The fall season is upon us and CS:GO BLAST Premier kicks off once again, with teams having an opportunity to earn a direct entry to the Fall Finals slated for November. It’s the first big Tier 1 tournament since the summer break. Also at stake is a $175,000 prize pool and circuit points that all add up to help teams make a push for the world final to wind down the year.
Just like the spring competition, the format remains the same: group stage, play-in stage and last-chance stage. In the group stages, the 12 teams are divided into three groups of four, with teams competing in best-of-one matches in a double-elimination bracket. This stage will be used to determine the seedings, not to eliminate teams.
Teams will then battle it out in three gauntlets at the play-in stage. Third- and fourth-placed teams from each group will cross over to play the quarterfinals, while those who finish second in the groups will directly advance to the semifinals and the three toppers will make the final.
The team that finishes fourth in each gauntlet will have a shot at redemption in the Fall Showdown, while those who finish second and third can qualify in the last-chance stage. The six teams will now play a best-of-three clash, with the Sportsbook securing an entry at the Fall Final, and the loser playing in the Fall Showdown.
Before we get started, make sure you check out our guide for How to Bet on CS:GO.
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Vitality | +200 |
| Astralis | +250 |
| Ninjas in Pyjamas | +280 |
Odds as of August 18 at Sportsbook
Group A Favorites
Vitality (+200)
There are two ways of looking at their performances lately. One: they’ve failed to win a title in recent times. Two: their only top-two finish recently was the BLAST Premier Spring Final 2022. No prizes for guessing where they’re leaning toward.
They will be keen to channel the performance from earlier in the year, even though their larger issues of inconsistency seem to slowly be moving toward the back burner. That it isn’t in focus as much now points to plenty of positive signs ahead of the fall season, and they’re well placed to top the group.
They have made one roster change that makes them the talk of the town. Young prodigy and rising sensation Spinx is joining the team immediately following a transfer from ENCE. In the last three months alone, his HLTV ratings have shot through the roof and now stand at 1.04, fourth in comparison to his new mates.
On LAN, he performs even better with a rating of 1.17, making him one of the world’s best currently. Vitality can do with his level of domination as they try to chart another chapter in this turnaround. A team with a vision and lofty ambitions is well placed to come out of its trophy-less slumber.
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Na’Vi | -187 |
| G2 Esports | +280 |
| Team Liquid | +400 |
Odds as of August 18 at Sportsbook
Group B Favorites
Natus Vincere (-187)
It tells you of their dominance when you factor in they are favorites despite not being at full strength. The one thing they need to look out for, though, is the distractions that are invariably a byproduct of big changes, like star AWPer s1mple’s mysterious unavailability. All we know now is a cryptic reason through Instagram saying “big announcement coming.”
That they already have a ready replacement in 18-year-old headtr1ck gives you a peek into their successive planning. He is ready to make the switch to the main lineup full time, after having previously stepped in to replace Boombl4 at ESL Pro League Season 15. All said, it won’t be a joyride.
They will need to stave off competition from G2 to top the group, but G2 themselves are in a state of flux having made some big-ticket roster changes and with the inevitable blame game that follows such high-profile exits, especially if there’s some acrimony. This clears the path for Na’Vi somewhat.
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| FaZe Clan | -143 |
| Heroic | +175 |
| BIG | +600 |
Odds as of August 18 at Sportsbook
Group C Favorites
FaZe Clan (-143)
FaZe are on an unprecedented high and are going by the old mantra of not needing to fix something that ain’t broke. A thrilling win in the finale of IEM Cologne sets them up superbly to extend their domination here.
The world No. 1 went into the summer break having won the sport’s three biggest trophies – IEM Katowice, PGL Antwerp Major and IEM Cologne – and are one more IEM away from a Grand Slam. Enough said. The only way of building on this Triple Crown achievement is by winning a second major of the year as well as the Intel Grand Slam. FaZe has all the makings to extend their reign at the top of the charts.
Karrigan’s performances have been among their primary reasons for their chart-topping spree. He’s won titles with Astralis, he’s won titles with TSM, and he is now primed to ensure there are many more in the bag with FaZe.
Having returned to the team he parted ways with in 2019 and having become the oldest to win a major at 31, his hunger has been reinvigorated like never before. He is already great, but another title win could take his legend to another level. Good luck to the competitors.
