Our esports tipster Michael Lee is back with his free esports betting predictions for three Valorant bouts on Monday, May 15. Today he takes a look at a meeting between Leviatan and Cloud9 in VCT 2023 Americas League and two VCT 2023 Pacific League matches, including Talon Esports vs DetonatioN FocusMe and Rex Regum Qeon vs Paper Rex
Find our Esports betting tips below, and make sure to check out Picklebet - Australia's leading esports betting site!
Esports Betting Tips: Monday, May 15th 2023
Leviatan vs Cloud9
VCT 2023 Americas League
Leviatan and Cloud9 are set to meet on Monday, May 15, for the first time this season. Cloud9 enter the match with a 6-1 record in VCT 2023 Americas League, while Leviatan have won just four of their seven games (4-3).
Cloud9 are also in much better form, having won their last four games against 100 Thieves (2-0), NRG Esports (2-1), Sentinels (2-0), and MIBR (2-0), whereas Leviatan have managed just two wins over their last four – against KRU Esports (2-0) and MIBR (2-0). But they couldn't achieve the same success against 100 Thieves (1-2) and Evil Geniuses (1-2).
Cloud9 have looked much better this season, so it's not surprising to see bookmakers price them as the favourites. But I expected them to be priced much lower than 1.53. Cloud9 are arguably the best team in the league and far more consistent than the current leaders, LOUD. On the other side, Leviatan have produced a few good games but have not been too consistent with their recent performances.
I don't see how Leviatan can defeat Cloud9, who are both stronger and in great form, and I have a hard time believing that Leviatan can win a single map against the North American representatives.
Cloud9 -1.5 maps
$2.62 (2 Units)
Talon Esports vs DetonatioN FocusMe
VCT 2023 Pacific League
Following their 0-2 loss against Global Esports on Saturday, DetonatioN FocusMe have one last chance to win a game this season, but it won't come easy. The Japanese squad are 0-8 and have won just two maps over the 18 played, which is by far the worst record in the league.
Even more concerning is that DFM have not looked good in any of their recent games. They won a map against T1 (1-2) in April, but even that was a fluke, so as much as we can try to find something positive from DFM's performances, there isn't much to praise them for.
Talon Esports are in a better spot than DetonatioN Focus Me, but only barely. Talon have won just two games this season (2-5) and are one of the region's weaker teams. They upset Gen.G at the start of the seventh week, but that was when Gen.G struggled, so we can't take much from that win.
This looks like a game Talon Esports should win, and they might, but it could be much closer than expected.
Over 2.5 maps
$1.90 (1 Unit)
Rex Regum Qeon vs Paper Rex
VCT 2023 Pacific League
Paper Rex showed very concerning form early into VCT 2023 Pacific League, but they improved midway through the season and are now 6-2 and on a four-game winning streak. They've beaten Global Esports (2-1), Talon Esports (2-1), ZETA DIVISION (2-0) and Gen.G (2-0), and with that, secured a spot in the playoffs.
Rex Regum Qeon have also struggled early into the season, but unlike Paper Rex, they haven't improved one bit. With a 3-4 record, Rex Regum are a mid-table team at best, and their success do far was limited to weaker teams.
Over the last three weeks, RRQ have won a map against DRX (1-2), defeated Global Esports (2-0), and lost against T1 (0-2), which is a weird mix of results. But I have to admit that RRQ have looked good against DRX, Global Esports and in their win agianst Talon (2-1), which gives me hope that they can be competitive against Paper Rex.
As expected, Paper Rex are priced as favourites to win, but 1.20 is way too pricey. They're a good team, but can be a bit inconsistent, so I prefer Rex Regum Qeon with a +1.5 map handicap.
Rex Regum Qeon +1.5 maps
$2 (1 Unit)
