LCK 2022 Spring Split Top Picks, Predictions, Odds March 19-20

• Nongshim Redforce, Hanwha Life Esports involved in dead rubber match
• All eyes on T1 to see if they can create history with unbeaten spring split run
• T1 have broken the record they set by winning their first 15 matches

Pick: Nongshim Redforce (moneyline)

Nongshim RedForce v Hanwha Life Esports Predictions

Here we go, again. At the end of a long and winding spring split, two exhausted teams who have tried different things, different combinations are perhaps waiting for the curtains to come down. Both of them have been mathematically eliminated from the playoffs race.

Nongshim Redforce have a win-loss record of 4-13 to be placed ninth. Hanwha Life Esports placed tenth with a 3-14 record. Nongshim have lost five in a row, Hanwha seven. So in many ways, the two sides have traversed similar journeys so far for close to eight weeks. It all looked so different at this time last year.

Hanwha finished third, being one of four teams in the LCK that racked up 10 wins or more at the spring split. Nongshim fired in spurts, but were still heaps better than their current position, at sixth with a 7-11 record. This time around, whatever could go wrong has gone wrong. It’s time for course correction.

Perhaps they may look back on this season later and either speak of it as one that triggered their turnaround or one that set them back further. Only time will tell. The punters, though, seem to have their eye firmly in the present and have pegged Nongshim as the clear favorites.

Nongshim Blow Up Winning Opportunity

Last week, Nongshim RedForce had an opportunity to play party poopers, but couldn’t. KT Rolster beat them to move back into playoff contention with a 2-1 victory in the final few days of the 2022 LCK Spring Split regular season.

The pressure was squarely on KT going into the game against Nongshim. A win would’ve been their seventh of the split, which would’ve kept them alive, even if it meant certain results involving Fredit BRION and Kwangdong Freecs go their way.

Nongshim took the early honours. Nongshim pocketed the first game, but KT came storming back. It wasn’t until Aiming took over the game through Jinx’s late game that KT allayed pressure on them. Just like that, Nongshim lost control as Jinx ended with a score line of 6-1-4. Levelling proceedings freed them to go for the kill in the final game, and KT blew Nongshim.

If they were to be critical of themselves, Nongshim would look back at various stages of the game where they were in front, but just couldn’t exercise any degree of control. Yes, they can’t do much now but can at least try and win and build forward for the Summer Split.

Hanwha Need An Overhaul – Plans or Personnel?

Hanwha Life Esports have paid the price for being overly dependent only on SamD. The bot laner’s record, while impressive, isn’t quite up to what teams aspiring to be in the top-tier should be.

But the quest for improvement is an ongoing process, and it’s something they need to try and work towards. If that means a slight change in roster going forward or working through new team combinations and team plans is something only time will tell.

Kwangdong Freecs vs Liiv Sandbox Pick

Pick: Kwangdong Freecs (moneyline)

Kwangdong Freecs v Liiv SANDBOX Predictions

A win is non-negotiable if Kwaangdong Freecs are to keep their slim playoff hopes alive. It almost seems like Kwangdong have become a pale shadow of the team that went on a four-game winning streak mid-season.

Meanwhile, Liiv SANDBOX knows even four wins may not be enough if the stars don’t align, and therefore are rightly behind the curveball when it comes to the odds. Whether that empowers them to go for the jugular or keeps them engaged in a conservative style of play is something only time will tell.

Kwangdong are just outside the periphery of the playoffs, currently seventh with a 7-10 record. Liiv SANDBOX are eighth but have slipped so badly that a win will almost seem like a surprise result. They’re on the back of a five-game losing streak.

Kwangdong Frees have rustled up enough experience of fielding tough moments through the spring split. They haven’t managed to win all of them, but will be encouraged by how a relatively young team turned up.

Teddy led their way, the bot lander finishing the split with the best overall numbers – 3.59 kills, 1.49 deaths and 4.38 assists, along with KDA of 5.36 and a creep score of 339.23. Hoit played the support role well, landing 6.67 assists, the best for the team. Shades of such individual highs is something they will want to channel positively heading into the Summer Split.

Covid Knocks On Liiv SANDBOX’s Door

You’re re struggling. You’re in need of new ideas and new plans. You know it can’t get lower than this. You want to tear down old templates and try and see out the season to a better end. And then, covid strikes.

Yes, this is the reality Liiv SANDBOX have had to live with over the past 10 days or so. Cho “Joker” Jae-eup and Heo “PawN” Won-seok, their coaches for Liiv SANDBOX’s League of Legends division, tested positive. On the brighter side, the players all tested negative.  And in being adversely challenged, SANDBOX joined the likes of DRX, Gen G and Nongshim RedForce to be affected by covid.

Fortunately for them, their other two coaches aided team preparation, but what we’ve seen over the last week over Fredit Brion and KT Rolster are timing performances. When you’re in a poor situation, problems seem that much larger than they are. With league leaders still to come, SANDBOX can’t rest easy. It’s only going to get tougher.

T1 vs DRX Pick

Pick: T1 (moneyline)

T1 vs DRX Predictions

It has become inevitable to ask anyone surrounding the LCK if T1 will create history. Heading into the last two weeks, all of T1’s biggest threats seem to be behind them. Their matches against second-placed Gen G and against defending champs DWG KIA were done and dusted favourably, but not without a hint of discomfort.

Week eight seemed like a walk in the park as they went up against Kwangdong Freecs and Fredit Brion. Wins there helped them beat their own record from the 2015 Summer Split of going up 14-0 win streak when they were known as SK Telecom. No prizes for guessing, T1 are the overwhelming favorites.

T1 Come Out Clean

KDF did push them hard and the game went into a decider before Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok left his imprint as T1 put KDF away. T1’s second series against Fredit BRION was much more one-sided. If you were a BRION fan, you would’ve wanted to believe the game didn’t happen; it looked great for T1 though. BRION were struck down with covid, and were forced to field players from their LCK CL foster as well coaching staff.

It didn’t make for pretty viewing. T1 stomped home and the win put them at 16-0 record and are now just two series away from a perfect season. At the time of writing, T1 would be engaging in an intense battle with Liiv SANDBOX before they end on Sunday. It promised to be a historic moment for all League of legends fans when they tune in to see if DRX can stop them one final time this season.

DRX Have Proven They’re A Top Side

DRX are a top four team by merit, and they came into week eight on the back of two wins following a crushing defeat to Gen G. Like T1, DRX’s game against KDF went into the third round before they eventually came out unscathed. In DRX’s other match of the week, against Nonghsim RedForce, DRX won decisively in a 2-0 sweep.

Now, they are on a hot-streak – four wins in their last five games. While KWG KIA have overtaken them momentarily, they can reclaim that spot and jump to third if they manage to stop TG1 in their tracks.

How to Watch LCK 2022 Spring Split