CS:GO Slate Summary: ESL (8am EST)
CS:GO Matchup #1: Heroic (-188) vs ENCE (+137)
The first matchup on the CS:GO slate sees the ESL One: Cologne winners, Heroic, taking on ENCE. Climbing the world rankings to the current #2 positions since being on an absolute tear after coming out of the player break, Heroic seems to be in a prime spot here versus an ENCE team yet to play since CS:GO returned to action. Heroic bans Overpass first at a 68% rate while ENCE bans Vertigo first 97% of the time. I would expect Heroic to turn to Nuke here, where they’ve been on fire and hold a significant advnantage over ENCE, while the latter will likely counter with Dust2 as opposed to their typical first pick in Train since Heroic holds a better win rate there. Heroic primary rifler, stavn, has been lights out in the past few weeksn and has gone +40 in his last 6 maps played, while both TeSeS and niko have shown flashes of being good pieces to our DFS lineups; with the run that Heroic is on, combined with the fact thst this is ENCE’s first series out of the player break, give me the favorite here.
Top Plays: stavn ($8,200), TeSeS ($7,600), niko ($8,000)
CS:GO Matchup #2: Vitality (-188) vs Ninjas in Pyjamas (+137)
Taking over the #1 spot in the world rankings, ZywOo and Vitality take on NiP for the second time in just a few weeks. Vitality bans Train first at a 98% rate while NiP bans Dust2 first 79% of the time; should NiP choose to ban Vertigo again, Vitality will pick Dust2, or vice-versa, while NiP will likely test Mirage after losing on Overpass last time out. As everyone knows by now, ZywOo is one of, if not the best player in the world and his 1.41 K/D and 0.86 KPR is very hardd to fade on this slate given his price tag sitting just under 10k; shox is also a great point/$ option, going +49 in his last 9 maps played. The #1 team in the world takes this one for the second time this month.
Top Plays: ZywOo ($9,600), shox ($7,800), RpK ($6,400)
CS:GO Matchup #3: FURIA (-300) vs Cloud9 (+225)
The third matchup on the CS:GO slate sees some interesting targets in FURIA. Their opponent, C9, have lost 4 of their last 5 series and haven’t looked themselves since returning from the player break. FURIA bans Dust2 first at a 100% rate while C9 bans Mirage first 91% of the time; it’s nearly impossible to predict which maps whill be played here, with all five remaining possibilities having been chosen in the past and the winning percentages being so tight. However, with C9’s poor play as of late, I’ll side with FURIA here, although I’m not opposed to fading this series altogether given how expensive the top targets are.
Top Plays: KSCERATO ($9,000, HEN1 ($8,800), yuurih ($8,600), arT ($7,400)
One-off: oSee ($6,800)
CS:GO Matchup #4: FaZe (-275) vs mousesports (+200)
The last matchup of the CS:GO slate has some attractive options for our cash games given the likelihood of a FaZe sweep here. FaZe bans Vertigo first at an 81% rate while mousesports bans Overpass first 52% of the time; look for FaZe to take Mirage or Inferno with their first pick here, while mousesports will likely counter with one of Nuke or Train. If you’ve been keeping up with the CS:GO content as of late or even before the player break, you’ll know how much I hate mousesports’ level of inconsistency and the fact that they’re severely outmatched here doesn’t help their cause. With NiKo and his 1.09 K/D and 0.74 KPR leading the charge over the past 3 months, to go with broky’s 1.12 K/D and 0.66 KPR, FaZe is in a smash spot for our late night hammer.
Top Plays: NiKo ($9,400), broky ($8,400), coldzera ($7,800), rain ($7,400)
You can find me in the WinDaily Discord chat and on twitter @DFS_Ghost!
