by ESB’s free Dota 2 betting predictions for Thursday, December 9, focus on a pair of Dota Pro Circuit (DPC) Eastern Europe Tour 1 Division I fixtures. Here are our selections for Natus Vincere vs Team Empire and Team Spirit vs PuckChamp, with top odds courtesy of the best esports bookmakers for gamblers in United States.
NATUS VINCERE vs TEAM EMPIRE Dota 2 BETTING & MATCH DETAILS |
|
|---|---|
| Dota 2 Odds: | NaVi -454.55 at BetOnline | Empire +307 at BetOnline |
| When: | December 9, 2021 at 17:00 MSK |
| Watch Live: | Twitch (https://www.twitch.tv/team/epicenter) |
Team Empire clawed their way into the upper division for the 2021/22 DPC season, and while they deserve some respect for that accomplishment, they likely won’t achieve much at this level. Not only will Empire be competing against much tougher teams, but they also lost many of their key members this offseason. Lack of talent was already noticeable last week when Empire lost 0-2 against AS Monaco Gambit, but we have to acknowledge that Gambit are one of the region’s strongest teams.
Like Empire, Natus Vincere kicked off the new season with a defeat, going down 0-2 against PuckChamp. While that was a somewhat unexpected result, it was a deserved one. NaVi did not play well on the day, while PuckChamp did enough to suggest they might be better than expected.
Both teams got off to a rough start to the season and will want to bounce back. NaVi need this win more since they should be in the race for a Major ticket, but after their poor performance against PuckChamp, we have to have some faith in Empire to take a map off them.
Team Empire +1.5 maps
TEAM SPIRIT vs PUCKCHAMP Dota 2 BETTING & MATCH DETAILS |
|
|---|---|
| Dota 2 Odds: | Spirit -833.33 at BetOnline | PC +481 at BetOnline |
| When: | December 9, 2021 at 20:00 MSK |
| Watch Live: | Twitch (https://www.twitch.tv/team/epicenter) |
We’re only one week into the new season, but based on what we have seen so far, Team Spirit and PuckChamp are playing some of the best Dota in the region. Both teams were a class above their opponents in the first round, with Spirit crushing Team Unique and PuckChamp handing two heavy defeats to NaVi and AS Monaco Gambit.
As the reigning Dota 2 International champions, Team Spirit deserve to be viewed as the better team, and there is a real possibility that they stomp PuckChamp on Thursday. However, the +163 on PuckChamp to win one map seems a bit too generous.
Spirit and PuckChamp have been exceptional so far, so we can expect an exciting series. But while PuckChamp might not cause an upset, they have the tools needed to win a map.
