by ESB brings you free betting picks for three matches in the Overwatch League (OWL) Summer Showdown Qualifiers on Thursday, August 11. Here are our selections for London Spitfire vs Florida Mayhem, Houston Outlaws vs New York Excelsior, and Los Angeles Gladiators vs Dallas Fuel, with esports betting odds courtesy of GG Bet.
LONDON SPITFIRE vs FLORIDA MAYHEM OWL BETTING & MATCH DETAILS |
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| Best Odds: | Spitfire $1.33 at GG Bet | Mayhem $3.25 at GG Bet |
| When: | August 11, 2022 | 15:00 EDT |
| Watch Live: | Twitch, YouTube |
Florida Mayhem’s OWL Midseason Madness qualifier run left a lot to be desired, but they had a tough schedule, so we wouldn’t overreact to their 2-4 record. Moreover, the Mayhem showed up when it mattered the most and had some clutch games, so there are positives to take from their otherwise shaky run.
The Mayhem can be good, and while they won’t consistently show it, they are a joy to watch with their high-intensity playstyle and strong mentality, which has led to a few reverse sweeps this season.
London Spitfire are nowhere near one of the best teams in the league, but they’re moving up at a steady pace. They are 8-4 on the year, which is seriously impressive for a team that entered the season with no expectations. The Spitfire have shown more than the Mayhem, so it would be fair to expect London to win this bout, yet $1.33 is a high price to pay.
Even though London Spitfire look better than the Mayhem, this is a spot where you have to take a shot with the underdogs. Florida have won more challenging games this season, and even if they fail to overcome the Spitfire, they should be good for at least two maps.
Florida Mayhem +1.5 maps
HOUSTON OUTLAWS vs NEW YORK EXCELSIOR OWL BETTING & MATCH DETAILS |
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| Best Odds: | Outlaws $1.12 at GG Bet | Excelsior $5.50 at GG Bet |
| When: | August 11, 2022 | 16:30 EDT |
| Watch Live: | Twitch, YouTube |
The Midseason Showdown meta suited New York Excelsior, who impressed by forcing Houston Outlaws and Dallas Fuel to five maps. But Excelsior still finished the OWL Midseason Madness qualifiers in last place, without a single victory (0-6).
Moreover, Excelsior were very inconsistent in the previous tournament cycle – they had some good games, but those were pretty scarce. Some may say that Excelsior are making progress – which they are – but without any results, it is hard to believe anything will come out of it.
Houston Outlaws have not improved from the previous stage, but they have not gotten worse either. As a team that can produce impressive wins and a couple of headscratchers, the Outlaws might not be one of the most consistent squads in the league, but they usually get the job done when paired with a lesser opponent.
New York Excelsior are good enough to win a map, but there is an equal chance this game ends in a 3-0 sweep. And at the offered OWL betting odds, we don’t have to think twice about where to place our money.
Houston Outlaws -2.5 maps
LOS ANGELES GLADIATORS vs DALLAS FUEL OWL BETTING & MATCH DETAILS |
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| Best Odds: | Gladiators $1.16 at GG Bet | Fuel $4.50 at GG Bet |
| When: | August 11, 2022 | 18:00 EDT |
| Watch Live: | Twitch, YouTube |
Dallas Fuel took a notable dip since the OWL Kickoff Clash, but they are still one of the top-four teams in the West division. Unfortunately, there is a massive gap between the best teams and the rest, which shows in the Fuel’s results against top contenders, having consistently disappointed when faced with a stronger opponent.
There is still room for improvement, and once Dallas Fuel figure out how they want to play, they might return to the top. On a more positive note, this tournament cycle will introduce some meta changes, which will affect the Fuel – for better or for worse.
Los Angeles Gladiators are the best team in the league right now. They are 10-2 on the year with a +22 map difference, largely thanks to the team’s flexibility and ability to adapt to any meta the game throws at them.
The Gladiators are not untouchable, but they are very tough to beat. Moreover, they stomped Dallas in June, when the Fuel were at their best, so the only reasonable thing to expect is another clean sweep on Thursday.
