IEM Cologne Playoffs: Predictions & Analysis

The stage is set for the best CSGO teams in the world. A total of six teams have booked their spot in the IEM Cologne playoffs. Four teams are brawling in the quarterfinals while both Natus Vincere and FaZe Clan have qualified straight to the semifinals. In this piece, you will find all there is about upcoming matches including our betting predictions so do not miss out.

Odds in these predictions are provided by Duelbits. For more information, make sure you read our Duelbits review.

MOUZ vs Astralis

Be honest with yourself, were you expecting either one of these teams to qualify for the playoffs? When it comes to IEM Cologne betting, both MOUZ and Astralis were labeled as big underdogs, but they delivered.

From our point of view, we only have one favorite in this one, that being Astralis. They faced off against tougher opponents such as Cloud9, FURIA, BIG, and FaZe. On the other hand, out-of-form Vitality and NIP are not really top opponents, and neither was Heroic, who did not show up for this tournament.

Map veto is going to be interesting. In all likeliness, MOUZ is permabanning Dust 2, while Astralis should remove Vertigo in order to set themselves up for success. We are definitely seeing Nuke played in this match and it is likely that MOUZ goes for this pick. Bear in mind that Astralis did not lose on Nuke in the last six outings. Astralis will have their eyes set on either Inferno or Overpass. We favor them on both of the mentioned maps.

The logic is simple in this one. CSGO odds for this match are almost dead even. This means that this is basically a coin flip. We do not need a lot of information to find a value bet in this match. In our books, Astralis is playing better Counter-Strike right now, their map pool is deeper and blameF is playing like a madman right now. All of this information is more than enough for us to place a wager on Astralis to win this match.

Prediction: Astralis to win

Odds: 1.80

Betting Site: Duelbits

Movistar Riders vs Liquid

We have another coinflip on our hands. In regards to CSGO betting, these are our favorite bets as we do not have to find a lot of information to get a value bet. Without further ado, let’s get straight into the analysis.

After losing to Team Spirit in their opener, Liquid bounced back with three straight victories against 00NATION, Cloud9, and FURIA. On the other hand, Movistar Riders had a dream start to this event by beating Vitality twice and G2. However, Natus Vincere was a step too much for the Spanish CSGO team as their last defeat placed them in the quarterfinals.

Map pool is straightforward for these two squads. Dust 2 and Nuke are definitely out of contention. As for the first picks, Liquid will probably opt-in for Ancient. Movistar Riders, on the other hand, will choose either Inferno or Vertigo.

The fact is, both teams will get a really comfortable pick for themselves. At first, it seems like Movistar Riders have a deeper map pool compared to Liquid, but they could be in a lot of problems on Ancient.

With all of that being said, who does not like a good underdog story? Movistar Riders’ road to the quarterfinals is exactly that. They were the underdogs in every match they played so far and that says a lot. Will they be able to recover from the latest defeat to Natus Vincere or will the Spanish squad perform even worse against Liquid?

To be honest, trying to predict a match-winner is hard for this match as both teams had their ups and downs. Nevertheless, we found a solid bet for you all. Given the fact that Movistar Riders will have a great first pick, and the same applies to Liquid, it is logical to expect a decider in this one.

Prediction: Total Maps Played – Over 2.5

Odds: 1.85

Betting Site: Duelbits