This article is part of our AlphaDraft LoL series.
AlphaDraft LoL: Thursday Cheat Sheet
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The LCS is back! With best-of-two series coming to Europe and split schedules across multiple streams we begin the final stretch to Worlds 2016. Europe once again looks like a strong region with a top five teams in G2, Fnatic, H2K, Vitality, and Origen. With player movement and some strong roster upgrades for teams like G2 and Fnatic it should be an exciting split. Let's get into Thursday's picks. Fnatic, H2K, G2, and Vitality are the favorites of the day, with UoL being a slight favorite over Schalke. Origen are the best underdogs of the day but with a tough matchup against G2 I'd be hesitant about using anyone from the team. As for the other four teams, they are heavy avoids, with only Schalke 04 looking slightly viable for use in tournaments.
Top Lane: Odoamne (H2K vs. ROC, $7,600):
I give Odoamne the nod over other players on the top teams because you basically know what you're going to get from him. He'll be on a tank, he'll go even or win his lane, and he'll make excellent teleport plays throughout the game. He's the go to for cash games, but if you want to look elsewhere I think Kikis, Cabochard, and Gamsu are also good plays at the top.
Jungle: Trick(G2 vs. OG, $8,000)
Trick is the most expensive jungler but also provides the most upside. Origen should present a challenge for G2, but I expect the defending champions to bounce back from their MSI disaster and get off to a quick start in the EU LCS. Zven and Mithy's move to G2 actually boosts Trick even higher. If looking to go a bit cheaper, Jankos and Spirit are in good spots today as well.
Middle Lane: Perkz (G2 vs. OG, $7,900):
Perkz is only the third highest priced player in his role on AlphaDraft today but is in an excellent matchup. After last split he's proven that he is a top level mid laner and PowerOfEvil doesn't present much of a scare. Nukeduck and Febiven are other good picks at the top.
ADC: Zven (G2 vs. OG, $8,200)
His first game on G2 is against his old team, so the narrative for a big game is already there. Zven and Mithy single handedly carried Origen through the regular season last year and the move to G2 is a pretty massive upgrade assuming they've had time to gel. The fact that he's priced cheaper than Police, a player who really didn't do much in the NA Challenger Series last split, is crazy. Freeze and Rekkles make good pivots.
Support: Hylissang (UoL vs. S04, $7,000)
Hylissang is my favorite cheap support on AlphaDraft today. UoL should be able to take the series against Schalke, though it may be close. Hylissang has quietly been one of the best supports in the EU LCS despite not receiving the credit that other players do. If you have the extra $200, Vander makes a good play as well, but I'd fade using Mithy at $7,200 due to the fact you can only fit three G2 members into your lineup and I'm paying for the carries.
Team: H2K vs. ROC ($3,700)
H2K should be able to 2-0 ROCCAT and are priced cheaper than Fnatic and Vitality. G2 make a good play in the team role, but with only being able to use three players from one team, I'd rather use their carries and look elsewhere for my team. H2K are priced the same as UoL, but the H2K matchup should be more one sided than UoL's games vs. Schalke.