Team SoloMid vs Team Liquid

This is where things get a lot more interesting, and we mean that in both good ways and bad. Well, perhaps more bad than good seeing how we're primarily focused on betting here. In short, there's no way for us to confidently predict the outcome of this one game. There's just no other way to put it. Both teams have a shot, both teams are amongst the best and most stacked in North America, and they're also wholly inconsistent. Who'll win is anyone's guess as there are simply too many intangibles lingering in the air.

Neither of these two perennial NA giants have impressed us all too much lately. When they have a good day they're seemingly invincible, blitzing their opponents with ease and getting their hands raised on a moment's notice. That's what we've come to expect from Team Liquid and Team SoloMid, but these moments of brilliance haven't been all that frequent an occurence lately, and it's hard to fully and accurately assess why that's so. They don't lack in talent nor experience, they're motivated *enough*, and have all the right tools to go deep and leave a mark — as one would expect from two age-old North American organizations, both of which are steeped in success and triumph.

But they're struggling, and it's hard to understand why. Whether they're just testing their limits or are regressing potential-wise still remains to be seen. In any case, we're not happy with their performance. Be that as it may, Team SoloMid have been at bit more consistent and capable -- they're equally as flawed and rely too often (and too heavily) on late game team comps, but as the old adage goes: if it ain't broke don't fix it. Whenever they went outside their comfort zone they failed to mount much of an offensive, although it certainly wasn't for a lack of trying. Team Liquid, on the other hand, have performed a bit better once they brought Barney "Alphari" Morris off the bench, but they're nowhere near as dangerous or commanding as we've come to expect. Whether that'll change still remains to be seen, but it's still too early to sound the alarms.

In the end, we'll go with Team SoloMid on this one and hope for the best. No one over at TL seems to be performing optimally other than, perhaps, CoreJJ (who's as consistent and impactful as ever). Jensen, in particular, has been a bit of a letdown after many years of exceptionally, carry performances. Tactical is both hot and cold depending on the day and context, Armao is at best a middle-of-the-pack jungler, and Alphari, talented though he is, still needs a bit of time to fully acclimate to the stage and get back to his dominant, winning ways.

All of that said, they're still amongst the best and most talented teams in the LCS and will surely give TSM a run for their money. Either way, expect an absolute spectacle!