TSM and XSET are two of North America’s top Valorant esports teams, and they’re set to clash on Friday, June 10, in the opening round of the final week of VALORANT Champions Tour 2022: North America Challengers 2. It will mark their final match of the group stage and their first meeting since January 2021, when XSET defeated TSM 2-1.
A lot of time has passed since then, and a lot has changed; however, the balance of power has seemingly remained the same, according to the latest Valorant esports odds. However, as always, there is no shortage of upsets in the esports betting world, so the question is: can TSM surprise XSET and secure a much-needed point that would save them from relegation?
Last game records
XSET have already secured a top-three finish in Group A with a 3-1 record. They have beaten Ghost Gaming (2-0), NRG (2-0), and The Guard (2-1) but weren’t nearly as successful against 100 Thieves (0-2).
On the other side, TSM have managed just one win from the opening four series; however, their sole victory came against the current Group A leaders 100 Thieves (2-0). Still, that minor success doesn’t change the fact that TSM have lost against NRG (0-2), The Guard (0-2), and Ghost Gaming (0-2) without winning a single map.
TSM vs XSET Betting Analysis
XSET are clearly in a much better spot than TSM, who have struggled with consistency this tour. The fact that TSM have managed just one win from four series is enough to confirm that, and if we also consider that TSM have not won a single map over the three defeats, it’s fair to start asking some questions.
XSET are the complete opposite of TSM performance-wise. Their only defeat came against the high-flying 100 Thieves, but XSET have looked very dominant in the remaining bouts. So even though XSET have slipped against one of the region’s top Valorant teams, they completely demolished all other opponents.
TSM
TSM’s journey into the VALORANT esports scene has been quite a rollercoaster, going from one of NA’s top teams to a squad stumbling at every obstacle.
Last season, TSM won VCT 2021: North America Stage 3 Challengers 2 but then stumbled in the Playoffs and finished seventh-eighth. The 2022 season is no different as far as consistency is concerned but undeniably far less successful.
TSM kicked off the year with two failed runs at the VCT open qualifiers, finishing the first qualifying event in fifth-eighth and the second in ninth-12th. Admittedly, TSM have achieved some success in C-Tier tournaments, but that’s hardly anything to write home about.
But even though TSM have made it to the big stage for the second tour, it’s very clear that they don’t have the talent to compete at the top level. They have managed just one win against 100T, which seems impressive on paper, but knowing that TSM somehow consistently defeat 100T (3-0 in the head-to-head) but struggle against all other top NA teams, even that victory is hardly inspiring.
XSET
XSET are a team that seems to always be in the mix to emerge as the top NA team, but they never get there. Last season, they placed second in Stage 2 and Stage 3 Challengers 1 and even finished the Stage 3 Challengers playoffs in fourth place.
Unfortunately, they did not make it through the NA VALORANT Champions qualifiers, yet they still placed fourth, which is a fairly solid outcome. However, XSET seems to have shifted into a higher gear this season.
In January, they easily won the NA Stage 1 Challengers open qualifiers and won NSG: Winter Championship. After that, however, they again slipped in the final stages of the VCT 2022: North America Stage 1 Challengers, where they placed fourth.
In April, XSET also won NSG: Summer Championship – Philadelphia, which might not seem like much, but they finished the tournament with a perfect record, not losing a single map across the five series.
XSET continued with strong form in Challenger 2 and now enter the final week of the group stage with a 3-1 record, which sits them in a tied-first place with 100T and Ghost Gaming. Given their strong form, it makes sense to see XSET priced as the favorites for this match, and you could even argue that the Valorant odds on XSET could be much shorter.
Updates
Despite their struggles, TSM have not made any changes in May besides signing Itopata as a strategic coach and Daeada as a data analyst.
XSET, on the other side, have made their last roster change in April, when they added DrewApark as an analyst. Their only other change of 2022 happened way back in January when XSET parted ways with PureR.
TSM vs XSET Betting Preview
The esports betting odds on this match show XSET as the favorites, and that’s completely fair. They are far more consistent than TSM and have achieved significantly more over this season.
Admittedly, TSM are not a very weak team and have enough talent to compete with NA’s top Valorant squads, but the team seems to be dealing with other issues that prevent them from showing their full potential.
There is no clear answer to what is holding TSM back, and it’s hard to pinpoint what’s going wrong. But as any esports betting guide will tell you, TSM need to start thinking about roster changes if they wish to re-emerge as one of the region’s top teams.
TSM vs XSET Betting Prediction
There is no reason to doubt XSET’s chances to win this bout. They are clearly a superior team, and they have momentum on their side, whereas TSM enter the match following two straight 0-2 losses.
Even though TSM should be highly motivated to win since they could get relegated if The Guard and NRG win their series, there is also a lot on the line for XSET. If the latter choke, they will finish the group stage in third place, whereas a win will give them a shot at claiming the top seed and direct invite into the semi-finals.
How to bet on TSM vs XSET
Had XSET already locked in the top seed, a bet on TSM to win one map would make sense at the offered esports odds. But since XSET must win and preferably do so with as few maps lost as possible, the only reasonable Valorant betting pick is on the favorites to win 2-0!
Prediction: XSET -1.5 maps
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