CS:GO Slate Summary: ESL (8am EST)
CS:GO Slate Overview
Game #1: Natus Vincere (-175) vs GODSENT (+125)
The first of four matchups on the CS:GO slate sees NAVI taking on GODSENT. With electronic struggling mightily since returning from the player break, NAVI is seemingly relying on s1mple even more so than before – my issue, however, is less about his teammates poor play, and more so the fact that GODSENT hasn’t played a single match since the player break, while NAVI has already played 7 maps in three series. NAVI bans Vertigo first a 92% rate while GODSENT bans Mirage first 94% of the time. I expect NAVI to get creative with their map selection; while they typically select Dust2 first, at a 50% rate to be exact, they hold substantial advantages on both Inferno and Train, and I think they turn to the latter here with GODSENT selecting Nuke, where they’ve had much greater success online compared to LAN. As mentioned time and time again, s1mple is the man to own here: his 1.37 K/D and 0.80 KPR in the past three months puts him into elite company, while electronic will likely come in under owned due to the field’s recency bias.
Top Targets: s1mple ($10,200), electronic ($7,600)
Game #2: G2 (-225) vs OG (+162)
A rematch from one of the quarterfinals at ESL One, OG takes on G2 in our second matchup on the CS:GO slate. While OG almost came through as our live ‘dog pick last time out, they did manage to outscore G2 in DFS and lost in overtime on the third map of the series; win or lose, we want the highest scorers from that game and I think they’re severely underpriced here again. G2 bans Over pass first at a 92% rate while OG bans Vertigo first 94% of the time; it played out this way in previous matchups and it should continue here again. With OG making a questionable pick in Nuke last time, I think they’ll learn from their mistake and go to Inferno the time out, while G2 will likely counter with one of Nuke or Train despite only holding a win percentage advantage on the latter; since OG is comfortable on either Train or Dust2, expect them to later ban Mirage and be content with one of the two formers being left as the third possible map. With more preferable pay up options in the two matchups to follow, I have no interest in either kennyS or huNter- in this spot; I rather take a shot on nexa or even stoop down to AmaNek for value, while mantuu is ridiculously cheap if you’re targeting OG here: he has a 1.23 K/D and 0.72 KPR in the past three months, including a +1 or better performance in 8 of his last 9 maps played.
Top Targets (G2): nexa ($8,000), AmaNek ($6,600)
Top Targets (OG): mantuu ($6,800)
Game #3: Team Liquid (-400) vs Chaos (+275)
The focal points of our cash game build on this CS:GO slate starts in this third matchup, where TL faces Chaos for the third time since returning from the player break. In the two previous encounters, TL swept Chaos and I foresee them making it three in a row here. Both teams ban Vertigo and Train every matchup and today should be no different; with TL cruising on Inferno in previous matchups, they’re likely to continue their reign there while Chaos scrambles to find an edge on either Mirage or Nuke. With the addition of Grim, TL has bolstered their rostered like no other and their team members are still not priced accordingly; take advantage.
Top Targets: Grim ($7,800), Twistzz ($7,200), EliGe ($9,200) or NAF ($8,800)
Game #4:BIG (-450) vs AGO (+300)
The last matchup on the CS:GO slate is not one that you want to fade. BIG, the #4 team in the latest world rankings, had spent numerous weeks as the best team in the world and they are still potentially just that. While the only two maps that AGO has a better winning percentage on are Vertigo and Inferno, I expect them to turn to the former here while BIG will likely select Dust2, where they post a remarkable 87% win rate and are riding a 5-map winning streak. Team AWPer syrsoN will always be the focal point of their DFS production, and his 1.23 K/D and 0.75 KDR in the past 3 months shows just how great he’s been since the month of June when BIG won DreamHack in the summer. While he’s pricey, both he and tabseN make for great options, as well as k1to from a point/$ perspective.
Top Targets: syrsoN ($9,600), tabseN ($8,200), k1to ($7,000)
Other Options: XANTERES ($9,000), tiziaN ($7,400)
You can find me in the WinDaily Discord chat and on Twitter @DFS_Ghost!
