DraftKings LoL: Sunday LPL/LCK Cheat Sheet

LPL/LCK Games (EDT)

• 2:00 a.m. JD Gaming vs. LNG Esports (LPL)
• 2:00 a.m. T1 vs. DAMWON GAMING (LCK)
• 5:00 a.m. Bilibili Gaming vs. EDward Gaming (LPL)
• 5:00 a.m. Griffin vs. APK Prince (LCK)
• 7:00 a.m. Royal Never Give Up vs. Invictus Gaming (LPL)
• 8:00 a.m. Afreeca Freecs vs. Hanwha Life Esports (LCK)

LPL - JDG (6-4) vs LNG (4-6)

JD Gaming had a whole week to prepare for this matchup while LNG Esports is on a three-game losing streak, including dropping one to Dominus Esports. LNG's problem is flandre right now considering everything revolves around him which limits the player's decision and upside. JDG, after a rocky start, are coming back into form thanks to their carries, who are playing a little more aggressive and have been engaging better in teamfights. JDG lane for lane has better players than LNG. Even though their objective rate isn't as good, their playstyle will be too much to handle for LNG

Prediction: JDG 2-0

Bets: N/A

JDG Players to target: Kanavi (JNG $7,600), Yagao (MID $7,600), Lokn (ADC $8,000)

EDG (6-4) vs BLG (3-7)

This will be more of a Bilibili Gaming rant and how much I am fading them the rest of the split until they can show me something. BLG has the players to be really good --- their metrics in every objective column have been good except their KP percentage, which is one of the lowest in the league. Their coaching staff looks really lost on what to do in this league because they are not changing anything besides benching, ADD, the best player for this meta. This coaching staff keeps changing their top laner every single time they lose and this hurts the other players as well to try and synergize with. Their drafting late-game style doesn't work because so many teams know how they play, so teams draft for an early game comp and snowball this team. JDG are a top team that can easily exploit BLG in this matchup.

Prediction: ED 2-0

Bets: N/A

EDG Players to target: Scout (MID $7,800), Hope (ADC $8,400), Meiko (SUP $5,800)

RNG (7-3) vs IG (9-1)

This might be one of the highest kill games of the slate, and they have been rivals for a long time. I'm throwing stats away for this one because while RNG is dominating Invictus Gaming in a lot of categories including KDA and Dragon rate, it's outlier considering IG games tend to be more bloody. As a result, the junglers will need to be proactive in this game. Right now I think I would lean RNG in this scenario because XLB has looked real good again recently, and Leyan still has problems with his early pathing which helps XLB in the long run. RNG knows how to play the game and they are going to prep for whatever IG will throw at them, and the past two years RNG has had their number. If RNG can handle the solo laners of IG and force IG to teamfight, I believe RNG can come out on top in this matchup even though this might not be a fantasy gold mine.

Prediction: RNG 2-1

Bets: RNG ML (+180)

RNG Players to target: XLB (JNG $5,200), Xiahou (MID $6,200), Betty (ADC $7,000) 

LCK - T1 (12-2) vs DAMWON (7-7)

Sunday's LCK is really straight forward, and this is one of the games that we can just get to the point. DAMWON has looked a lot better with Ghost in their bot lane, but their major pain is playing clean. When I say playing clean, I mean by their rotations, teamfight, and objective controls. DAMWON remind me of a broke IG where they love to fight and create chaos, but in an LCK full of by-the-book players, they have a tough task winning games. T1 is the best team right now and I think they are a step ahead than the two teams behind them. They have the laners and cleanliness to beat any team in this league, and should be a Worlds contender.

Prediction: T1 2-0

Bets: N/A

T1 Players to target: Teddy (ADC $7,800), Effort (SUP $5,600)

APK (5-9) vs Griffin (2-9)

This is my LCK gem of the night because APK has proven me wrong. They don't have the best players, but their coaching staff is giving them the best-case scenario every draft and this team is taking it, and transferring it into their gameplay. Week by week this team is getting better and it starts with Flawless, who used to be a jungler in the LPL. I think his synergy with the team has finally clicked because LPL junglers are generally better than other regions by virtue of the way they manipulate the map to help their team. I love APK on this slate, especially considering I think other people might go somewhere else because of the price tag.

Prediction: APK 2-0

Bets: APK -1.5 (+175)

APK Players to target: ikssu (TOP $6,400), Flawless (JNG $6,600), Hybrid (ADC $7,600)

HLE (4-10) vs AF (6-10)

A game where both teams are trending in the same direction --- spiraling downward. Afreeca Freecs realistically should be a better team, but we have seen the same mistakes over and over and they haven't been able to figure it out just yet. Hanwha Life Esports is coming back down to earth after a hot start, and this team has so many roster problems they can't find their own identity. This is a stay away game because both teams are reluctant to swap players in and out when things go wrong.

Prediction: AF 2-1

Bets: N/A

AF players to target: Kiin (TOP $6,600)

Stacks

Cash: EDG/JDG, APK/JDG 

GPP: RNG/JDG, RNG/EDG