OPL Split 2, Week 6: Match Predictions

So we decided this week it was time to make a change, in place of a Snowball staffer, we have Lauren “Unnie” Elwood, social media and writer for the OPL! Joining Lauren are resident Snowballers Jess (@insearchofshoe) and Emma (@ammeplays) to make this week a ladies edition for predictions.

Tectonic vs Legacy

Lauren:  I will preface this by saying my tips for this split have been embarrassing and half the time I’m talking out of my ass – so enjoy!

Looking at this match up is difficult; you see a “bottom tier” team who has been 2-0ing some of the best, and you see a “top tier” team who, whilst having some huge games and plays under their belt this split, is ranked bottom of the ladder and was 2-0’d by Avant last week.

Despite Legacy’s loss last week I’m going to give them the 2-0. Tectonic struggle to gain a clear and defining lead at the beginning and often need games to hit the 30 minute mark in order to take the victory, and with a team like Legacy who, in most of the games they win, will snowball and take the nexus at the early 20-something minute mark, it makes sense that they will take them down with ease.

W: Legacy 2-0

Jess:  In any match up against Tectonic the question always is “are you ready for Trance?” It is however up to the rest of the team to get on the Trance wagon with Sybol not being able to stand up to the powerhouse that is the MAMMOTH jungler last week. Hopefully this week we finally get to see Value in action to complete their line up but unfortunately only time will tell.

Legacy have not been able to replicate their Rift Rivals success back in the OPL, falling to Avant in a 0-2 loss last week. I think the bottom lane is going to have to step up against Trance and whichever ADC they play this week.

I’m going to give this to Tectonic in a 2-1 because though internationally Legacy stepped up to the plate they just haven’t hit their stride domestically and if Tectonic get to field Value they’ll be in for a rough time.

W: Tectonic 2-1

Emma:  With a reasonably strong performance at Rift Rivals I held a lot of hope for Legacy coming into last week. Unfortunately, it seems that Avant are their kryptonite. They fought hard but it seemed they just couldn’t find their footing in the match last week. I think that they showed some moments of strength though and are well on their way to showing dominant form again in the region.

Tectonic seem to still be missing a piece of their roster in Value, and after last week’s matches against MAMMOTH it’s showing. After dominant performances against some stronger teams it seems that they are wavering. I’m feeling that unless Tectonic get Value in, this series will go to Legacy. With both teams coming in off losses it’ll be a case of who can get into the correct mindset.

W: Legacy 2-1

Avant vs MAMMOTH

Lauren:  Not much to say about Avant v MAMMOTH. Avant dropped a series to Bombers but then stomped Legacy last weekend, and MAMMOTH are coming off a 2-0 win against Tectonic who have been taking down all the top dawgs.

I’ll give this to MAMMOTH 2-1. Mostly because I attribute Avant’s victory over Legacy as more of a “Legacy dropped the ball this time” rather than an “Avant really stepped up today”.

W: MAMMOTH 2-1

Jess:  Last week these teams both picked up hard fought 2-0 wins. MAMMOTH take a stomp and hit third with Avant finally climbing out of the bottom of the leaderboard to sit 6th in the OPL standings. As usual with the 600iq jungler Juves on the rift, the matchup is going to be looking in the jungle with Praelus looking to step up to the best Camille in OCE.

MAMMOTH have shown that they’re not being left behind in the ice age that is the current meta with some impressive victories under their belt with the like of Tectonic, they’re really stepping up in all lanes to cement their spot as 3rd on the leader board. With Chippys in the top lane this may be the ‘Sinderella’ story we’ve been waiting for.

Avant have had a rough start to the split but Avant did show that 2 ADCs were better than one with an amazing victory last week over Legacy. DarkSide was able to return to his roots in typical marksmen with the rest of the team pushing the envelope with exciting picks and compositions to get the full potential of this meta. Pabu and Praelus are going to have to step up against Juves and Chippys to get back to the top of the standings.
Now this one was a dice roll but I’m going to give this to Avant 2-1 to begin the climb to ‘not being 5th’ but MAMMOTH’s form is still at the top of the Juves playmaking arc so only time will tell.

W: Avant 2-1

Emma:  MAMMOTH were ready for Trance last week against Tectonic with a surprising 2-0, showing smart gameplans and drafts. They’re really coming into their own as a team and with Juves on teamfighting, initiating & disrupting champions it shows the team’s strengths in their leader.

Avant has come out of a rough few weeks and 2-0’d Legacy. I think the week break and learning from the Rift Rivals tournament really helped them to reset and prepare for last week’s matches. Coming off a strong win with their bot lane showing some strength and Pabu on supporting champions, this really showed Avant’s strengths.

These games are hard to call will both teams coming in with some serious momentum after last week, however I predict MAMMOTH will reign supreme in this battle.