This article focuses on 8/31 NHL Picks for DraftKings and FanDuel Sportsbook and Fanduel and DraftKings Daily Fantasy. We consider tournament tactics, statistics, pricing, and attempt to tackle this highly variable Daily Fantasy format so we can gain an edge on the field at large. All rankings are site specific.
The second round of the playoffs continue with a pair of elimination games, as we have a two game Monday slate with a 7pm ET lock start on both sites.
The slate begins with the Tampa Bay Lightning, who are looking to close out Boston Bruins, already up three games to one. Meanwhile, the Dallas Stars look to do the same to the Avalanche later on and pull off the series upset.
The Dallas/Colorado series has been chock full of goals, so that is where I would turn first, with Anton Khudobin a tournament option, just in case you think that tonight the Stars finish things off. My inclination is that the Avalanche have at least one more big game left in them, although they will lose the series.
Meanwhile, Tampa Bay has been pounding Boston and comes in fairly affordable, particularly on DraftKings. The Bruins make for more of a contrarian tournament option, given their failures so far throughout this series. The B’s “Perfection Line” makes for a great pivot, particularly in large field tournaments. As far as the Lightning side goes, Ondrej Palat has been getting involved with all of the Tampa Bay goals recently and strikes me as a prime value option.
Make sure to hop in our Expert Discord Chat for FREE! Rich will be there answering questions all day and all night! Follow Rich on Twitter @JFan303 and be sure to be on the look out for future articles at https://windailysports.com/daily-fantasy-hockey/
CS:GO Slate Summary: Early ESL (2am EST)
CS:GO Slate Overview
Game #1: ORDER (-200) vs Avant (+150)
The first of two matchups on the Early CS:GO slate sees ORDER taking on Avant for the fourth time since the player break, where the former holds a 2-1 record thus far. ORDER bans Overpass first at an 84% rate while Avant bans Vertigo first 98% of the time; every series has begun this way and it should continue in this matchup. The map selections here are tough to predict given how frequent these two teams have faced another, but both Nuke and Train have been selected every time they’ve faced each other, so it’s probable that the trend will continue here, while all three of Inferno, Mirage, and Dust2 are possibilities warranting consideration from both sides. Although ORDER holds the advantage on all five maps left to choose from, they’ll be wary of Train and Mirage, where Avant has proven to be able to matchup fairly well. Both aliStair and Rickeh make for viable pay up options, especially the former, who is carrying a 1.25 K/D and 0.77 KPR in the past 3 months. On the flipside, sterling is simply too cheap for someone of his calibre; he has a 1.22 K/D and 0.77 KPS in the past 3 months and should be crucial to his team’s success as always. An interesting punt play that I’ll have exposure to in MME in BL1TZ, who has gone +27 on 134-107 in the three previous matchups despite losing in two of them.
Top Targets (ORD): aliStair ($8,400), Rickeh ($7,800), USTILO ($7,200)
Top Targets (AVT): sterling ($7,400), BL1TZ ($6,000)
Game #2: ViCi (-425) vs Invictus (+300)
The second of two matchups on the Early CS:GO slate has ViCi taking on Invictus for the fourth time since the break where ViCi will be looking to continue their dominance over Invictus; ViCi is 3-0 in the previous 3 while only dropping a single map. ViCi bans Dust2 first at an 89% rate while Invictus bans Overpass first 73% of the time; it’s been this way for three games straight and it shouldn’t be any different here unless Invictus chooses to ban Nuke instead. ViCi selects Nuke first at a 44% rate and have a whopping 93% win rate on 15 maps played, including three consecutive victories there, and should Invictus ban it, they’re still in a premier spot to win the series. Invictus has tried using Inferno, Vertigo, and Mirage with their first pick, with only Inferno being successful in a 19-17 overtime win; look for them to take their chances there again or turn to Mirage. With the trio of JamYoung, kaze, and aumaN leading the charge, ViCi should cruise to another victory here, and the trio are a combined +136 on 448-312 in the previous three encounters.
