MyBookie is back with free Counter-Strike: Global Offensive betting pick and predictions for two Funspark ULTI 2021 bouts. Here are our picks for Fnatic vs BIG and Gambit Esports vs Extra Salt, who will clash on Wednesday, January 19.
Top Counter-Strike: Global Offensive Games to Wager on Wednesday, January 19
Fnatic vs BIG
- When: Wednesday, January 19 – 12:00 CET
Fnatic and BIG will lock horns in the opening round of Funspark ULTI 2021 this Wednesday, marking their first meeting since December, when Fnatic beat BIG 2-1 during IEM Winter 2021. That win marked Fnatic’s second consecutive victory against BIG with their new British-Swedish roster, and according to the latest CS:GO betting odds, Fnatic should make it three in a row.
That makes a lot of sense, mainly because Fnatic have been getting stronger towards the end of 2021. Meanwhile, BIG seemed to have stagnated. Since the departure of İsmailсan “XANTARES” Dörtkardeş, BIG haven’t been the same, and while they have produced a few decent performances towards the end of the year – most notably a top-four finish at V4 Future Sports Festival – Budapest 2021 – the Germans haven’t produced much that would make you excited about them.
What’s more, BIG haven’t won a single tournament since Funspark ULTI 2020 in April 2021. They came close in November 2021, when they made it to the finals of DreamHack Open November 2021, where they lost against Fnatic, who then also eliminated BIG from IEM Winter in December.
Like BIG, Fnatic haven’t achieved anything spectacular, but they have rebuilt their roster in October-November, so it’s not like they had enough time to form a strong synergy. And still, Fnatic won two tournaments in November – DreamHack Open November 2021 and REPUBLEAGUE Season 2 – and placed top-eight at IEM Winter.
Based on what we have seen from these two teams before the Christmas break, it’s hard to favor BIG over Fnatic. Admittedly, both teams will be ring rusty, so there’s a chance for an upset, but barring any shock results, Fnatic should bring it home.
Prediction: Fnatic -1.5 maps
Gambit Esports vs Extra Salt
- When: Wednesday, January 19 – 15:00 CET
It doesn’t get much more one-sided than this. Gambit Esports are currently ranked as the second-best team in the world – second to only their regional rivals and the reigning Major champions, NaVi. In contrast, Extra Salt are ranked no.29 in the global rankings.
No matter how you look at this match, Gambit Esports are a class above the North American squad, who might be one of the top teams from their region, but they have to face a championship roster that spent a good portion of 2021 atop of the global rankings.
That is not to say that Extra Salt can’t put up a fight, but it’s doubtful that they will manage to upset the Russian powerhouse.
Extra Salt’s only notable achievements from 2021 include a title from ESL Pro League Conference Season 15, and a runner-up finish at Funspark ULTI 2020. Although that might seem solid enough, the two tournaments featured mostly second-tier teams.
Meanwhile, Gambit Esports won some of the biggest CS:GO tournaments of the year, including V4 Future Sports Festival – Budapest 2021, BLAST Premier: Spring Finals 2021, and Intel Extreme Masters XVI – Summer, to name a few. And beyond that, Gambit were the semi-finalist at the PGL Major Stockholm 2021.
Gambit are significantly strong individually and as a team and should win this match with their eyes closed.
Prediction: Gambit Esports -1.5 maps
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