Natus Vincere vs FaZe Clan IEM Katowice betting analysis
Natus Vincere is a clear favorite at IEM Katowice, but FaZe Clan won’t go down without a fight.
IEM Katowice is in full swing, and the $1 million LAN has already brought a ton of great betting matchups. The most exciting match of February 20 will be a showdown between the favorites and a top-tier contender with plenty to prove. Natus Vincere has shown small signs of weakness throughout the group stage, and FaZe Clan is looking to capitalize on its momentum to score a massive upset. Our betting analysis reveals the best way to profit off the match.
This best-of-three IEM Katowice match will take place on February 20 at 12:30 p.m. CST. Counter-Strike: Global Offensive fans interested in pick ‘ems and fantasy should check out PrizePicks.
Natus Vincere IEM Katowice betting analysis
Na’Vi needs no introduction, but longtime fans waiting for the IEM Katowice playoffs may be surprised by their current performance.
Natus Vincere nearly lost in the very first round of the group stage, losing on Nuke for the first time in months to ENCE of all teams. The reigning Major champion is still a massive threat and should be favored in the sportsbooks, but an upset from FaZe Clan is definitely on the table.
Map three on Overpass was marked by a considerably poor performance from Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyliev. After a poorly-timed computer mishap, the star AWPer scored zero kills in the first eight rounds. He brought it back on CT to a solid 20-17 scoreline for a 16-14 finish.
PrizePick will likely rate s1mple highly for kills, but his prior performances could leave fans disappointed. As with any AWPer, going under on headshots is also a good idea.
FaZe Clan IEM Katowice betting analysis
Our previous IEM Katowice betting analysis piece called FaZe Clan beating Team Liquid down to two of the three maps. Tragedy struck when newest addition Robin “ropz” Kool revealed he had failed mandatory health tests and could become unable to play.
But a last-minute clearance has confirmed that ropz will play in FaZe Clan’s series against Natus Vincere. It’s hard to say if FaZe would be able to pull off an upset of this caliber without him.
With ropz back in contention, FaZe Clan definitely stands a chance against Natus Vincere. It all depends on if FaZe’s other fraggers show up big time or crumble against the toughest competition possible. The absence of shot-caller Finn “karrigan” Andersen makes this roster rely on pure firepower. Designated sniper Helvijs “broky” Saukants boasts a 1.56 KD ratio after six maps in Poland. Going over on his kills is a great fantasy CSGO strategy on PrizePick.
NAVI vs FaZe IEM Katowice betting pick
The last time FaZe Clan and Natus Vincere dueled was way back in September of 2021 at BLAST Premier: Fall Groups. That match ended 2-0 for Na’Vi, but FaZe’s roster looks quite different at IEM Katowice.
As for maps, both teams favor Mirage and Overpass. Natus Vincere should feel comfortable on Ancient and Inferno, and despite earlier losses FaZe should try to avoid Nuke. That leaves a likely trio of Mirage, Overpass, and Ancient if FaZe feels like taking a risk. The lack of a captain to oversee the pick phase makes that more likely.
Oddsmakers have this pegged as Natus Vincere’s match to win, but there is a real chance that FaZe sweeps the rug out from under it. Winners.bet has Na’Vi at 1.34 with FaZe at 3.00, but the real odds aren’t quite that titled. FaZe has shown up big with pieces of its roster missing, and a narrow win over ENCE should have s1mple fans worried. Playing the odds with a small bet on FaZe is worth the risk considering the opportunity to triple your money.
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