It’s time for the spring playoffs in the League of Legends League Championship Series, and we’re well into the first round of play. If you’re a sports betting enthusiast who doesn’t quite know what League of Legends is, it is a multiplayer video game designed for a battle arena format. Riot Games took their inspiration from a mod of Defense of the Ancients, and when you play, you are a “champion” who has a unique set of strengths who joins a team that tries to fight another team, also populated with champions. The idea is similar to the old-school game of “Capture the Flag,” except your team is trying to destroy the center of the other team’s base, called the Nexus. The League of Legends North American (NA) Academy has finished its spring season and is in the middle of playoffs. Let’s take a look at the semifinal matches, set for this weekend. Cloud 9 Academy will face TSM Academy in one semifinal, while Dignitas Academy and Evil Geniuses Academy will square off in the other semifinal. Here the League of Legends Odds for this week.
League of Legends NA Academy League Weekend Matches
- Cloud 9 Academy vs TSM Academy
- Dignitas Academy vs Evil Geniuses Academy
Academy Spring Standings
Place Team Record- 1 Cloud 9 14-4
- 2 Dignitas 12-6
- 3 Evil Geniuses 11-7
- 4 TSM 10-8
- 5 100 Thieves 9-9
- 6 Team Liquid 8-10
- 7 Golden Guardians 8-10
- 8 FlyQuest 7-11
- 9 Immortals 7-11
- 10 Counter Logic Gaming 4-14
Playoff Format
Top six teams advance to the playoffs, with the top two teams earning a bye to the second round. This is a single-elimination tournament.
First Round to Date (Best of 5 series)
- Evil Geniuses d. Team Liquid, 3-0
- TSM d. 100 Thieves, 3-0
Players to Consider
Top Player: Lourlo, Dignitas Academy
Damonte is the biggest star of this team, but this is the time when the second-best player emerges as the star is the focus of the opposing strategy. Lourlo is often found out of the limelight but doing all of the worker bee tasks that help his team win.
Jungle Performer: AnDa, Evil Geniuses Academy
AnDa has made a terrific pair with 5fire, giving the novice plenty of opportunities to shine in the first 12 matches. After that, AnDa formed a new synergy with GIyuu after that mid came onboard. Their seamless transition was a major part in Evil Geniuses’ success down the stretch.
Mid: Damonte, Dignitas Academy
Damonte has seven Academy Standouts appearances. As mentioned above, he has been the big playmaker throughout Academy during this split. However, he needs to learn to turn down some opportunities, because he has a tendency to force outplays that his team does not need because he thinks his own effort is always enough to get over the top. He is usually right at the Academy level but will get exploited once he goes up.
Bot: K1ng, Cloud9 Academy
K1ng is one of the best players from Oceania who have entered the Academy this year, even better than Shernfire, Triple and Fudge. Through his first eight weeks, he posted a DPM of 683, at least 130 better than any other starter at bot in the Academy.
Support: Diamond, Cloud9 Academy
Diamond is K1ng’s partner and has four Academy Standouts appearances of his own. He has had plenty of chances to make a name for himself, and he has shown a ton of quality outside what he has helped K1ng to accomplish. Sometimes he plays weak side K1ng, and at other times he collaborates with Inori to ensure that K1ng gets fed. He is the only All-Star on the first team who has never started in an elite pro league. Will that change after this season?
