London Royal Ravens vs Seattle Surge: CDL 2022 Picks

This is a scenario you wouldn’t have possibly envisaged at the end of the 2021 regular season. Both London Royal Ravens and Seattle Surge finished in the second half of the 12-team pool; Seattle ninth and London tenth. Both sides have had a remarkable recovery this year, and are in an excellent position to go all the way.

Seattle have now won at Major III, the confidence of which they have carried with them into this season. In a way, that there were low expectations on both these teams has somewhat helped them free up and play without any inhibitions.

Predictions: Seattle Surge to win

Odds: 1.86

Betting Site: Odds provided by GG.Bet

When: Thursday, August 4, 21:00 CEST

A Fascinating Subplot

London has decimated all early CDL Championship 2022 predictions this year. They finished third at Major I. So in a sense, both sides have had some degree of success that seemed so hard to come by last year. This adds a fascinating subplot to this year’s clash on August 4.

Seattle had the odds with them, even though London finished higher in the COD League standings. They finished fourth with 190 points, a position higher than Seattle, who garnered 185 points. This includes their win at the Major. Much of this turnaround wouldn’t have been possible without a rejuvenated roster, signing of tactically astute coaches and firm backing of the ownership. In a way, this has been an inspiring return for the underdogs.

The winner here will have a tough task. They will have to face either Atlanta FaZe or the New York Subliners, which is quite a task in itself that leaves the possibility of both sides meeting once again in the lower bracket. While this is a route they both would want to avoid, it’s hard to not imagine a scenario where both sides meet once again.

Seattle can be optimistic and focus solely on the positives of winning a Major, sure, but they will also need to be wary of their inconsistent ways. Any momentum or confidence they may have had from that win has now been sucked out going into Stage 4 of the CDL. Surge were poor in the regular season, and emerged from the qualifiers of Major 4 with a solitary win in five games. In sharp comparison, London finished with a 4-1 record to be among the pace-setters in the qualifiers before crashing out.

In many ways now, what would’ve possibly been a lopsided clash a year ago is a clash of equal. They finished just five points adrift in the regular season, so it’s going to be a tough call to predict a winner, although London would believe they have a slight edge.

The 10th place finish forced a clean up as they dropped their roster, including substitutes and the coach. The only members of the active roster that remained were Marcus “Afro” Reid, as Alex “Alexx” Carpenter and Paul “PaulEhx” Avila have both been cut, with Sean “Seany” O’Connor being demoted to the Ravens Academy team.

As for the rest, Zach “Zed” Denyer was dropped as was strategic coach Shane “ShAnE” McKerral. They would hope the end of this season and start of the next gives them time to settle in and find their gears together.

Holes In The Seattle Game

Seattle have looked extremely vulnerable in the qualifiers coming off appearances in the grand finals of Major III. Their only win in these qualifiers was against Paris Legion, a team fighting its own battles. But when they needed a win badly to close out Major IV qualifiers, there was some light at the end of the tunnel. They found their bearings under tough circumstances against FaZe.

Seattle have had the propensity to rely heavily on Amer “Pred” Zulbeari, something they will have to reduce going forward. If Major III was a peak of sorts, the road from there has been anything but a bed of roses. What Seattle has shown in their past is plenty of resilience and while they’re looking to rediscover their dominating self, they can’t be written off.

They entered this year’s CDL Championship as champs, following a big win at the Stage 34 Major. They also came second in the kickoff classic, although you’d argue that result was at the start of the year. But in a year dotted with inconsistencies, it’a crumbs of comfort like those you’d want to stick to in trying to get back to winning ways and rediscover methods that have worked in the past.

Seattle Surge vs London Royal Ravens Predictions

Either way, it should make for intriguing viewing. It promises to be made for some intriguing viewing because you wouldn’t want to be a betting person for this. The CoD odds are so closely packed.