League of Legends LCS Spring 2019 Odds and Picks

• Will the new Liquid dominate the LCS?
• Were 100 Thieves’ offseason pickups enough to challenge for the title?
• We’ve rounded up the value picks to make the playoffs in the LCS Spring Split

The LCS Spring Split is back yet again, kicking off in Los Angeles on January 26th. The first split of 2019 should wield some interesting results, as there were many roster moves made in the offseason.

Liquid got even stronger, 100 Thieves proved they’re not messing around, and a few teams that placed poorly last season managed to pick up some big time players. It should be a good year in the LCS, but early on it seems like it may be a foregone conclusion who is going to come out on top when all is said and done.

2019 LCS Spring Split Odds

New Liquid, Same Results?

After sweeping the LCS last season, Liquid went into Worlds the best hope for North America. They looked like they may be the best team NA has ever sent to Worlds, and everyone had high expectations for the squad.

In the end they ended up bowing out with a disappointing 9-12th finish, and decided to make some changes in the offseason. Steve pulled out that big ol’ bag of Liquid cash and went out and picked up Jensen from Cloud9, and CoreJJ from Gen.G.

Jensen leaves Cloud9 to join Team Liquid: https://t.co/ztM2jlyXzJ pic.twitter.com/Y0gnwD1IB3

— Dot Esports (@DotEsports) November 20, 2018

Liquid pretty much built an all-star team, forming arguably the most talented North American roster of all-time. Jensen truly is one of the best midlaners in LCS history, and the new botlane duo of CoreJJ and Doublelift are probably giving rival botlaners nightmares heading into the LCS Spring Split.

Liquid pretty much built an all-star team, forming arguably the most talented North American roster of all-time.

With a team full of players of the highest caliber, it won’t take long for Liquid to assert their dominance in the LCS Spring Split. There may be some teams that can challenge Liquid in a game here and there, but when it comes down to it I just don’t see this roster losing when it’s all on the line come playoff time.

Expect Liquid to come out on top in the LCS Spring Split, and take home their third consecutive LCS title.

Pick: Liquid (-125)

Odds to Reach the Finals in the LCS Spring Split

Rematch of the 2018 LCS Spring Final?

Out of all the LCS teams other than Liquid, 100 Thieves are the ones who made the most noise in the offseason. Moving Ryu to an assistant coaching position, the squad picked up former CLG midlaner, Huhi. But they weren’t done there. 100T then decided to add Bang, from SKT T1, forming their own all-star squad to compete with the likes of Team Liquid.

The two-time World Champion, Bang, should bolster the 100T botlane which was an area of struggle in their inaugural season. Alongside one of the most decorated supports in North America, aphromoo, the pair should roll over the botlane of pretty much any other team in the LCS.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpY06Sdx7TI

The botlane isn’t the only area you’ll need to be worried about with 100 Thieves, as they have probably the best toplaner in the LCS as well, Ssumday. The Korean toplaner managed to win game after game last year for 100T as he proved to always come up with a clutch play that literally turned the game upside down.

If Ssumday is able to play at the same level in the LCS Spring Split as he did last season, 100 Thieves should stand the best chance to meet up with Liquid in the finals.

Picks: Liquid (-1200), 100 Thieves (-225)

Odds to Reach the Playoffs in the LCS Spring Split

New Faces Come Playoff Time?

There are some teams that are more or less a shoo-in to make playoffs in the LCS Spring Split. Liquid, 100 Thieves, TSM, and Cloud9 all are virtually locks to make playoffs, so let’s take a look at what teams may end up sneaking into the playoff picture with the two remaining spots.

The team with the best chances of making it into one of the final two playoff spots is Clutch Gaming. They picked up four new members in the offseason headlined by former Echo Fox toplaner, Huni. This roster definitely has the skill to make it into the playoffs of the LCS Spring Split, it just really depends on whether they can put it together in game.

It's official, @Huni is joining Clutch Gaming!

RT to welcome him to the squad! pic.twitter.com/nrqEboSF73

— Dignitas LoL (@DignitasLoL) November 27, 2018

The other spot up for contention I believe will go to one of two teams, CLG, or Golden Guardians. CLG managed to pick up PowerOfEvil from OpTic, which should give them the firepower to compete with some of the best in the LCS after an underwhelming year in 2018. Golden Guardians on the other hand have a sneakily good team with potential to squeak into playoffs.

CLG managed to pick up PowerOfEvil from OpTic, which should give them the firepower to compete with some of the best in the LCS after an underwhelming year in 2018.

Golden Guardians picked up Hauntzer, Froggen, and Olleh to fill out their roster heading into the LCS Spring Split, which is a definite upgrade from their squad last season. They are pretty underrated heading into the split, and at +400 they provide the most value to reach the playoffs. They are definitely a team that should be looked at to make the top six in the LCS Spring Split.

Picks: 100 Thieves (-100000), Liquid (-50000), TSM (-5000), Cloud9 (-2000), Clutch (-300), Golden Guardians (+400)

Odds to Finish Bottom 3 in the LCS Spring Split

Bottom of the Pile

Heading into the LCS Spring Split there are a few teams that jump right out in the conversation of who will be the worst. Echo Fox, FlyQuest, OpTic, and CLG are all teams that I could see cracking the bottom three in the first LCS Split of 2019.

I would say that of the four teams mentioned, CLG, has the best chance of evading the bottom of the table, but I believe it will be up in the air between them and OpTic. Look for Echo Fox and FlyQuest to grace the bottom, as they are more than likely in for a rough year in 2019.

Picks: Echo Fox (+125), FlyQuest (-2000), OpTic (+350)

Odds to Finish Bottom in the LCS Spring Split

Just the Worst

The title that nobody ever wants, the last place award. Heading into the LCS Spring Split I would say that the choice here is Echo Fox.

After a pretty successful 2018 season that saw them place 3rd, and 5-6th, in the Spring and Summer splits respectively, Echo Fox heads into the 2019 season in a pretty bad spot. The organization has been in shambles for quite some time, as there are problems internally within the company. I feel like the dysfunction of the organization will reflect in their teams play in the upcoming LCS Spring Split.

Expect Echo Fox to end up in the basement in the LCS Spring Split.

Pick: Echo Fox (+600)