted the perceptions around the two sides.

Astralis had made an encouraging start to the season with some new members added to the roster but they still have some way to go. They’ll head into this match as the favorites. They like to take their time in games, matches often lasting around a little under 35 minutes on average and take their time in the early game with a first blood rate of 36.4% highlighting that. Bot laner, Kobbe, takes up most of the offensive burden in the side with 3.48 kills per game but their standout quality is the average assists that each player offers with no one below the 4.69 mark per game. They’ve become a real team.

SK Gaming will have their work cut out for them. A poor KD ratio of 0.80 sums up where things have gone wrong for them. They’ve been hapless defensively, averaging 12.3 deaths per game, typified by Jungler, Gillias, averaging 3.52 deaths per game, which is simply not good enough.

Everything points towards a win for Astralis, which might just be enough to make sure qualification for the playoffs is in the bag.

Team Vitality vs Excel Pick

Vitality

Team Vitality vs Excel Predictions

Excel have got two wins on the trot and will be using that momentum to get the better of Team Vitality, who also won their last match. The two sides had a similar record in the league last season with nine wins and nine losses and there isn’t that much separating the two this time with Excel getting one win more so far.

Team Vitality have had a bit of good fortune so far, managing to be tied in 4th place and a positive win rate despite having a KD ratio of 0.88, which is quite low compared to Excel’s 1.42. This is only below league leaders, MAD Lions.

Both sides like to finish their matches quickly, under 32 minutes to be precise. There should be a lot of fireworks in this one, which will suit Excel because Team Vitality have been very vulnerable defensively. The latter have averaged 12.6 deaths per game compared to Excel’s 9.6, which is most certainly going to be a factor in this match.

Excel will be banking on Patrik, their bot laner, to do most of the damage. He has averaged 4.15 kills per game this year and Team Vitality will need Labrov, the support, to not be such an easy target. He has averaged 3.27 deaths per game.

Most of the metrics suggest Team Vitality will just have too much to do and this run of wins isn’t going to be sustainable. Excel are a much better side and should win this match.

Rogue vs Misfits Gaming Pick

 Rogue

Rogue vs Misfits Gaming Predictions

This is a match between one side that’s still going strong and another that is going in the opposite direction. Both these sides made it to the top 3 rankings in the league last season but one of them, Misfits Gaming, could be looking at the bottom 3 after this match.

Misfits Gaming have just been woeful defensively this season, average more deaths per game than any side at 15 per game. The support, Mersa, has been killed 4.31 times per game all year and it seems like he’s either not being protected by his teammates, making himself far too vulnerable or both. Something needs to change because it’s not just him but most of the side doesn’t average below 3 deaths per game, which is unheard of for a side that looked decent just a few months back.

Rogue are still going strong, currently tied in first place. They’ve been far from dominant but are just going about business at the moment. Improvements can be made and better teams might take advantage of their 10.8 deaths per game average but it’s not something they should be too worried about heading into this match.

No player in the side has a KDA below 3.93 with Larssen, the mid laner, looking particularly impressive with 6.11 KDA for the year. Rogue are one of the strongest sides in the league with title aspirations. This is the sort of match they’ll be expected to win and they are rightly the favorites heading into it.

Team BDS vs G2 Esports Pick

G2 Esports

Team BDS vs G2 Esports Predictions

This should be a fascinating encounter because G2 Esports are arguably the strongest side in the LEC if they’re in the mood but Team BDS seem to have got the better of them quite in the recent past. In fact, their only win this season has come against G2 Esports.

Having said that, it’s really hard to see anything other than a G2 Esports victory. G2 Esports don’t have a history of going all guns blazing in the league stages but this is an important game because they’ve still got a lot to do to confirm qualification.

They can be a real house of fire, averaging more kills per game than any other side in the league 15.5 per game. That defensive record is a bit concerning at 12.2 deaths per game but a few tweaks should be made. G2 like taking their take as highlighted by the 27.3% first blood rate and average duration of a game, which is a little less than 36 minutes.

Team BDS are just a mess. There’s no other way to put it. 14.2 deaths per game and 8.1 kills per game tells their story. They just can’t seem to compete at this level and it leaves you wondering what the strategy for the team is going into the future. Only NUCLEARINT comes out of this side looking okay with 2.66 kills per game, 2.55 deaths per game, 4.17 assists, and a 2.68 KDA for the year. With better teammates, there’s potential to do better.

G2’s mid-laner caPs should be licking his lips at the prospect of playing against Team BDS. He has averaged 4.2 kills per year and you can expect more of the same in this match. Despite the upset earlier in the year, G2 Esports are heavy favorites heading into this match.

MAD Lions vs Fnatic Pick

Fnatic

MAD Lions vs Fnatic Predictions

This is a massive game for Fnatic, a side that’s always competing at the top, because their playoffs spot might be in the air. MAD Lions are tied on top with Rogue with eight wins in their 11 games and the team in form. They are on a four-game winning streak and will have no interest in losing that.

Fnatic have looked a ghost of their usual self, averaging 13.6 deaths per game. Their offensive unit is still strong with the likes of Upset in the side, who has a ridiculous KDA of 8.06 but this loss of form is seriously concerning. The team might need a bit of shakeup after this tournament but for now, they need to regroup and remember why they’ve been on the most consistent sides in LEC for the last couple of years.

MAD Lions, on the other hand, are cruising at the moment. 14.1 kills per game and 8.7 deaths per game, it couldn’t get any better for them. UNFORGIVEN, the bot laner, has been on fire this season. He has averaged 4.69 kills and symbolizes their aggressive approach. Finishing the game under 32 minutes with a first blood rate of 63.6 and first tower rate of 72.7, they are a real powerhouse at the moment.

It’s not often that Fnatic head into a game as the underdogs but that’s the case heading into this match. MAD Lions have all the momentum heading into this match. It’s a great chance to make a statement about their own improvements and this could be the final nail in the coffin for Fnatic. This is the most exciting match of the day and could be the defining season of the game for both sides. We suggest you go with MAD Lions for this match.

How To Watch The LEC 2022