Team Heretics vs. NiP Odds, Prediction, and Pick for May 5th – ESL One Road to Rio, EU

The group stage of the ESL One Road to Rio in Europe ends this week and some of the most important matches are ahead of us. The clash between Team Heretics and Ninjas in Pyjamas today is an excellent example of what I mean.

Both teams are fighting for a place in the playoffs and the outcome of this encounter will heavily affect the final standings in Group B.

My Team Heretics vs. NiP betting preview explores the chances of both sides to win and the latest betting odds. Based on those and my prediction, I also share a recommended betting pick at the end.

The Team Heretics vs. NiP odds I use here can be found at BetOnline, one of the leading betting sites online for esports. Every single match from the ESL One Road to Rio is available there and the bookmaker has around 40 markets and high limits.

I don’t think many people expected the strong start of Team Heretics. The squad registered wins over Dignitas and ENCE in the first week of the ESL Road to Rio, adding another one against Complexity at the start of the second.

That put Heretics in a commanding position before two defeats in a row brought the team back to earth and there’s a real danger of missing out on the playoffs. Heretics must find at least one more victory and that could be a problem considering their final two opponents and the team’s trajectory so far.

Unlike their next opponent. Ninjas in Pyjamas suffered a bad start in the competition, losing against Vitality in the opening round. And yet, that just angered the team that went on to win the next four matches.

That should be enough for a place in the next stage of the Road to Rio but I’m sure that NiP would want to keep the momentum and secure a high seed for the playoffs. Today’s match is the best opportunity to achieve that, as the closing clash of the group is against Fnatic.

Based on the latest form of both sides, the logical prediction would be to back Ninjas in Pyjamas to win today. The team has been flying recently and would be eager to cement a top 2 spot with a victory.

I like Heretics’ performance in general, but the squad has been on a decline. I believe that the possibility of a clean sweep for the favorite is very real, so the price of +173 for NiP to cover the -1.5 map advantage is the best pick here.

If you are looking for more action on Tuesday, I strongly recommend you to take a look at my best esports bets for today. You will find more CS:GO picks there, as well as some Dota 2 and LoL suggestions.