Betting tips and best bets for Day 1 of IEM Dallas 2025. Odds and predictions for seven CS2 matchups, including G2, FaZe, MOUZ & more.
IEM Dallas 2025 Day 1 CS2 preview: predictions & top picks
Intel Extreme Masters Dallas 2025 kicks off on Monday, May 19, with the first eight fixtures, when the world’s best teams begin their quest for the coveted trophy. Check out our Counter-Strike 2 picks for the first day of play with esports odds courtesy of the top esports betting sites for gamblers from United States.
3DMAX vs GamerLegion CS2 betting & match details
Best Odds: 3DMAX +100 at Bovada | GL -138.89 at Stake.com
When: May 18, 2025 | 11:30 CDT
Watch Live: Twitch (https://www.twitch.tv/ESLCS)
Ranked 10th in Valve’s rankings, 3DMAX have been making a name for themselves as underdogs who should never be counted out. While their best LAN performance was a top-six finish at PGL Bucharest 2025, the French squad have picked up a few big scalps over the year, including Team Falcons, The MongolZ, and Aurora Gaming.
GamerLegion fall in the same category of outsiders who have the tools to do some damage. They’re fresh off a quarterfinal appearance in Melbourne, where they lost to the eventual finalists, Team Falcons.
On paper, the two teams look evenly matched. However, considering GamerLegion will play with Frederik “acoR” Gyldstrand as a stand-in for Henrich “sl3nd” Hevesi, 3DMAX at even money look very appealing.
Prediction: 3DMAX to win +100 at BetOnline
Team Liquid vs FaZe Clan CS2 betting & match details
Best Odds: TL +110 at Bovada | FaZe -151.52 at Stake.com
When: May 18, 2025 | 11:30 CDT
Watch Live: Twitch (https://www.twitch.tv/ESLCS)
FaZe Clan brought in Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyljev as a replacement for Helvijs “broky” Saukants in one of the most unexpected roster changes of the season. For s1mple and FaZe, this is a do-or-die situation, as neither have accomplished much since the turn of the year.
Team Liquid have not had much success either. Their best placement came at the end of April, when Liquid placed top-six at Intel Extreme Masters Melbourne 2025. Although solid placement, they crumbled when faced with a tougher opponent.
This is a match between two teams who desperately need to prove themselves, and while FaZe’s ceiling with s1mple appears higher, that’s not a good enough reason to take their side at these numbers. Expect a competitive game.
Prediction: Over 2.5 Maps -120.48 at Stake.com
Mouz vs BC.Game Esports CS2 betting & match details
Best Odds: MOUZ -1250 at Bovada | BG.Game +650 at Stake.com
When: May 18, 2025 | 14:00 CDT
Watch Live: Twitch (https://www.twitch.tv/ESLCS)
BC.Game will not be able to count on stand-in Ilya “Perfecto” Zalutskiy, who will miss the tournament due to visa issues. This throws a wrench in BC.Game’s plans to impress in their first-ever LAN tournament, however, even with a full lineup, they would have a mountain to climb in the first round.
MOUZ should be aiming for the gold medal in Dallas after narrowly missing out on a trophy in four consecutive events. That includes two runner-up finishes at ESL Pro League Season 21 and BLAST Open Spring 2025 and two semifinal runs at IEM Melbourne 2025 and BLAST Rivals Spring 2025.
MOUZ were the clear favourites from the start and with BC.Game’s roster issues, the favourites should feel confident about securing a comfortable win.
Prediction: MOUZ -11.5 Rounds -111.11 at BetOnline
G2 Esports vs Lynn Vision CS2 betting & match details
Best Odds: G2 -714.29 at Bovada | Lynn +400 at Stake.com
When: May 18, 2025 | 14:00 CDT
Watch Live: Twitch (https://www.twitch.tv/ESLCS)
G2 Esports enter IEM Dallas 2025 after a shaky display at PGL Astana 2025, where they placed ninth-11th with two wins against M80 and BIG, but they fell against MiBR, ODDIK, and Ninjas in Pyjamas. In their defence, G2 Esports were missing Nemanja “huNter-” Kovač and had to play with their coach.
IEM Dallas 2025 will be G2’s first tournament with a new roster and a chance to prove they can survive without Ilya “m0NESY” Osipov. However, it is hard to justify the offered price without seeing the new lineup play.
Lynn Vision are one of the top Asian teams and a solid squad who can take advantage of G2 Esports’ situation. Priced at +110 on the top Counter-Strike 2 betting sites to take a map off G2, Lynn Vision are worth a look.
Prediction: Lynn Vision +1.5 Maps +110 at 888starz
Team Falcons vs NRG CS2 betting & match details
Best Odds: Falcons -1666.67 at Bovada | NRG +700 at Stake.com
When: May 18, 2025 | 16:30 CDT
Watch Live: Twitch (https://www.twitch.tv/ESLCS)
Team Falcons look completely rejuvenated with m0NESY as the new AWPer. While they found success before the arrival of the Russian sniper by winning PGL Bucharest 2025, the Falcons have since added two impressive runner-up finishes at IEM Melbourne 2025 and BLAST Rivals Spring 2025
With momentum on their side and more than enough individual talent to compete with any team in the world, Falcons should not struggle against a team like NRG, whose only LAN appearance of the year (ESL Pro League Season 21) ended with a second-to-last-place finish.
Prediction: Team Falcons -11.5 Rounds -125 at Bovada
The MongolZ vs FURIA CS2 betting & match details
Best Odds: MongolZ -277.78 at Bovada | FURIA +200 at Stake.com
When: May 18, 2025 | 19:00 CDT
Watch Live: Twitch (https://www.twitch.tv/ESLCS)
The MongolZ defeated FURIA 2-1 last week during PGL Astana 2025 with 13-4 on Mirage and 13-9 on Inferno, so they should be expected to do well in a rematch. However, FURIA have been playing surprisingly well since the transition to an international roster and reached the semifinals in Kazakhstan.
FURIA will have a day less to prepare for this affair, and the added travel time will not do them any favours. However, even with that handicap, the majority-Brazilian roster should be able to force a close series.
Prediction: Over 2.5 Maps +100 at Stake.com
Aurora Gaming vs HEROIC CS2 betting & match details
Best Odds: Aurora -200 at Bovada | HEROIC +150 at Stake.com
When: May 18, 2025 | 19:00 CDT
Watch Live: Twitch (https://www.twitch.tv/ESLCS)
Aurora Gaming looked a bit iffy during their PGL Astana 2025 group stage campaign, but they reached the semifinals with a 2-0 sweep of MongolZ.
The Turkish squad proved they can perform at the top level, whereas we are still waiting for HEROIC to do the same. Linus “LNZ” Holtäng and co.have yet to leave a strong impression in an S-Tier event, but they have won their last two tournaments, MESA Nomadic Masters Spring 2025 and CCT Season 2 Global Finals.
HEROIC are on an eight-game winning streak, and even though they have not faced any good teams besides Wildcard and BetBoom Team, Aurora Gaming have recently produced a few stinkers against weaker opponents and will likely still be jet-lagged from the long travel to Dallas.
HEROIC at outsider odds with the top esports betting apps and are worth a stab.
Prediction: HEORIC to win +150 at BetOnline
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