Top Targets: JamYoung ($8,600), kaze ($8,200), aumaN ($8,000)
Salary Saver: zhoking ($6,600)
CS:GO Slate Summary: Main ESL (9am EST)
CS:GO Slate Overview
Game #1: Heroic (-125) vs G2 (-110)
The first of two semi-final matchups on the Main CS:GO slate sees a rematch between Heroic and G2. While the former has mightily impressed since coming out of the player break, the latter looked quite sloppy yesterday in a win versus OG, and although they did get the best of Heroic in the first encounter, give me the slight favorite here in Heroic. Since both teams ban Overpass first at 71% and 92% rates, look for Heroic to do as they did last time and remove Dust2 from the selection since it is G2’s map of choice. Since Heroic dominated G2 16-7 on Nuke and they select it first at a 29% rate, I see no reason for them to differ to another map here. On the flipside, since Dust2 has been predicted as a ban, look for G2 to turn to Vertigo if their map of choice is gone; with Heroic matchup well on Train and Mirage, look for them to close out the ban phase by removing Inferno and being content with whichever map is left.
Top Targets (Heroic): stavn ($7,800), TeSeS ($6,000)
Top Targets (G2): nexa ($7,400)
Game #2: Vitality (-170) vs NiP (+125)
The second of the semi-final matchups on the Main CS:GO slate sees ZywOo and Vitality taking on NiP, who are coming off an impressive victory at the hands of Astralis. Vitality bans Train first at a 98% rate and considering NiP’s strength on that map, there isn’t another map I see them banning here. NiP can take two courses of action: choose to ban their typical map in the first round, Dust2, which they do 80% of the time, or choose to eliminate one of Vitality’s stronger maps in Nuke. With that being said, Vitality will choose Nuke or Dust2, in that order of preference, while NiP will likely counter with Overpass, which they pick first 39% of the time, or Mirage, where they hold a decent map advantage over Vitality. Despite NiP running hot at the ESL, including picking up victories over BIG, NAVI, and Astralis, I think they run into a wall here with Vitality, who hold the advantage on every map other than Mirage. Statistics are needed to justify playing ZywOo, but also consider RpK as one of the best value plays on the slate; he has a 1.09 K/D and 0.73 KPR since coming out of the player break, including 62 DK FPPG in during that stretch.
Top Targets: ZywOo ($10,000), shox ($8,200), RpK ($5,400)
One-off: hampus ($4,600)
You can find me in the WinDaily Discord chat and on Twitter @DFS_Ghost!
CS:GO Slate Summary: ESL Early (2am EST)
CS:GO Matchup #1: Renegades (-450) vs ORDER (+300)
The first of two matchups on the Early CS:GO slate sees the powerhouse Renegades taking on ORDER. These two teams face for the second time this month, where the Renegades swept their opponent. I expect more of the same today, as they are simply too powerful for ORDER, but we’ll take a deep dive as to why. The Renegades ban Train at a 45% first-ban rate, which just so happens to also be ORDER’s best map; as if they weren’t behind the 8-ball already, this doesn’t make things any easier. ORDER will likely counter by banning Overpass first, which they do at an 84% rate, and use their selection on one of Mirage, Nuke or Dust2. The Renegades will likely select Inferno as their first map, which they do at a 41% rate and have had great success versus ORDER there in prior matchups. All 5 Renegades are viable here, but I would prioritize INS as a pay up option, who may come in under owned compared to dexter; while the latter is among the elite of his region, INS is no slouch with a 1.33 K/D and 0.83 KPR in the past 3 months.
