Esports action for Thursday, February 11th takes us all around the globe as Michael Lee previews matches from ESPL One CIS Online Season 1, DPC Southeast Asia and OGA DPC South America. Check out Michael Lee's best Esports betting tips below!
ESports Betting Tips - Thursday, February 11th
Team Unique vs NoTechies
ESL One CIS Online Season 1: Upper Division
Team Unique enter this match on a three-game losing streak and are the only team at the tournament without a win. They have already lost to Natus Vincere (0-2), EXTREMUM (1-2) and Virtus.pro (0-2), and based on their performances, it seems highly likely they will add another L to their record on Thursday.
NoTechies are a stack of inactive CIS players, who joined forces to attend a couple of events and while this team does not have a rich history behind them, NoTechies have been playing fairly solid in the little time they have spent together. They have managed to win three out of their last five outings, which includes wins against Winstrike (2-0), B8 (2-0) and most recently Team Spirit (2-1). The only two teams NoTechies weren't able to defeat were Natus Vincere (0-2) and Live to Win (0-2), mainly due to their lack of synergy.
Even though NoTechies managed a far better record at this tournament, I can't agree with the latest betting odds, which price Unique at 3.45. Their squad (formerly NoPangolier) have had some success last month and they aren’t nearly as bad as the betting odds suggest. Bet on Team Unique to win one map!
Team Unique +1.5 maps
$1.76
Vice Esports vs Neon Esports
DPC Southeast Asia Upper Division
Vice Esports got completely stomped by Fnatic on Wednesday when they suffered their third loss of the tournament. So far, Vice have only managed to defeat Execration (2-1) but failed to see the same success against 496 Gaming (0-2), TNC Predator (0-2) and in the aforementioned match against Fnatic.
Unlike Vice Esports, who are struggling to get their wheels spinning this tournament, Neon Esports enter this match with a 4-0 record. Their perfect run includes wins against BOOM Esports (2-0), 496 Gaming (2-1), TNC Predator (2-1) and Execration (2-1), which are quite impressive results for a team of their calibre.
Vice Esports and Neon have already met three times in 2021 and not once have Vice managed to steal the W. The closest they came to achieving that feat was about three weeks ago when they forced a 1-1 stalemate, but that results hardly means much, considering Neon claimed a 2-0 revenge win on Tuesday.
The betting odds offered on Neon are not particularly high and rightfully so. They're a much stronger team than Vice and should win this match more times than not. I would consider betting on Vice had they shown a bit more in their loss against Fnatic, but as it stands now, I have to favour Neon to cover the map handicap.
Neon Esports -1.5 maps
$1.51
Hokori vs Gorillaz Pride
OGA DPC South America
Hokori are a much stronger team to what their record this tournament would suggest. So far they have already beaten Incubus Club (2-1), Crewmates (2-0) and Mad Kings (2-0), and came very close to defeating the current frontrunners 0-900 (1-2).
Gorillaz Pride, meanwhile, managed a 2-2 record in four outings, which includes wins against Crewmates (2-0) and Mad Kings (2-0), and two losses against 0-900 (1-2) and Incubus (0-2). Although Gorillaz Pride's record is not that much different to what Hokori have shown, it would make much more sense to see Hokori as the betting favourites and not the other way around.
It seems like the bookmakers have set the odds based on the brand value alone. And even if that's the case, Gorillaz Pride field only one known player in Benjamín "Benjaz" Lanao Barrios, and four semi-pros who are hardly better than Hokori's squad.
Hokori enter this match without a single defeat in their last 10 outings and even though they mostly faced weaker sides in that stretch, Hokori are at least winning games which is a plus. Gorillaz Pride are 8-2 in their last 10 outings, however, eight of those games happened two or more weeks ago. Hokori to win!