LPL And LCK 2022 Picks, Predictions, Odds February 19

• Hanwha Life Esports languishing with a 2-7 record in the LCK
• OMG start as massive favorites in their matchup against Team WE
• Top Esports face JD Gaming in the blockbuster matchup from Saturday in the LPL

Hanwha Life Esports vs DRX Pick

Hanwha Life Esports (moneyline)

Hanwha Life Esports vs DRX Predictions

Hanwha Life Esports have a lot of work to do. With three losses on the bounce, they have slipped to the 10th spot with a 2-7 overall record. When they square off against DRX, it will be an uphill battle against a team looking to finish right on top.

DRX began the spring split poorly, having lost three in a row, but the turnaround over the next two weeks have been sensational. Six wins on the bounce have vaulted them to third. This makes DRX the overwhelming favourites going into this match Hanwha finished third last year, while DRX finished fifth. To get to the same level, both sides will have a lot of work to do.

Recent Form

DRX head into the clash on the back of an impressive 2-1 win over Damwon. The match was neck-and-neck for most parts of the final game.Then, DRX brought out their A game when it mattered. Overall, they collected 79k gold to Damwon’s 74.2k, 11 kills to Damwon’s 9 in addition to capturing three more towers than their opponents. This winning momentum from a game that was on a knife’s edge will stand them in good stead heading into the clash against Hanwha.

Hanwha Life Esports will head into the game on the back of a 2-0 loss to Kwangdong Freecs. In both games, Hanwha were completely undone. DuDu and SamD’s performances in the offence came as some kind of consolation in an otherwise disappointing performance.

Hanwha’s Lack Of Defence

Hanwha’s issues stem from their inability to convert assists into big kills. The stats back this theory. SamD’s kill rate of 3.17 is the highest among everyone in their line-up. This can be acceptable if your kill rate is 1 or thereabouts. In SamD’s case, the death rate is pegged at 2.13. This points to his inability to stave off a counter from the opponents.

Vsta has a terrific assist rate of 6.39, but inferior kill and death rate. Sure, different players have different strengths, but even as a package, Hanwha’s issues stem from their inability to come together and bring their A game out in unison. This is something they will want to correct quickly.

Deft The Leader for DRX

DRX have the offensive proficiency of Deft to lead the way. His chart topping 4.14 kills is by far the best among any of their players. He marries this with a death rate of 1.86 and 4.1 assists, along with a KDA of 4.44 and creep score of 346.71.

In BeryL, they have a fine support role. Inspired by G2 Esports, he lands an impressive assist rate of 7.25, which is among the best across teams competing in the spring split. It’s this fine fusion of attack and defence that has helped them thrive, along with handy contributions from the rest of the pack.

Kwangdong Freecs vs Fredit Brion Pick

Kwangdong Freecs (moneyline)

Kwangdong Freecs v Fredit BRION Predictions

Kwangdong Freecs were languishing at the bottom of the pile last week, but two back to back wins have somewhat revived their fortunes. All said, they are still eighth on the table and have a long way to go if they are to get into the top six, and thereby come into playoff contention.

Their opponents Fredit BRION are at sixth, having won three out of their six. Unlike Kwangdong, they have somewhat slipped having lost two of their most recent outings. Therefore this is a contest between a side making an upward movement against one that is in the midst of a stutter. This makes it a contest of equals. Fredit BRION finished 10th last year, so they come with the mindset that the only way is up.

KDF’s Upswing

Head coach Cain had put down their poor start to their inability to interpret and adapt to the meta properly. He admits to have been hurt by their start but maintains the realistic goal is to reach the playoffs. Bot laner Teddy pointed to their improved communication and quicker decision making to their upturn in fortunes.

One of their wins, against Nongshim RedForce, wasn’t against the best roster, but at least it allowed them to execute plans and develop a winning synergy. Having overcome their early game macro and skirmishes, they appear a lot more settled.

Key Players

Lava, the mid laner, is the trump card for Fredit BRION. The South Korean international has a modest record overall, but has shown glimpses of promise so far this Spring Split. He lands 3.26 kills on an average per map, along with 1.83 deaths and 4.78 assists. He combines these with a KDA of 4.4 and creep score of 342.26, which is the highest among all players competing in the match. Lava has UmTi, the jungler, to piggyback on.

UmTi’s, like every jungler, is a unique role. He spends most of the time tucked away between the lanes, fighting neutral monsters, gathering buffs and finding ways to flank the opponents. The role can sometimes fly under the radar, but he has done well so far. He lands 2.22 kills, 1.96 deaths and 5.61 assists, along with a KDA of 4 and creep score of 197.09.

Teddy – KDF’s Record Holder

For KDF, the bot lane is manned by Teddy, who has a kill rate of 3.5, death rate of 1.5 and 3.22 assists, along with a KDA of 4.48 and creep score of 334.94. Teddy is known for having the highest CS rating in League of Legends history, with a score of 1456 creep kills, breaking Zven and Bang’s record of 946 and and 972 respectively. In general, he is known for always having high CS per minute statistics. Interestingly, his screen name comes from his love for stuffed toys.

OMG vs Team WE Pick

Team WE (moneyline)

OMG vs Team WE Predictions

In a clash between two unpredictable sides, OMG will be looking to get back to winning ways after two successive losses. Team WE will try to build on their win that has breathed some life into a campaign that promised to turn pear-shaped even before the halfway mark.

