Betting: July 11th (LCK)

LOL Champions Korea 7/11 Schedule:

Afreeca Freecs (-152, -1.5 @ +206)
@ Over/Under 33:00, Total Kills 19.5
Griffin (+115, +1.5 @ -278)


KT Rolster (-294, -1.5 @ +106)
@ Over/Under 33:00, Total Kills 20.5
Hanwha Life eSports (+210, +1.5 @ -145)



Moneyline: Afreeca Freecs -128  (5 units)

PROP: Exact Afreeca 2-1 @ +233 (2 units)

I'll admit that I thought Afreeca would fare the worst of the Korean teams at Rift Rivals but they thrived and showcased, perhaps, why they could be in the running for best team in the world. I was very impressed with the poise Afreeca showed against unknown opponents. Truthfully I find Afreeca to be the team that just knows the other Korean teams well and is "very good but not great" as I've said in the past but I was wrong. We'll see how the rest of the year shakes out and all but I'll admit I was impressed at their first international showing although again, Rift Rivals has nothing but pride on the line. Anyway onto this match.

Griffin had a little more than a week to retune their engine and even got to see some film on Afreeca in the process while Afreeca had to play in China. Travel is a thing, even if it's not too far and there's a chance Griffin catch Afreeca on their way back but I have a feeling this will be the opposite effect. Afreeca are going to feel emboldened by their great showing at Rift Rivals and I feel they're the better team here even without side selection. In my opinion, which is why you're here, I think Griffin are still due for some more regression to the mean and while they're exciting and appear to be a real contending team I still think they've got a ways to go before I'd feel more confident about them taking down Afreeca or better. I got in on this line yesterday when it was at -128 but I don't feel too terribly about -152 either. 

Ultimately this boils down to whether you think Afreeca will have a down game or a Rift Rivals hangover or whether they'll get back to business. I'm also baking in some more regression for Griffin. This wager is more like a 3 unit wager if you think Griffin are a great team and honestly I could respect taking them now that this line has spread further apart but I'm not a believer yet while Afreeca looked excellent last weekend.


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Handicapped: KT Rolster -1.5 @ +113 (5 units)

PROP: Hanwha to win one map? NO @ +119 (1 unit) (this was an add on and had better odds once posted)

KT also looked good at Rift Rivals and to me, while I love Hanwha Life as the "tryhards" of the LCK I just think international competition was a reminder to this KT team that they aren't invincible and they're going to have to fight for their spot at worlds and it won't be an easy ride if they get there. I'm really riding the reverse hangover effect of all the Rift Rivals teams this week. I feel like this was yet another wake up call for Korea that they aren't just going to roflstomp the rest of the world anymore with China being as strong this season as they are. I expect the elite teams to start stepping into form as they always do during the second half of the Summer Split and I think KT Rolster is one of those teams.