Another round of Counter-Strike matchups is on deck Thursday, September 26, at the Blast Premier Fall Final. And you better believe we have breakdowns as well as predictions for each one.
- What: Blast Premier Fall Final - Group Stage
- Game: Counter-Strike 2
- When: Thursday, September 26
- Where: Copenhagen
- Venue: Forum Copenhagen
- Prize Pool: $425,000
- Reigning Champion: Team Vitality
Like always, the Blast Premier Fall Final generates a ton of interest not just for its results, but for its impact on Counter-Strike futures ahead of the Blast Premier World Final. Everyone is looking for trends. Which teams are on heaters? How will it impact their odds to the Blast Premier World Final? Do we get any surprises?
At present, the Blast Premier Fall Final remains in the Group Stage. Here are the latest Counter-Strike 2 betting lines for Thursday’s matchups:
| Favorite |  | | Underdog |
|---|---|---|---|
| FaZe Clan | -227 | +200 | Falcons |
| NaVi | -204 | +160 | G2 Esports |
| Team Spirit | -417 | +300 | Astralis |
| Team Vitality | -256 | +200 | Team Liquid |
As usual, please remember to double-check these online esports betting odds right up until you place your wager. Our Counter-Strike Blast Premier Fall Final betting odds are accurate as of Wednesday September 25. You can expect the top online sportsbooks in the United States to continue making adjustments through the opening bell on Thursday, September 26.
Remember, this breakdown is not aimed at predicting Counter-Strike futures. We are instead taking a look at four pivotal matchups in the Group Stage. Each of them will have implications on the Blast Premier Fall Final Playoffs and, ultimately, the road to The Grand Final.
So, which squads are best positioned to pick up victories in the latest Group Stage slate? Will any underdogs defy the current Counter-Strike 2 Blast Premier Fall Final betting lines? Let’s get to it!
Overview of Counter-Strike Group Stage Format at 2024 Blast Premier Fall Final
The Blast Premier Fall Final format is pretty straightforward relative to other S-Tier tournaments. Both the Group Stage and Playoffs will use best-of-three to determine matchup winners. This includes the four clashes we are about to break down.
For those interested in Counter-Strike 2 futures, though, bear in mind that The Grand Final will declare a winner following a best-of-five showdown. And the stakes in that matchup will be high.
The winner doesn’t just earn top billing from this tournament. They are also guaranteed qualification to the Blast Premier World Final later this year.
FaZe Clan is a Semi-Heavy Favorite to Pick Up the Win Over Falcons
Don’t be surprised if FaZe Clan (-278) becomes less of a favorite heading into Thursday’s affair. They turned in a spotty effort versus G2 Esports on Wednesday, falling 2-1, with neither of those losses being particularly close.
This continues a rocky trend from one of the seventh-best ranked teams in the world. FaZe Clan has not won an S-Tier Counter-Strike tournament since all the way back in April. What’s more, during this span of seven total competitions, they have failed to place higher than fifth.
All of which raises the question: Why are they such decided favorites here? Well, we think it has more to do with Falcons (+200). They have won just 40 percent of their matches over the past year and only picked up a victory in one of their last 10.
On top of that, their meeting with G2 Esports went even worse than it did for FaZe. The latter seems like the better bet, even as they go through a rough patch of their own.
OSB Prediction: FaZe Clan (-278)
Is G2 Esports Underrated in Their Matchup Against NaVi?
Can the answer to this question be both “yes” and “no?” We’re asking for us.
In all seriousness, we definitely value G2 Esports (+160) better than 1.6-to-1. They have proven their mettle in the Group Stage against FaZe Clan. They have also won each of their past seven Counter-Strike matches.
And yet, NaVi (-204) is on an absolute tear. They already made exceptionally quick work of the Falcons at the Blast Premier Fall Final. Meanwhile, when they last met G2 Esports during the last ESL Pro League Season 20 tournament, they rattled off a decisive best-of-three victory.
Simplified even further, Natus Vincere has now won 71 percent of their head-to-head matchups over the past year. We don’t expect that number to fall off versus G2 Esports.
OSB Prediction: NaVi (-204)
Team Spirit’s Counter-Strike Track Record will Speak for Itself Versus Astralis
Of all the Counter-Strike matches on Thursday’s Blast Premier Fall Final docket, this one looms as the easiest one to predict.
Astralis (+300) deserves credit for scooping up some third- and fourth-place finishes at recent S-Tier tournaments. They pushed FaZe Clan to a full three games during the Intel Extreme Masters Chengdu 2024. But this is not a team currently built to push the best of the best. Astralis’ last two S-Tier appearances have ended with finishes in the ninth through 12th and 21st through 28th brackets.
Of course, Team Spirit (-417) isn’t currently playing like a powerhouse. Their season peaked with a Blast Premier Spring Final first-place finish over Natus Vincere back in June. However, they are the team that has been consistently able to place higher up in tournament brackets this year. That makes them the easy choice.
OSB Prediction: Team Spirit (-417)
Team Vitality and Team Liquid Could Deliver Classic Showdown at Blast Premier Fall Final
Team Liquid (+200) played Team Vitality (-256) fairly tightly during their last meeting earlier this month. We were actually a little taken aback to see them as such heavy underdogs. Team Liquid has shown it can be tactically crafty, as a group, in a handful of different Counter-Strike maps.
Still, the consistency of Team Vitality should prevail here. In particular, we need to see more from Team Liquid when they don’t get off an ideal start. Their win rate after suffering the first kill currently hovers below 30 percent. That more than anything invariably prevents us from seriously considering an upset pick.
OSB Prediction: Team Spirit (-417)
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