OMG are currently ninth, having lost more (5) than they’ve won (4). Team WE began with five successive losses, but somehow managed to turn the tide in their most-recent outing. They’re scraping the bottom currently. It’s no wonder than that WE are the ones who are against the odds, and by a massive margin. Expect OMG to return to winning ways.

WE Finally Off The Mark

OMG were beaten in just two games by JD Gaming. The second game was particularly brutal on them, where they were thoroughly outclassed in every facet. OMG managed 36.3k gold to their opponent’s 55.5k gold, landed 2 kills to JD’s 24; captured 1 tower to JD’s 10. They also didn’t manage a single baron, inhibitor or dragons.

In comparison, Team WE, although down and out, put up a much-improved show in securing a 2-1 win over LGD Gaming. The first two games were neck-and-neck, before WE found their inner strength to flex their muscle and take the third game comfortably courtesy stellar efforts from Shanks and beishang.

Key Players

OMG will rely on Able for offensive proficiency. Labelled one of the three genius ADCs of the LPL, he has an impeccable record. A kill rate of 4.29, death of 2.71 and assists Tate of 4.71, along with a KDA of 3.32 and creep score of 273.48. Creme lends valuable support in the mid lane with a Kill rate of 3.86, 2,52 deaths and 5.29 assists, to go with a KDA of 3.62 and creep score of 257.14. Team WE lack proficient bot laners to put it mildly. They’re still in a developmental stage, especially against the top sides. Shanks has the best record: a kill rate of 2.35, death of 2.29 and assists of 4.94, along with a KDA of 2.18 and creep score of 268.82. The rest of the players need to find a way to shore up their records, which is a byproduct of doing the small things right, like setting plans and being able to execute them. WE have some distance to traverse before they can compete against the top sides.

Bilibili Gaming vs Anyone’s Legend Pick

Bilibili Gaming (moneyline)

With four wins in seven, BiliBili Gaming are currently seventh on the table. Their opponents, Anyone’s legend, are languishing in the bottom of the pile, currently 12th with three wins and six losses. Finishing within playoff contention seems tougher by the day, and nothing but a series of wins will help Anyones Legend make the upward move. Last year, BiliBili finished 11th with a 6-10 record. They’re favourites here by a clear margin.

Uzi’s Remarkable Return

For Bilibili, much of the talk around their season has revolved around one of the league’s most prolific names, ADC Jian “Uzi” Zi-Hao. He makes his return to competitive play by making his debut for the team. The 2018 MSI champion joined the franchise during the off-season. It took a while for him to get into the thick of action, much like it happened when he was part of Royal Never Give Up.

Bilibili Gaming eventually named in in the line-up lost their opening loss to Invictus gaming, thereby marking his LPL return after nearly 900 days. He made a mark in his very first outing. He claimed a triple kill and finished the game with 11 kills, 4 deaths and 17 assists to mark a winning return. Now, expectations have risen several fold. Can he live up to it? This is a second wind of sorts. He retired in 2019 due to head and shoulder injuries. The three years off has rejuvenated his drive for League of Legends.

The Betty & QiuQiu Effect

Anyone’s Legend have Betty’s dominating presence in the line-up to bank on. The Taiwanese bot laner has the best record among all his colleagues. Sure, the win percentage is just a lowly 37.5, but his overall proficiency is still on the higher side.

He lands 4.83 kills, 1.88 deaths and 5.42 assists, along with a KDA of 5.47 and creep score of 287.63. QiuQiu is the perfect foil in the defence; his efficiency when it comes to assists stands at 8.25 on an average per map. These are terrific numbers whichever way you look at it.

Top Esports vs JD Gaming Pick

Top Esports (moneyline)

Top Esports v JD Gaming Predictions

After finishing in the top three in the 2021 Spring Split, much expectations were riding on Top Esports for a similar performance. While there isn’t much to suggest they can’t replicate their success of last year, they’ve started their year on an inconsistent note, having lost four out of their seven matches to currently be placed 10th. Their opponents JD Gaming were equally good, finishing a spot below Top Esports at fourth last year.

They are on track to at least achieve that. Currently placed sixth with four wins in six, they hold the aces and the bookmakers’ favour going into this contest. Having won four games on the bounce following an insipid start, the possibilities are endless. How long can they extend this streak? They are in with a genuine chance of leading the pack.

Hope’s Impeccable Return

In such a short span of time, Hope has left his imprint with the franchise already. The bottom lane moved to JD Gaming after spending four years with Edward Gaming, first primarily featuring with EDG’s development squad and youth team before making the transition to the main side.

The comeback has been that much sweeter because, at Edward, Hope only enjoyed moderate success. While his returns were prolific while plying in the development division of the LDL, it wasn’t a benchmark to judge him by. Since his debut for JD, he has managed to land 5.78 kills, 1 death and 7.11 assists along with a KDA of 12.89 and creep score of 295.67.

Top Esports will rely on JackeyLove’s offensive proficiency. He has a win rate of 41.2%, but has decent numbers to boot. He lands 4.47 kills, 2.76 deaths and 5.65 assists, along with a KDA of 3.66 and creep score of 291.47. He will need the others to play tag team if they are to challenge JD’s might.

How to Watch LPL and LCK 2022 Spring Split