LPL 2022 Spring Split Picks, Predictions, Odds January 18

• Edward Gaming will be looking to make it three from three on Tuesday
• JD Gaming and LGD Gaming still searching for their first win of the season
• Scout, Viper start with aplomb in the middle and bottom lanes for Edward Gaming

LGD Gaming vs JD Gaming Pick

 JD Gaming (moneyline)

As expected, LGD Gaming have not made a sprightly start to the new season. They have lost both their first two matches to start the new split, which has left them well off the pace in the LPL’s new spring split. There is a quick revival needed here.

Quite surprisingly, JD Gaming have also struggled in this start. They have also lost two matches to start the split. One was a straight map defeat and the other was a loss in the third map. In the standings presently, there is not much of a difference but there is a massive skill mismatch between these two teams.

JD Gaming should comfortably register their first win of the season by beating an LGD Gaming team that has not found much fluency since the start of the summer split last year. As a result, it might be prudent to back JD Gaming to win. If you feel like increasing your risk position, you can even back JD Gaming to win in straight maps.

Eric The Key for LGD Gaming?

Considering Eric will occupy a vital position in the bottom lane, LGD Gaming will be relying heavily on him for some offensive proficiency. He has averaged 3.8 kills per map along with 3.2 deaths and 5.4 assists per game. That has pushed his KDA to 2.88 along with a creep score of 299.2.

LGD Gaming will be looking for a lot more. While his kill participation rate is over 9, he needs a bit more defensive effectiveness in order to stay efficient in the lanes. The fewer times he is killed per map, the higher will be his value in the lanes.

In Summoner’s Rift, a bot laner is imperative to the team’s success because that is where most of the kills happen. And their champions are usually the ones that can increase strength quickly. For LGD Gaming to have any chance this season, they will need Eric to stand up in the lanes, increase his production and keep his death rate low.

Lpc, Yagao Start Slowly For JD Gaming

JD Gaming’s new bot laner and mid laner pairing of Lpc and Yagao have not yet caught much fire. Lpc, the bot laner, has averaged 3 kills, 3.2 deaths and 4 assists per map with a KDA of 2.19 and a creep score of 259.6. That is a bit below the expected production for a bot laner.

Yagao has struggled offensively in putting up kills but he has kept his defense strong. So far, he has averaged 1.2 kills, 2.4 deaths and 4.6 assists per map with a KDA of 2.42 along with a creep score of 263.6. These numbers have to improve for JD Gaming.

Yagao has been one of the most consistent mid laners in the LPL for a while now, which makes him a reliable option in the middle lane. But JD Gaming have been a bit disappointed with the overall production value created there.

JD Gaming Need Catalyst

It is not surprising that JD Gaming will need to kickstart their season after beginning with two straight defeats. That is not at the usual standard for a team as good as this. Granted, they are starting afresh with some new additions to their squad but they need one player to provide a catalyst for the team.

Both 369 and Kanavi have started the split with 4.2 assists per map. They have enough experience and class in the LPL and are used to the pace of the league. Could they keep JD Gaming relevant this season by picking up their offensive production?

Kanavi, in particular, has been one of the most reliable players for JD Gaming. He has averaged 2.4 kills, 4.4 deaths and 4.2 assists at a KDA of 1.5, which is far below his usual production from the previous splits. He could just be the go-to option for JD Gaming this split. If he can manage that, a postseason spot should be comfortable for JD Gaming.

Ultra Prime vs Edward Gaming Pick

Edward Gaming to win 2-0 (moneyline)

Ultra Prime vs Edward Gaming Predictions

Ultra Prime will not be able to do much this season. They have started the new split with two straight defeats, which will come as a surprise to not many. As a result, they have been left languishing at 13th on the points table.

Edward Gaming, on the other hand, have been in spectacular form. They have won both their first two matches, and fairly comfortably as well. They are presently second in the league with two wins, both without dropping a map, which should bode well for their confidence and momentum as this season progresses.

The odds for Edward Gaming to win is not very high, but that is also reflective of the level of risk that you will be incorporating with their win. As a result, it might be better off to back Edward Gaming to win without dropping a map. The odds are better, and so there will be a better relationship between risk and reward in that situation.

Elk Produces In The Bottom Lane

This is not a terrible Ultra Prime team this season. The franchise has made several offseason changes, which has led to a much-improved roster, capable of producing kills and wins at a consistent level. However, they will have to first start with a couple of solid performances against stronger opponents, just like Edward Gaming.

Elk has done a commendable job to start the new split, producing 4.4 kills, 2.8 deaths and 4.6 assists per map. All this has been achieved at a KDA of 3.21 and a stellar creep score of 303.4. While these are not sensational numbers, they are vitally important for a team like Ultra Prime because they need one avenue of consistency, which Elk can provide.

Cryin and Zs have also chipped in with 2.6 kills per map. That is not too bad at all, especially considering that in order to beat Edward Gaming, they will need to deploy an aggressive approach that can be hard to stop in the lanes.

Excellent Overall Production For Edward Gaming

Edward Gaming are champions of the world for a reason. They have been so consistent in the conclusion of the summer split and then the subsequent World Championships. That lent itself to producing one of the finest performances to end the Worlds against Damwon Gaming in the final.

They have started well with two easy routs to open the new split: against JD Gaming and Thunder Talk Gaming. Edward Gaming have shown their class and skill in the lanes this season, which will not come as a surprise at all.

Here is how they have stacked up in the lanes: Viper in the bottom lane has produced return of 6.5 kills, 1.5 deaths, 7.5 assists at a KDA of 9.33 and a creep score of 241.5. Scout in the middle lane has been even better with returns of 4.75 kills, 0.5 deaths and just 10.5 assists per map with a sterling KDA of 30.5 and a creep score of 239.75. Not many other pairs in the LPL come close to the effectiveness of these two in the middle and bottom lanes.

Jiejie has not been far off that production in the jungle. He has produced 5 kills, 2 deaths and 10.5 assists per map at a KDA of 7.75. Being solid in the jungle is key for a team because it improves flanking possibilities, and Jiejie has been sensational at doing just that so far.

In terms of KDA, Edward Gaming have three players in the top six in the LPL. That is indicative of the strength and depth of this team across lanes and roles in this league.

How to Watch LPL 2022 Spring Split