Griffin & IG Heavy Favorites in LoL MSI 2019 Odds; Is there Value Elsewhere?

• Is Griffin a lock to win the 2019 Mid-Season Invitational?
• Are last year’s world champs worth throwing some money on?
• We’ve selected the best value picks to win MSI 2019

The 2019 Mid-Season Invitational is set to kick off May 1st and will be held in Vietnam and Taiwan. So far throughout the year we have taken a look at the odds heading into the first international event of 2019, and there has been quite the shift in the table.

The top two favored teams have stayed on top all year long in, Griffin, and Invictus Gaming, but even their numbers have changed. So let’s take a look at the updated odds, and examine what teams may be able to topple the big dogs at the top.

2019 Mid-Season Invitational Odds

Odds taken on 02/25/19.

A Foregone Conclusion?

Before the 2019 League of Legends season started, I was convinced this would be the year that SKT T1 returned to their former glory. After watching the first few weeks of LCK play, it’s clear that though they are one of the better teams, that Griffin is simply on another level than any other team in the LCK, and probably the world.

Griffin is simply on another level than any other team in the LCK, and probably the world.

They have started the Spring Split with a perfect 10-0 record, absolutely outclassing their opponents, and at times outright stomping them. Korea has historically been the best region when it comes to League of Legends, and it doesn’t even appear that they have been even remotely challenged so far.

Chovy, the 17-year-old phenom in the mid-lane, has earned comparisons to Faker with his play thus far, which is the highest honor I could think of for a professional LoL player. Though he has been putting up insane stats, the rest of the members on Griffin have been equally impressive.

They play so smart as a cohesive unit, but all have the individual skill to get it done on their own if they get caught out. So far in the LCK Spring Split, Griffin has only dropped one game, which is insane. Right now they are the best team in the world, and I just can’t see any teams beating them at MSI in the form they are in.

Are the Reigning World Champs Worth a Look?

After walking through the competition en route to winning 2018 Worlds, Invictus Gaming came into the 2019 season as one of the teams that was expected to do great things. So far they have done well, currently sitting in second in the LPL, with a 6-2 record. But I feel like they just don’t have what it takes to beat the likes of Griffin.

The LPL has gotten stronger and stronger over the years, and some might even say that China is the new region that should be looked at as the premier region in the world of League of Legends. That may be the case overall, but I don’t believe that any team in the LPL is on the same level as Griffin.

I fully expect the Korean side to come out on top at MSI when all is said and done, but more than likely the other team in the finals will come from China, and it very well may be Invictus Gaming.

Value Picks to Win MSI 2019

Though Griffin should probably be the only team to look at to win MSI, there are a few other teams that could certainly upset the Koreans, though it would be a longshot.

G2 are currently dominating the LEC, only losing one game thus far this season, and the ways in which they’re winning are insane.

The first team I would highlight that has the ability to possibly upset would be G2. They are currently dominating the LEC, only losing one game thus far this season, and the ways in which they’re winning are insane. They are crushing every team in EU, and with the ability to flex their picks so well, the possible team comps that they can bring to the table are endless.

The other team I would consider looking at to possibly cause an upset would be Liquid. They too are dominating their respective region, losing once this season, just like G2. Though they don’t really offer the same versatility in terms of possible team comps, the way they have been playing so far in the LCS Spring Split is clinical. The addition of CoreJJ and Jensen has taken Liquid to a world-class level, so maybe, just maybe, they’ll be able to get it done at MSI.

Pick: Griffin (+150)