LEC Versus 2026 playoffs betting preview: Odds and favorites

Naerlyn Published February 12, 2026

The regular season of the LEC Versus 2026 has just concluded. While the story of Los Ratones’ elimination has been on everyone’s keyboards, the other eight teams are still in the running. Starting this weekend, the eight best European teams compete to earn EU’s First Stand slot. Find out all about the tail-end of this tournament as well as our favorites analysis in this LEC Versus 2026 playoffs betting preview.

LEC Versus 2026 playoffs odds

Eight playoffs teams remaining

The LEC Versus 2026 playoffs teams (with regular season wins-losses) are:

• 1. Karmine Corp (8-3)
• 2. Natus Vincere (7-4)
• 3. Team Vitality (7-4)
• 4. Team Heretics (6-5)
• 5. GIANTX (6-5)
• 6. Movistar KOI (6-5)
• 7. G2 Esports (6-5)
• 8. Fnatic (5-6)

The teams participating in the LEC Versus 2026 playoffs. Image Source: LEC

Playoffs schedule and first matches

• February 16th: Round 1 upper bracket matches 1 and 2 (NAVI vs FNC, VIT vs MKOI)
• February 17th: Round 1 upper bracket matches 3 and 4 (TH vs G2, KC vs GX)
• February 20th: Round 2 upper bracket matches 1 and 2
• February 21st: Round 1 lower bracket matches 1 and 2
• February 22nd: Round 2 lower bracket matches 1 and 2
• February 23rd: Round 3 lower bracket
• February 27th: Upper bracket finals
• February 28th: Lower bracket finals
• March 1st: Grand finals

Playoffs format

• The LEC Versus Playoffs is a double-elimination bracket among the remaining eight teams.
• The round 1 and 2 matches are Best of 3s, while the four last matches are Best of 5s.
• The upper, lower, and grand finals will be played in the Olimpic Arena in Badalona, Spain.

The finals winner will represent Europe at First Stand 2026, starting on March 16th in the Riot Games Arena in São Paulo, Brazil.

The schedule of the LEC Versus 2026 playoffs. Image Source: LEC

LEC Versus playoffs: Who are the favorites?

Coming into the LEC Versus, G2 Esports was the easy favorite.

• As Worlds quarter finalists (the first LEC team to get there since 2022) and only European team to put up a fight internationally , they were all but set up to do well after running it back with the same roster.
• With outright odds of 3 at the start of the LEC Versus (courtesy of GG.Bet Esports), the consensus was clear.

The tournament however didn’t go that way at all. G2 barely qualified for the playoffs on the very final game of the split. While they level up for playoffs every single split, they were one single game away from being eliminated before playoffs for the first time since they joined the EU LCS ten years ago.

Instead, the current favorites are Karmine Corp, the winners of last year’s Winter split. With LoL odds of 4, seeing them at the forefront is no surprise. What’s unexpected, though, is seeing them have no clear competition.

Last year, it was Fnatic who took out KC, but they’ve been very uninspiring in 2026. Vitality and NAVI have shown strength and consistency, without being outstanding. As for MKOI and TH, they had a great final day after a dim season.

In short:

• KC are the favorites to win the tournament, but they only look good thanks to the rest of Europe being weak.
• G2 are nowhere near the powerhouse they’re supposed to be, but they should somehow still finish top 3.
• Just about every match is a toss-up in the current state of things.

Featured Image Source: LEC