NA LCS Power Rankings coming into Week 6; Mid-Season (And Predictions for Week 6) by Sporkintahn

#Lonely at the Top

##1- TSM (11-1) TSM has looked unstoppable so far this season; with the exception of that scary Teemo game from C9 at the start of the Season. They recently looked a little shaky against both EG and CLG early in those games yet managed to win both with superior team fighting, rotations, and objective control. TSM has looked ever so decisive in all their games so far this year, with the exception of the Baron Steal against CLG, that was hopefully just a hiccup. It would be no surprise if they take the top seed going into the playoffs this season; as long as they don't get complacent which plagues a lot of top teams on big win streaks, look at Fnatic. They started 7-0 and are now on a 0-7 slide.

TSM's week 6 opponents are Team Coast (4-8) and Curse (5-7). If Coast plays this upcoming week the same as Week 5, I expect TSM to face a little bit of trouble against them. I take TSM to win over Coast in a hard fought game. I also expect TSM to beat Curse in a decisive fashion. TSM to get (13-1) by week's end.

#Close Contenders

##2- Cloud 9 (9-3) Cloud 9 has faltered a bit this Season, dropping from the #1 spot now at #2. They've gone 1-1 so far against all the other Top 3 teams in the standings. The once seemingly invincible titans do have their weaknesses. Their loss against CLG was a utter stomp and it really showed that you can beat them if they aren't given an advantage early with coordinated team play.

With that being said, I still expect them to go 2-0 against both Curse (5-7) and EG (4-8). C9 is still a much stronger team than both but it won't be a walk in the park unless they get those early advantages as they usually do. Curse and EG are really showing they can compete on the same level. One thing C9 is renown for is snowballing the game to a quick end if given a lead early. C9 to end the week at (11-3).

##3- CLG (6-6)

CLG is back! Since bringing Dexter back into the fold and the lineup being the way it should be CLG has gone 2-1 after starting (4-5) with Chauster and HotshotGG subbing in. Their only loss with Dexter so far has been against the seemingly unstoppable TSM (11-1). CLG is looking pretty strong as of right now and if they keep this trend up they'll easily be a Top 3 team going into the Spring Playoffs. CLG is lucky they made it to (4-5) without their full lineup. It's a testament to their individual skill as players, now that they're together as a cohesive unit they should be able to finish the final half of the split strong.

Their opponents this week include XDG (3-9) and Coast (4-8). Both these teams appear to be going opposite ways. XDG went 0-2 in Week 5 while Coast went 2-0. XDG shouldn't be too much of a challenge for the refreshed CLG, especially with a shakeup in XDG's roster coming into this week. Coast on the other hand might be a bit of trouble, they played well in Week 5 in both their wins and show no sign of slowing down. But I expect CLG to pull through and end the week (8-6).

#Inbetweeners

##4- Curse (5-7)

Curse started the season with a rough (3-5) then replaced Zekent with Saintvicious at support which they've gone 2-2 with. So far they've had varying team comps this year with new champion picks that have met mixed success. They're a strong team but haven't found their stride yet this split. I think Voyboy and Quas should swap positions, Voyboy is much better suited in the Top Lane as Quas has much stronger mechanics which would better suited in the Mid Lane.

Curse has a tough Week 6, facing both TSM (11-1) and Cloud 9 (9-3). The only way I see Curse beating either one of these teams is throwing an awkward team comp against them as they've done already this season. Maybe that'll shake things up, otherwise I expect Curse to drop to (5-9) at the end of the week.

#In a World of Their Own

##5- Dignitas (6-6)

Dignitas has been, well, Dignitas. Surprising upsets and disappointing defeats. They started 0-2 in super week to pull an upset against C9 and ended the week 2-2. They then went on a 4 game tear to pull out a 6 game winning streak taking them to (6-2). Since then they've been on a 4 game slide to (6-6). The same old story of Dignitas continues. Sadly they are a very "streaky" team that either wins a bunch in a row or loses a bunch in a row. Inconsistency like that can often break a team but they usually manage to pull it out come playoff time (i.e.) NA Regionals last year managing 4th. If they want to make a run in the playoffs or even make it into the playoffs they'll need to pull themselves together and get red hot by seasons end. 2013's Spring Split had them going 1-4 in their last 5 games in Week 10. Dig then lost in the first round to Coast, then GGU, to get relegated.

