Looking for VCT Americas picks? We preview the August 27 playoff matches with odds, form notes and expert VALORANT tips.
VALORANT Champions Tour 2026 Americas Stage 2 Playoffs begin on Thursday, August 27, with the first two games of the knockout stage.
The day starts with a clash between LOUD and FURIA, followed by an interesting meeting between Leviatan and MIBR.
Esportbet brings you free VALORANT betting predictions and tips for the two games, along with odds courtesy of the top-rated esports bookmakers.
LOUD enter VCT Americas Stage 2 Playoffs after a long break.
They booked a direct invite to the knockout stage by finishing Group Omega in second place. FURIA, on the other side, had to claw their way through the Play-Ins after finishing Group Alpha last, with no wins to their name.
Despite the shocking start to the stage, FURIA have picked themselves up and defeated 2GAME Esports, G2 Esports, and Evil Geniuses to qualify for the final eight.
Across the three games, they have performed better than in groups, both in their decision-making and on an individual level.
LOUD looked better in the group stage, but FURIA have also improved since, and they have some momentum on their side.
While the verdict is out on whether FURIA have actually figured something out, it is easier to trust a team that is not coming off a two-week break.
FURIA to win
The best VALORANT bookmakers have Leviatan listed as -227.27 favourites to defeat MIBR, which comes off as a high price.
Admittedly, Leviatan are the reigning Masters champions, and they did not look too bad in the group stage; however, MIBR have not been too shabby either.
MIBR placed third in Group Alpha with a 3-2 record, and have since beaten KRU Esports and ENVY in the Play-In stage, showing some promise.
Leviatan are a very good team with Phoenix-Neon, but MIBR will likely want to play Abyss, where Phoenix-Neon is not as strong of a combo.
The same can be said for Split, which is another one of MIBR’s best maps, so if they approach the map veto well, the underdogs can gain some advantages.
Leviatan have been very stubborn with the compositions they like to play, and MIBR should be ready for it.
While Leviatan are the better team qualitatively, MIBR have room to pull ahead and force a close game.
Over 2.5 maps
Mark Prezelj
Esports Betting Analyst
Mark Prezelj is a Slovenian esports betting analyst with over 3,500 articles at EsportBet and the founder of Lines64.com — someone who has been reading odds longer than most readers have been watching esports.
