The 2026 Esports season is getting underway and starting to take some shape. Eight teams have a shot at winning this championship. The fun here is how much has changed and how much is on the line. Read on for our League of Legend picks to take the LOL LCS Lock-In event.
The League of Legends Lock-In represents some of the World’s best including some up and comer players and teams. LOL remains one of the most hotly contested events for esports betting fans. Each year, LOL betting draws more and more numbers, with the best Esports online betting sites experiencing unprecedented betting activity during the event.
The first Swiss Stage matches do not even start until Saturday.
Below are the odds for the Futures brought to you by the best LoL betting sites.
| LOL LCS Lock-In 2026 | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lyon | +300 | +275 | +300 |
| Cloud9 | +300 | +300 | +300 |
| Shopify Rebellion | +400 | +400 | +450 |
| Team Liquid | +550 | +600 | +550 |
| FlyQuest | +650 | +650 | +650 |
| Sentinels | +1100 | +1200 | +1200 |
| Dignitas | +1600 | +1600 | +1600 |
| Disguised | +2500 | +2500 | +2800 |
League of Legend picks expect to be quite intriguing heading into this event. Form is out the window truthfully as each of these teams head into 2026 with hope springing eternal. Cloud9 is a co-favorite on the strength of their late results but honestly could be a bigger favorite than it seems. Lyon is solid and Team Liquid is always lurking. The problem is the wildcards most may want to stay away from.
Arguably the difference between the top squads is not so clear. This stems from it being January. Does anyone know what Shopify Rebellion or FlyQuest is truly going to do here. These are teams that could thrive or really flame out come the March playoffs. No one really knows.
The dynamic lies in the representation. Yes, South Korea tilts the scales at 38% for this event but the United States comes in at a close second (33%). Several players from the American and South Korean sides could make this tournament far more appealing than at first glance.
Team Liquid can still pull off the upset. See with numbers set early, anything can happen. However, it is Cloud9 that many seem to be surprised on. It was kind of assumed they would be a stronger favorite. Yet, Lyon is a co-favorite with days remaining to start the event. This is one gift not to pass up.
Bovada offers some incredible options here for esports. One of the riskier bets will be exact score when the event starts over the weekend. Look to Friday for a release of some match props. Anyway, like we mentioned above, Shopify Rebellion is a bit of an unknown while Team Liquid is more recognizable. Sometimes in Esports, it does not make a difference. However, here it might.
Now, the range of payouts for Team Liquid is a little better. BetUS is offering +600 for Liquid to come out victorious and get to First Strike 2026. Yes, the top team gets to FST. The second and third place team advance to the America’s Cup. Contrary to some, there is a lot to play for here. It is why Team Liquid come be the surprise along with one other team perhaps.
Exact results for Liquid truly depend on who they draw first. Being 3-0 is the most ideal as the undefeated team will have choice in who they face next. Two wins is crucial and who one wins against even more vital. No one wants to be in the last chance event before the playoffs.
We will get into map props probably at some point during the Swiss Stage or playoffs but Team Liquid is our pick from the second tier here.
League of Legends picks and the rest can be a total guess. Again, teams have moved. Teams have changed rosters dramatically. Also, it is the opening event for most players at an S-Tier tournament. Strange things can and will happen especially in the early matches. Could one of the bottom four teams win this thing?
Sentinels boasts not the best roster but by far, the most unknown. They snagged the spot left by 100 Thieves when they moved last year. This team is comprised of three South Korean players and two Americans. Honestly, it is one to keep an eye on. Preliminaries have shown them to be far more cohesive than anyone expected. Again, event play is always different. However, the fused team made an impression.
The numbers did start to shorten for Sentinels. Originally, they were dead last in the Futures and are now 6th. It is not a big jump but a noticeable one.
For quite awhile, everyone assumed we have only three picks here. However, we have a fourth. Again, if all else fails, there’s FlyQuest at +650. There are three new members and a new Top, Jungle, and Support. Those are slightly important positions when it comes to a roster.
If one had to go with another upset candidate, it would be FlyQuest. Simply, we do not know enough about them to forecast a prediction but oddsmakers seem to be keen on them. Maybe, that is wishful thinking but the bottom line is they are on the radar for a reason.
Most books are in agreement around +650 for them which is considerably astonishing given the unknown.
Below are some of the best online League of Legends betting sites. Go check out the updated betting site bonuses to help maximize your potential profits.
Chris Wassel is someone who has covered a little bit of everything: business, writing, sports, food, grilling, the Olympics, injuries, politics, and more. He has climbed mountains like Mount Washington and Mount San Jacinto in Palm Springs, California, and for those who don’t know, he is also big into food challenges. With friends like Joey Chestnut and Casey Webb, Chris has tackled eating feats like finishing a 16-pound turkey or a 32-inch meat lover's pizza. Since 2013, he has focused on fitness, fishing, and sports while managing to fit in running, hiking, rock climbing, and even the occasional mini-triathlon. He can lift more than his body weight with ease and is the person you turn to when you want to know if a NASCAR rain delay means a Monday race. Over his career, Chris has worked at places like Amazon, USA Today, and various rumors and fantasy sports sites. He has been nominated for awards such as the Fantasy Sports Writers Association's Hockey Writer of the Year and has a collection of high-stakes fantasy trophies and rings on display at home. With all this, Chris sums it up best with his motto: "Shut up and play."