ESB’s Counter-Strike: Global Offensive betting predictions for Friday focus on two bouts in Season 3 of the European Development Championship. Here are the best bets and top odds for ex-Winstrike vs Team Spirit Academy and Sprout vs Young Ninjas.

?Even though Aleksey “El1an” Gusev and co. are no longer under contract with Winstrike Team – due to alleged breaches in contractual obligations from the Russian esports organisation – this is still the same roster that made it into the semi-finals of Snow Sweet Snow #2 last month. So it shouldn’t come as a shock to see them priced as huge favourites against Team Spirit’s academy side.

At the offered odds, Team Spirit Academy’s implied probability to win is less than 10%, which seems extremely low. That doesn’t necessarily mean we believe their chances to win are much greater than that, but we find the price on the round handicap to be slightly overs.

There is also a chance ex-Winstrike won’t take this tournament too seriously, since it’s more of a proving ground for academy teams rather than an important event. Get on the outsiders to cover the round line.

?Sprout are the reigning European Development Championship champions, so it makes sense to see them priced as massive favourites over Young Ninjas. That said, Sprout haven’t been playing too well recently and just might get outclasses by the Swedes unless they lift their game.

Young Ninjas enter this match on a four-game winning streak, whereas Sprout have managed only two wins in their last six, and even those came against ordinary teams in forZe and MAD Lions. Ninjas were priced as high as $2.80 for the win a few days back, and it’s easy to understand why the odds at esports betting sites are dropping.

Although Ninjas might lack individual quality, we are far more concerned with Sprout’s instability and tendency to choke in crucial rounds. Young Ninjas with a +3.5 round handicap is a solid bet, but we are going all-in on the Swedish squad for this match.