Here's my predictions for each match at Vegas:
Match 3 - 5Ms vs Food Drive: 2-0
5Ms take this one I think, they're the proven strongest team out of the qualifiers as they didn't lose a single game. If they continue playing that well, they should win this. Though Food Drive are strong and have taken games off many top teams, should be an interesting one.
Match 4 - Smoke Break vs Team RISK: 1-2
A very even matchup in my view. Team RISK looked really strong coming into the qualifiers but had a very underwhelming performance while Smoke Break looked much better than they did before. Could go either way but I'll give it to Team RISK as they have a bit more history of being a strong team.
Match 5 - Food Drive vs Borscht: 1-2
Another very even matchup in my eyes. Food Drive looked really good in the qualifiers, better than Borscht in fact. But Borscht seem to have that miracle potential where if they show up, they show up BIG so I could see this going either way depending on how good of a grasp Borscht have on the meta. Overall I give it to Borscht as they also have more experienced tournament players that have been to Worlds before whereas Food Drive is a more rookie roster.
Match 6 - Smoke Break vs Mockingbird: 2-0
Smoke Break takes this one I think. It won't be a complete blow-out but Mockingbird are probably the weakest team here and Smoke Break are simply the stronger team. Could have upset potential but overall I give it to Smoke Break 2-0.
Match 7 - 5Ms vs Team RISK: 3-1
A clash of the titans! These were the 2 strongest teams going into qualifiers, both being undefeated in their respective regions. Should be a very exciting set if the bracket plays out this way with this being an EU vs NA grudge match. With how RISK performed in the qualifiers though, I do think 5Ms take this one as they've been consistently the strongest team both in their region and at international qualifiers. I do think RISK are strong enough to take a game from 5Ms though so I give this BO5 set 3-1 to 5Ms.
Match 8 - Borscht vs Smoke Break : 1-2
This will be a set to watch! A very even matchup in my view with both of these teams being strong contenders. As said earlier, Borscht can really show up HARD on a good day and they have a lot of LAN experience behind them but Smoke Break are also a really strong team with a couple of ex-SPL players of their own. Overall I think I give this one to Smoke Break as they've looked like the stronger team, especially in the qualifiers but I do think this set will go 3 games, ending 2-1 in favor of Smoke Break.
Match 9 - Smoke Break vs Team RISK : 1-2
Another absolutely amazing set if the bracket plays out like this. Both incredibly strong teams and prior to the qualifiers I would've given this more handily to Team RISK but Smoke Break looked really good in those qualifiers and RISK faltered a bit. All in all though, I do give the set to RISK 2-1 but this one could really go either way depending on if Team RISK are back on top-form or not for this event.
GRAND FINALS - 5Ms vs Team RISK: 3-1
If the bracket works out this way it will be a story of two titans. These 2 teams both went undefeated in their regions, with 5Ms remaining so in the international qualifiers but Team RISK faltering a bit and dropping some games. It's an NA vs EU grudge match which I think is something we're all looking for in a Grand Finals and I think this will be a set for the ages if it works out this way. Overall I give this to 5Ms 3-1 as I think they are the overall stronger team and with both these rosters being full to the brim with ex-SPL talent, there shouldn't be any nerves or 'LAN moments' that could swing things in either team's favor. This is just raw SMITE talent vs raw SMITE talent and I think 5Ms are just the better team. That said, it could go either way. Team RISK were DOMINANT for a long time and if they're back in tip-top shape for this event, they could absolutely take it. I have them down as winning just 1 game based on their qualifier performance, though. As much as a bracket reset into Best of 1 would be hype af, I give this set 3-1 to 5Ms as the first Grand Champions of SMITE 2!
