LPL 2026 Split 3 Playoffs Betting Predictions – Saturday, September 5

League of Legends Pro League 2026 Split 3 Playoffs continue on Saturday with the first two lower-bracket clashes, as Top Esports face Invictus Gaming, followed by a meeting between JD Gaming and Ninjas in Pyjamas.

Here you can find free League of Legends betting previews and picks for the two games, and odds from the best esports bookmakers.

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Top Esports kicked off their LPL 2026 Split 3 Playoff campaign with a 2-3 loss against LGD Gaming, which marked just one more disappointing performance from Yu “JackeyLove” Wenbo and his crew.

Even towards the end of the regular season, TES looked shaky, with 0-2 losses against JD Gaming and Bilibili Gaming.

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  The bookies' bookie

With that, Top Esports have lost seven of their last nine games.

Invictus Gaming should be a lesser challenge than what Top Esports have become used to facing this split.

However, looking at IG’s roster on paper, they have enough quality to challenge TES or any Group Ascend team.

Moreover, IG have not looked as bad as TES of late.

With Invictus Gaming, it is tough to gauge how high they can fly.

They have done relatively well in Group Nirvana and whooped ThunderTalk Gaming in Knights Rivals, but that is hardly something to write home about.

Nevertheless, IG have looked more polished in the early game and have overall performed better than Top Esports.

At even money, Invictus Gaming are a no-brainer pick.

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JD Gaming had a very promising run at the end of the regular season.

They looked improved, more confident, and with a clear game plan, no longer opting into scaling, which had not worked for them earlier in the split.

Then, JDG lost to Team WE in the first round of the playoffs quite badly, while displaying a lot of the old issues, namely defaulting to scaling despite this approach not working for them.

Ninjas in Pyjamas enter this match with a perfect record, having not dropped a single game in the summer split.

They dominated Group Nirvana, dropping just three maps with a 12-3 map record while going 6-0.

Admittedly, they had to face lower-level opponents, but that does not take away from their impressive run.

JD Gaming are a big step up in competition for NIP, but considering JDG’s form, that step does not appear to be that high.

Ninjas in Pyjamas have shown good things, including the ability to deliver in the early game and navigate mid-late game without major issues.

JDG have shown the same things, but also the complete opposite, namely in their recent loss to Team WE.

With a strong early game, Ninjas in Pyjamas should be in a fine spot to defeat JD Gaming, who seem to be weak in that department.

There is a world where JDG wake up and show the same form they did towards the end of the regular season, but at +120, NIP are worth a stab.