OPL Split 1, Week 4: Match Predictions

Without stalwart Dire Wolves tipster Bernadette ‘Nadette’ Wong, we now have our glorious leader and self-appointed Snowball Esports tycoon Andrew Wray stepping into the hotseat to offer his thoughts on one of the biggest clashes of the round – struggling superteam Mammoth up against Melbourne extraordinaires Order looking to make it six games in a row without a defeat.

Wray will of course be joined, as always, by two of our lovely other Snowball analysts – Emma ‘ammeplays’ van der Brug and Harry ‘hispanicatd_’ Taylor as they break down two more pivotal contests in the OPL. With the first turning point upon us, can our three brave tipsters navigate their way through surprise flex-picks, massive upsets and the continuation of one of the most interesting openings to an Oceanic Pro League in some time?

Emma’s Feature Match of the Week: Dire Wolves v Bombers

Week 3 proved to be much better for my previously very sad looking tips, with a fantastic six out of eight correct tips. I guess that fake confidence really paid off, so now you can just call me Emma ‘fake it till you make it’ Van der Brug.

I’m really hoping it continues forward into this week, because I need to catch up to the other tipsters in the Snowball Esports Scuffed Tips competition… now onto my featured match of the week – Bombers vs Dire Wolves – which I think will be a real test to see how the Wolfpack has grown since the beginning of the split.

After an explosive start to the season the Bombers are in equal first place heading into the fourth round. The team has shown they’re dedicated and they’re ready to fight anyone who gets in their way on their path to success. They seem to be building a good team synergy together and are proving they’re a force to be reckoned with after taking out the surprise powerhouses of Avant Gaming last weekend before knocking over Gravitas.

Dire Wolves have not shown the ‘alpha prowess’ that saw them have a hugely successful 2017 followed by an even more dominant 2018, but that’s to be expected with basically a team full of rookies. They have shown tremendous growth over the last three weeks, and even claimed their first victory over Mammoth last Friday, but ultimately rounded out their week with a 51 minute defeat at the hands of Order. They have shown the ability to stand up against the stronger teams, but without the ability to close out games well it has ultimately been their downfall.

This week I’m going to go for a good old OPL Spicy Tip™, and I’m going to pull a Nadette in her absence and back the Dire Wolves for this match. I think with what they’ve learnt over the past few weeks, and their ability to hold out games into the late game will play in their favour to secure an upset against one of the best teams in the league.

Emma’s Week 4 Tips:

Harry’s Feature Match of the Week: Gravitas v Avant Gaming

This Friday evening will see the first of the Clashes of the Casters-come-Coaches’, with Gravitas and Avant Gaming pitted against each other for the first time in the OPL. Both teams have had wildly different results than what the majority expected, with Rusty’s boys being currently well beyond any expectations in 3rd place with a 4-2 record, whilst EGym and company see themselves behind the ball, currently resting in 5th place with a 2-4 record.

Last week saw the new OPL team fall to their first 0-2 weekend, with a string of defeats against top-tier opponents. Friday afternoon saw them come up against the ladder-leading Chiefs Esports Club in what was essentially a massacre on the Rift as the Chiefs nearly achieved a perfect game, denied only by Jackson “Pabu” Pavone knocking down the outer bot turret as a splitting-pushing Vladimir to stop the game being a full wipe.

Saturday went better for Gravitas fair better, as they came up against the now-second placed Bombers and kept the match competitive for the opening 20 minutes with their early-game composition. Unfortunately, the Bombers eventually out scaled the squad and Gravitas dropped their second game of the weekend to the high-flying super team.

Avant had a more successful weekend despite taking a loss, with Friday night seeing them line-up against fellow top-dogs the Bombers in a back-and-forth brawl which saw the final result come down to a single team fight. The Bombers were ultimately able to win the fight and the game via a Tommy “Ry0ma” Le triple kill. Saturday was a far better time for Avant as the boys in blue and gold secured a quick victory over Legacy to right the ship.

Now, both teams will be looking for key victories this week, and will benefit dearly from grabbing them – Gravitas needs to get back into the winning column after their 0-2 disappointment, and Avant will be looking for the win to continue their quest for the top spot in the standings. Ultimately I see this game going firmly the way of Avant Gaming, who have proven to be a more secure unit this split and always seem to have a secret trick hidden up their sleeves.

Harry’s Week 4 Tips:

Andrew’s Feature Match of the Week: Order v Mammoth

The region’s best armchair analyst, your boy Wray-Z, coming at ya this week with what I’ve got pencilled in as this weekend’s match of the round. I tell you what, Order have felt like an absolute roller coaster to watch, and after they finished the first week 0-2 I thought they were in for a terrible split. However, since having those dark thoughts about Order they’ve been undefeated on stage, chalking up four wins on the trot including a notable victory over the Chiefs in the second week.

While Mammoth are not quite hitting the panic button just yet in their split, a disappointing 2-4 start has seen them struggle to hit their stride so far this split. To make matters worse for Mammoth, this match is on a Friday night where they are yet to win.

I don’t want to get carried away and say this match is season-defining for either team, but it certainly sets the tone and pace for both teams as they continue onward with their campaigns. If Order winning they’re 5-2, and shaping up as contenders for the season, while it would drag Mammoth to a measly 2-5 record and raising just more questions about the star-studded lineup.

On the other hand, if Mammoth get the win the season might not be a write-off so early, and it will give them a much easier platform with which to find form later in the season.

Win and loss records aside for the moment, this match is also dripping with star power. Swiffer is winding back the clock with teams leaving open his ‘best-on-the-server’ Galio, and seeing Simon “Swiffer” Papamarkos go toe-to-toe with former Worlds representative Stephen “Triple” Li is a mouth-watering prospect that will have the neutrals looking forward to the contest.

I’m a real fence sitter on who will win this, but I’ve tipped Mammoth reluctantly. Friday curse or not Mammoth must surely start kicking into gear, and if not they could find their split being a case of too little, too late.

Andrew’s Week 4 Tips:

 

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Find out if our amazing analysts have got some of their tips right this week when the OPL returns this Friday at 4pm AEDT, kicking off with Chiefs against the Legacy.

Watch live on the new RiotGamesOCE Twitch channel, find more information and the schedule at oce.lolesports.com.

Follow Andrew, Nadette, and Harry on Twitter.