Dignitas faces EG (4-8) and XDG (3-9) this week. EG is still looking to be a strong team with their recent play despite their losses. I expect it to be a close game but EG to take the W. XDG on the other hand is a different story; their recent play is well, bad to say the least. Dig should have no trouble defeating XDG with the team having a roster change and being in potential disarray. This win should revitalize Dignitas out of their slump, but who knows which Dig will come out to play. I see Dignitas to end the week at (7-7).

#Fighting to avoid Relegation

##6- Team Coast (4-8)

Coast started the season off 2-2 to go on a 6 game losing streak to sit at (2-8) coming into Week 5. Something happened between Weeks 4 and 5 and Coast went on a tear against both XDG and EG. With ZionSpartan on Jax, Shiphtur on Nidalee; they formed a formidable split-push comp with heavy poke in both those games to come out with two wins. This is the Coast we're all used to, so where have they been? They've showed some promise in a few of their losses but maybe getting two wins back to back this week might give them a boost coming into Week 6.

Coast's opponents this week are both TSM (11-1) and CLG (6-6). Both these teams are playing well, with TSM being nigh unstoppable and CLG looking strong over their stomp against C9 last week. This week is going to be rough for Coast. I expect Jax or Nidalee to be banned against them, most likely both. I doubt anyone is going to give ZionSpartan Jax anytime soon after his recent performances with him that earned him Week 5's MVP award. Coast will fight well against TSM but it will all be in vain as TSM should take the Win in a slug fest against both these teams. CLG on the other hand; CLG beat Coast already this year with Chauster in the mid lane and it was a 35 minute game that CLG won decisively, now with their full lineup I expect it to be the same sort of victory for them. I see Coast to drop to (4-10) this week. Barring they don't get Jax, Nidalee or some other strong late game champ that doesn't get shutdown early whom they can split push with.

##7- Evil Geniuses (4-8)

EG, despite sitting in 7th place, have actually looked fairly strong this year. Many of their losses have been close games that they've tried to turn around on many occasions but were unable to change the momentum. Their risky playstyle sometimes gets them in trouble and sometimes it pays off; more so the former this split.

Their opponents this week include Dignitas (6-6) and Cloud 9 (9-3). EG should be able to take the win against Dignitas who've been looking rather uncoordinated lately and are on a 4 game losing streak. Cloud 9, if anyone is to upset them this week it would be EG. With that being said I still feel Cloud 9 will take the victory over EG; althought not without a good game between the two. I see EG to end the week at (5-9).

#Rock Bottom

##8- XDG (3-9)

Oh how the mighty have fallen. XDG, former Vulcun, who seemed to be one of the strongest teams teams during the 2013 Summer split who even managed to go even with Cloud 9 at 2-2 in their head to head has shown no signs of life whatsoever this split. MandatoryCloud is almost nonexistent with misplay after misplay. Their loss to Coast this past week really showed how far they have come from being a World Class contender. They started strong in their first game of the split with Zuna on Olaf but since then it's been a miserable 5 weeks so far and it shows no signs of getting better. Recently Bloodwater was forced to step down as support with Nickwu coming into fill the Jungle position for the week and Zuna on support.

(http://www.reddit.com/r/leagueoflegends/comments/1ygzb1/xdgs_former_support_bloodwater_ama/cfkkbgs?context=3 & http://www.reddit.com/r/leagueoflegends/comments/1ygzb1/xdgs_former_support_bloodwater_ama/cfkjswr?context=3 : Here is some context during Bloodwater's AMA on Reddit of him explaining why he was removed from the team if you wish to check it out.)

In all honestly, Zuna should get back to the AD position, Xmithie in the Jungle, and XDG should find a strong support player to call the shots. I would like to see Zuna and Bloodwater back together as they were both a fairly good bot lane. Xmithie was easily a top 3 Jungler in NA during the summer split with great mechanics he helped Mancloud get to his record making numbers. Xmithie has better mechanics than Zuna and is more consistent on AD but is by far the better jungler in terms of play making ability. Since then the team has looked a mess. Someone needs to step up on the team but I just don't see who it could be unless they bring in outside help and not just subs who are already on the team.

XDG's opponents this week are CLG (6-6) and Dignitas (6-6). CLG has been looking stronger than ever with Dexter back on the lineup and CLG should have no problem handing XDG another defeat. Dig is in a slump of their own but I expect them to come out with a victory over XDG as well. But it really all depends on which Dignitas shows up to the match. Otherwise I see XDG falling even further down in the standings towards their inevitable relegation; ending the week at (3-11).