IEM Cologne 2025 group stage betting tips – Monday, July 28

Intel Extreme Masters Cologne shifts into overdrive on Monday as the upper- and lower-bracket semifinals decide who reaches the LANXESS Arena playoffs and who packs up early. Below you’ll find match-by-match previews, form notes, and our best Counter-Strike 2 tips, with odds courtesy of the top bookmakers in United States.

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  Fast Payouts

Natus Vincere vs MOUZ

Best Odds: NAVI +150 with BetOnline vs MOUZ -208.33 with BetOnline
When: July 28, 2025 | 13:30 CEST
Watch Live: Twitch

This should be the most playoff‑like clash of the session. NAVI tend to scale well across three maps; their mid‑round calling and utility discipline usually limit snowball halves. MOUZ often trade rounds well on their comforts and are dangerous in late‑round 2v2s, but they can stall when forced into slow defaults against tight CT protocols. If NAVI secure a comfort opener and avoid a punishing permaban from MOUZ, NAVI can cause an upset.

Ninjas in Pyjamas vs Heroic

Best Odds: NiP -153.85 with BetOnline vs Heroic +115 with SportsBetting
When: July 28, 2025 | 13:30 CEST
Watch Live: Twitch

NiP’s best looks come when they win early‑half pistols and control the economy; HEROIC’s strengths are grindy mid‑rounds and retake structure that drags maps into high‑20s round counts. Expect one razor‑thin map and a decider if pistols split 1‑1.

From a veto perspective, each side has at least one comfort pick that can tilt momentum, so totals and map‑handicap markets are safer than taking a heavy stance on the moneyline before maps are locked. If NiP secure their preferred opener, HEROIC often answer with a more structured second, which naturally leans the series toward three. In-play, look for long streaks of saves and full‑buy rounds; when both teams are on guns, rounds tend to go the distance rather than collapse into snowballs.

Team Liqiud v FaZe

Best Odds: Team Liquid +150 with BetOnline vs FaZe -208.33 with BetOnline
When: July 28, 2025 | 16:00 CEST
Watch Live: Twitch

FaZe generally reduce variance in these mid‑event sets thanks to veteran spacing and composure in late rounds. Liquid have shown higher ceilings when their comfort picks come through and their AWPer finds early impact, but they’ve also had map‑to‑map volatility. The cleanest angle is with the esports betting sites favourite unless the veto squeezes FaZe onto a shaky second pick.

Aurora vs Team Spirit

Best Odds: Aurora +320 with BetOnline vs Team Spirit -500 with SportsBetting
When: July 24, 2025 | 16:00 CEST
Watch Live: Twitch

Derby dynamics put extra weight on veto edges. Spirit are most comfortable when they can slow the pace, take space methodically, and punish over‑peeks; Aurora’s best path is tempo—flooding early map control and forcing scrappy mid‑rounds. If Spirit land a pair of structured maps in the pool, their consistency usually wins out; if Aurora get a free-wheeling pick, momentum can flip quickly.

Team Falcons vs FURIA Esports

Best Odds: Team Falcons -333.33 with BetOnline vs FURIA +230 with SportsBetting
When: July 28, 2025 | 18:30 CEST
Watch Live: Twitch

This is a momentum tug‑of‑war. FURIA look best when they dictate the pace and chain multi‑entry rounds; Falcons can grind halves long with layered mid‑round protocols and will punish over‑extensions. If the early T‑side rounds split, expect stretched halves and swingy force‑buy resets that naturally inflate map length.

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  The bookies' bookie

A brawl‑leaning pool generally favours FURIA’s front‑foot calls and increases variance; structured maps give Falcons time to stabilise setups and drag rounds late.

3DMAX vs G2 Esports

Best Odds: 3DMAX +180 with BetOnline vs G2 -250 with BetOnline
When: July 28, 2025 | 18:30 CEST
Watch Live: Twitch

Underdog 3DMAX can spike on their first pick, but G2 usually carry a deeper playbook and sturdier late‑round calling at this stage of events. If 3DMAX don’t convert their opening choice, it’s hard to see them finding two. 3DMAX’s clearest path is to lean into a faster, duel‑heavy map for their pick and try to cash in on early momentum and opening duels. G2 are typically happier on more structured battlegrounds where their spacing and utility layering reduce variance; if the pool hands them two comfort maps, their superior mid‑rounds and clutch discipline tend to show over a best‑of‑three.