The wait is no more! The group stage is all wrapped up! We know which four teams will be competing in the playoffs. It’s NaVi, Astralis, BIG, and Liquid. The latter two is the duo we’re going to be focusing on here. BIG vs. Liquid predictions bear great importance not just because one team will play in the grand finals, but because the winner of this match gets a spot on the BLAST Premier Global Finals next year!
Unfortunately after their loss to @TeamLiquidCS, @FURIA are now eliminated from the #IEM Global Challenge.
It was so nice to finally see these boys back on the global stage again and we look forward to seeing more and more of them in 2021!
GGs! ❤️️ pic.twitter.com/rkNWyBr8cP
— Intel®ExtremeMasters (@IEM) December 18, 2020
Yep, that’s right – both Liquid and BIG have played their cards right thus far. This event was (still is) their last chance to grab the Global Finals tickets. All they have to do now is reach the grand finals and they’re through!
Easier said than done, though. Both teams had their scalps thus far, but now they have to fight each other. Heroic, FURIA, and OG are out of the equation qualifications-wise, the January-bound Global Finals await the winner of BIG vs. Team Liquid.
Well, that’s what this BIG vs. Liquid predictions piece is here for!
BIG vs. Liquid Predictions
As mentioned in our pieces several times already, IEM Global Challenge is the last event of the year. Last big event of the year, to be more precise. Yep, that means CSGO bookmakers won’t have a lot to do in terms of betting opportunities. The same goes for CSGO betting enthusiasts – if you’d like to bet on CSGO, you don’t have a lot of time left.
Well, I’m afraid there’s nothing big scheduled for early January. Heck, the next big thing is the aforementioned BLAST Premier Global Finals set to start on January 18th. So yeah, once again, if you’d like to bet on CSGO this year, you better do it now!
Form
These two teams had vastly different forms this season. On one end, Liquid’s form dropped shortly after the massive online switch. The boys in blue did win ESL Pro League S11 NA, but that’s their first and only trophy this year.
BIG, on the other hand, went from being a tier-B squad into a world-class powerhouse following the introduction of online events in the EU. From April through August, BIG has won seven events, four of which belong to the most prestigious bunch. If that’s not a testament to their qualities, I’m not sure what is.
However, BIG’s form has been steadily dropping ever since. That can’t be said about Team Liquid though. You see, they’ve been poor this whole year… but are finally starting to make waves. Momentum means a lot in the competitive CSGO sphere, and it’s quite obvious that Liquid has plenty of it coming into this one.
Map Pool Stats
Map pool shenanigans are pretty straightforward here. Liquid will be looking to snatch Dust 2, Nuke, and Overpass. Win rate differences are massive on all three maps, which leads to thinking Liquid should cruise to a win here. IN BIG’s defense, Mirage and Vertigo turn the odds in their favor.
But, I guess it’s 3:2 here in terms of favorable maps, with Inferno and Train out of the equation. But, Train could actually be a feasible choice here since both teams will want to counter each other’s picks. If we get to the third round and it’s Train… it’s going to be a proper spectacle!
Individual Stats
Unfortunately, this section can’t help our cause here. Our BIG vs. Liquid predictions have no extra value to get here because both teams are very closely matched. BIG’s gameplay will depend on how syrsoN and XANATARES come into the match. If they get their kills going in the first five rounds, you can expect them to be a massive nuisance for the Americans. If tomorrow isn’t their day, I’m afraid BIG will be in a whole heap of trouble.
Over the last month, the 20-year-old signing from Triumph has been Liquid’s best player. He’s closely followed by EliGE and NAF. This trio is proving to be of utmost importance for Team Liquid. If they get rolling early on, they will be very difficult to stop!
With all that taken into account, here’s what I have in store for you fellas:
Yessir, I’m going against the favorites here! BIG have had an amazing summer, but in a match with everything to play for (on two ends, quite literally), my money will be on Team Liquid. There’s just too much experience and raw quality in that roster; I just can’t see them fail after reaching this far.
You can rest assured the Germans will put up a proper fight… but I just don’t think it will be enough in the end. Astralis vs. Team Liquid in the grand finals; you’ve heard it here first. 2018… I want you back, right now!
