IEM Rio 2023 is already in full swing, with just a couple of days separating us from the tournament’s esports schedule and the playoffs, where the world’s top CS:GO teams will duke it out for the title and the lion’s share of the prize pool.
And even though a handful of teams are already eliminated, there are still many great betting opportunities and CS:GO tournament predictions to look at.
A Fierce Battle In Group A
IEM Rio 2023 Group A has already produced a few exciting games with unexpected results, but as we get closer to the finish line, just four more teams remain in the race to claim a spot in the playoffs. BIG will take on Natus VIncere in the upper bracket final, while Ninjas in Pyjamas will clash with Heroic in the lower bracket final.
Natus Vincere and BIG are already guaranteed a spot in the playoffs, having made the upper bracket final, but winning the series will be very important for their chances to go all the way. As the latest IEM Rio 2023 odds show, Natus Vincere are expected to win the affair with BIG priced as heavy underdogs, but they’re not to be overlooked.
BIG’s Winning Streak: Can They Keep It Up?
BIG have already beaten MOUZ and Heroic (2-1), proving that they’re the real deal and just as competitive as NaVi, who have won against the MongolZ and swept Ninjas in Pyjamas in the semifinals. Yet despite showing similar form, the esports stats favor NaVi, who have achieved much more this season and enter this match as the team to beat.
On the other side of the bracket, we’ll see Heroic clash with Ninjas in Pyjamas in what should be a close and exciting affair. Heroic are priced as the favorites according to IEM Rio 2023 odds; however, they’ve looked just as disappointing in the first few rounds as NiP, suggesting that this series won’t be as one-sided as CS:GO odds suggest.
Stacked Group B
Over in Group B, the battle for the playoff tickets looks even more exciting, as six strong CS:GO teams remain in the race for a playoff berth. In the upper bracket, we’ll see FURIA clash with Cloud9 for a direct semifinals bye, whereas the lower bracket still has two more series left to be played before the lower bracket final.
FURIA and Cloud9 have both looked unstoppable so far in this tournament. FURIA edged past Fnatic in the opening round but then swept FaZe Clan in the upper bracket semifinals to establish themselves as serious title contenders. Cloud9 have looked just as good, with two commanding victories against MIBR and OG.
CS:GO Odds in Favor of Cloud9
Despite having to beat weaker teams, Cloud9 enter this match as a favorite according to CS:GO odds, which makes sense considering their form this season. But based on what FURIA have shown so far, they’ll be tough to beat, even for C9.
In Group B lower bracket semifinals, we’ll get to see OG take on Fnatic and FaZe Clan clash with Team Vitality in a pair of very entertaining fixtures.
Fnatic crashed out of the upper bracket in the first round and have since beaten 9z Team in a three-map series. Their next opponent OG defeated Vitality but then had to admit defeat to Cloud9. Having made a deeper run in the upper bracket, OG are priced as the favorites, but as the CS:GO odds suggest, this could be a very close series.
Redemption Time: Vitality and FaZe Look to Bounce Back
Perhaps the more exciting of the two is the clash between FaZe and Team Vitality, who haven’t had the start to the tournament they had hoped for. FaZe first demolished 9z Team, but had to admit defeat to FURIA, whereas Vitality crashed out of the upper bracket with an overtime loss against OG before defeating MiBR in the LB quarterfinals.
Both considered some of the best teams in the world, FaZe and Vitality are bound to produce a match to remember, and according to IEM Rio 2023 odds, no team is favored to come out on top.
IEM Rio 2023 Group Stage will conclude on April 19, followed by the playoffs, set to start on April 21 and conclude on April 23 with the grand finals.
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