W: MAMMOTH 2-0

Bombers vs Dire Wolves

Lauren:  The top of the ladder versus almost-bottom-of-the-ladder going up against each other makes a decision quite easy. Whilst Bombers have shown potential this split in taking at least 1 game off most of the top teams and 2-0ing Avant just last week, this one is really a no brainer. Despite the wobbly performance on Rift Rivals Grand Final day, the Dire Wolves have been absolutely bringing it not only throughout the split, but during Group stages of Rift Rivals too (aaaand also last split, and the split before that, and the two splits before that).

I predict a 2-0 to the Dire Wolves, though I would love to see Bombers take a game.

W: Dire Wolves 2-0

Jess:  After their unfortunate loss to Mineski, Dire Wolves bounced back last week to take another victory and keep their domestic win streak going.

With BioPanther classing on his lane opponents in recent weeks and Shern keeping all the boys looked after, this powerhouse team have yet to drop a series. Triple is really coming into his form in the mid lane and Cupcake and K1ng have shown why the bot lane duo are a force to be reckoned with any day on the Rift.

Bombers did take a surprise win over Avant in week 4 to secure their place on the standings but there are a few question marks around the rift. Seb, though a veteran member of the lineup just hasn’t really shown up this split and with the amount of talent in the OPL jungle, he just hasn’t been able to unlock the potential of his team.

This is going to be a Dire Wolves 2-0 unless Bombers can stand up to the powerhouse of the ocean.

W: Dire Wolves 2-0

Emma:  I don’t really think there is much to be said about this matchup. Bombers losing 0-2 to ORDER last week, which is currently the 2nd placed team, now facing the Dire Wolves who look to be unstoppable paints a picture for the bloody match that’s to come.

On the other hand, this matchup opens the door for what would be potentially one of the biggest upsets in OPL history. We’re just over a week away from their year anniversary for their last series loss in the OPL. I believe the Dire Wolves have cool heads about their undefeated streak though, and are definitely the top dogs (wolves?).

W: Dire Wolves 2-0

ORDER vs The Chiefs

Lauren:  The big one of the week; ORDER VS Chiefs is a hard one to nail down. Two teams stacked with huge OCE talent yet both managed to fall to Tectonic, and only separated by 1 point on the ladder.

It’s a tough decision deciding between these two teams, but I’m going to have to give it to ORDER. It’s difficult to hand it to Chiefs after dropping both games to Tectonic in week 4 and going on to be, and I want to say this kindly, pooped on by the Dire Wolves last weekend (sorry).

Whilst ORDER also did lose to the Dire Wolves in their games on the opening weekend, they did manage to absolutely dominate in the game they did take and almost looked to take the previous, and have also been given opportunities to redeem themselves since.

Regardless of the results this matchup is set to be simply whoever “turns up” on the day – as is the unstable manor of these two (what I would call) emotional teams – and I wouldn’t be surprised if my prediction was wrong!

W: ORDER 2-1

Jess:  The battle of titans, former Chiefs members on ORDER vs their old team, the new kids trying to prove they’re as good as their predecessors and Big Swips in the top lane looking to keep his Rift Rivals form going. This is the match I’m most excited for this week. Also, the only 2 teams to have lost to Tectonic.

After their momentous presence at Rift Rivals, the Chiefs hit their form and though losing to Dire Wolves last week, still did show that this team is willing to take the challenge. Big Swips is a monster in the top lane. He’s backed by Babip in the jungle who seems to have complete control over the map in recent weeks. However, with very little 2-0 victories they are tied for 3^rd within inches of ORDER.

ORDER, the dream team, has some of the most dominant and prolific players to ever grace the Oceanic Pro League. Currently placed second on the leaderboard, quickly bounced back after starting the split with 2 losses. Spookz and Swiffer are still able to step up to anyone on the rift and the Sin imports of Rogue and FBI have shown how good they are together and their ability to handle the new meta in the bot lane.

So now my prediction. I think the Chiefs have it 2-1, after Rift Rivals the boys in blue still have fuel in the tank to take it to the boys from Melbourne but they’re not going to go down without a fight.

W: Chiefs 2-1

Emma:  I’m expecting this matchup to be super exciting with some explosive League of Legends to close out the weekend. This is definitely a big fight for second place and with ORDER coming off a 2-0 and the Chiefs coming in from a 0-2 is very exciting.

Chiefs have seemed a bit shaky in the previous weeks games but pulled out the big guns for the Rift Rivals tournament to bring the victory home. I expect them to show up and bring the fight to ORDER. ORDER have had some of the lower placed teams in their schedule recently and it will be interesting to see how they perform against the Chiefs.

Picking the winner for this week is tough, but I’m predicting Chiefs to reign supreme in what will likely be a slugfest of a 3 game series.

W: Chiefs 2-1

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The OPL continues tomorrow for week 6 of the split, Friday 20th July at 5pm on Twitch, or at oce.lolesports.com.