Top Plays: dexter ($9,600), INS ($9,200), Sico ($8,400)
Salary Savers: malta ($7,200), Hatz ($6,000)
CS:GO Matchup #2: TYLOO (-350) vs Vici Gaming (+250)
The second of two matchups on the Early CS:GO slate sees another heavy favorite, TYLOO, taking on ViCi Gaming. The former owns the latter over the course of the past year, including taking the last 7 matchups dating back to the month of June. With TYLOO being a cheaper stacking option than the Renegades, they make for preimier targets in both 2-man stacks and 3-man stacks, with ViCi being better one-offs than ORDER. TYLOO bans Nuke at a 90% rate, which is also ViCi’s best map, while ViCi bans Dust2 at an 89% rate in the first round of the map selections. Expect TYLOO to run to Mirage with their first pick, which they do 52% of the time and carry a remarkable 85% win rate in 15 maps played. ViCi will be in tough with Nuke likely being removed, but I expect them to try their luck on Inferno or Train here in an attempt to at least steal a map. All 5 of the TYLOO players are viable, but dank1ng stands above the rest with a 1.24 K/D and 0.74 KPR in the past 3 months, while kaze and his 1.35K/D and 0.77 KPR in the past 3 months is my preferred option for a one-off here.
Top Plays: dank1ng ($8,200), Attacker ($7,800), SLOWLY ($8,000), Summer ($7,600)
Salary Savers: somebody ($7,000)
One-Offs: JamYoung ($6,800), kaze ($6,400), aumaN ($6,600)
CS:GO Slate Summary: ESL (9am EST)
CS:GO Matchup #1: Complexity (-140) vs Heroic (+110)
The first matchup on the main CS:GO slate sees Complexity taking on Heroic for the second time in just over 10 days, where Heroic came out victorious 2-1 the last time out. Both teams bans Overpass at 70% and 73% rates, respectively, but last series saw Dust2 and Train be removed; I expect two of the three to be banned again, with Heroic likely turning to Inferno or Train, if it is not banned, while COM will both Vertigo and Dust2, should it not be banned, The maps are tough to play out here, but I’m expecting COM to bounce back and take the series 2-1 after losing the previous one in overtime on the third map. With blameF leading the charge as always, including sporting a 1.42 K/D and 0.78 KPR in the past 3 months, coming off a +17 performance on 58-41, I’m expecting big thigns from COM here.
Top Plays: blameF ($9,200), oBo ($7,400), k0nfig ($7,600)
CS:GO Matchup #2: Vitality (-275) vs Sprout (+250)
The second matchup on the main CS:GO slate sees Vitality taking on Sprout, where the former is coming off a 2-0 sweep of FaZe. Vitality bans Train first at a 98% rate while Sprout bans Overpass first 55% of the time. I’m expecting Vitality to turn to either Nuke or Dust2 with their pick, while Sprout is likely to select Mirage first, which they do at a 47% rate. While ZywOo has not been stellar out of the player break, he is still arguably the best player in the world and makes for a premier target, along with both shox and RpK, who have impressed mightily coming out of the break.
Top Plays: ZywOo ($9,600), shox ($8,200), RpK ($6,400)
CS:GO Matchup #3: Team Liquid (-300) vs Chaos (+225)
The third matcup on the main CS:GO slate is a massive mismatch, with powerhouse TL taking on Chaos. With the addition of Grim to their roster, TL can challenge BIG for the top spot in the world if they keep playing the way they have been coming out of the break. They ban Train first at a 92% rate while Chaos bans Vertigo first at a 67% rate. While both teams typically pick Nuke first, I expect TL to select Inferno and let Chaos use their pick on Nuke, or they can turn to a map that they feel they have a greater advantage, such as Mirage. While all four primary targets are above the mid-range, TL makes for an elite 3-man stack on this slate given their likelihood to sweep Chaos 2-0.
Top Plays: EliGe ($8,600), Grim ($8,000), Twistzz ($7,800), NAF ($8,600)
You can find me in the WinDaily Discord chat and on twitter @DFS_Ghost!
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