With EPIC.LAN 44 fast approaching, we have asked your CS casters, for their predictions to help you navigate the plethora of teams attending. Orson “SeveralSheep” Schuijers, Vlad “WaXeN” Catusanu, Tyler “oTYL3R” Hewstone, and Alexander “OneWing” Derhamanda provided their favourite to win, who could be the underdog, and who could provide the biggest upset.
Orson “SeveralSheep” Schuijers
Favourite to win simple, but true. ALASKA has looked like the strongest contender for multiple EPIC.LAN’s in a row. Last time around they lost 2 maps in the playoffs. At 44, ArTisT & co will have to be on their toes. They are the ones to beat!
My underdogs are Recognised Talent. A team that I backed earlier on during EPIC.LAN 42, where they disappointed both me and themselves. Following this lineup, individual improvements have been big since then. They have been looking strong!
For the biggest upset as put in my tierlist. The Binmen top 16. I don’t care, I need it, straight to the veins.
Vlad “WaXeN” Catusanu
I’m gonna take 8Sins, with wfn MVP, an unexpected one. Underdog: Stratbase.app and Biggest upset stratbase to beat The Binmen.
Tyler “oTYL3R” Hewstone
Hands down my money is on ALASKA to win the whole thing. arTisT has the pedigree and the experience to win at EPIC and has done it time and time again, Vacancy and Tree60 are also both the talents to look out for, so it’s honesty their tournament to lose. Then I’d give it Belfast Storm to make a deep run and The Binmen are getting out of groups, I’m gonna manifest it.
Alexander “OneWing” Derhamand
My favourites have to be ALASKA, reigning EPIC.LAN & UKIC Div1 champs, bolstered by the addition of Tree60 from GL Academy, they’re gonna be a tough one to knock off their top spot.
Underdog: the core of Godku, AliBond & Jared has a lot of experience at EPIC, including a playoff run as part of Shaman. Could this reunion spark another such feat, or potentially more?
Upset: As someone who follows collegiate CS very closely, I know about the pedigree BUHM has at that level, winning NSE summer 23, and after an alright showing last EPIC, it’ll be interesting how they fare with the loss of Ourob to REY, although jayisvexed is a solid replacement with a good relationship with the roster. Highly unlikely to go deep into the tournament, however, their experience as a unit, and solid foundation, could spoil the day of a higher seed underestimating them. Although as a fellow BU alumni, I do have my biases here.
With a mix of predictions for the underdogs of EPIC.LAN, it seems as though ALASKA is the safe bet but can they do it on a cold day in the Kettering Conference Centre?
Familiar fan favourites The Binmen have been set up for a fairytale story or is it purely caster copium?
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