Houston Outlaws vs Los Angeles Gladiators

For our third match of the day we have an incredibly exciting clash between the Houston Outlaws and the Los Angeles Gladiators.

This match is of paramount importance to both teams as it carries quite a lot of significance in the overall playoff picture. Both Houston and the Gladiators are currently tied for first after week one with two wins, zero losses and a fantastic +6 map differential.

As for last week though, you could argue that the Gladiators had somewhat of an easier schedule as they were up against the San Francisco Shock and the Dallas Fuel and even though San Francisco has been stepping up over the last couple of weeks they still haven't cemented their spot as a top tier team. Houston on the other hand was up against London Spitfire and a surging Boston Uprising, two teams that were at the top of their game at the very end of Stage 3.

For a schedule as complex as that one - Houston passed with flying colors. They looked incredibly from start to finish and really echoed the Houston of old, back in Stage 1 when they were the first Western team to reach the playoffs. Stage 3 wasn't a showcase of their true potential and skill due to a plethora of reasons but now with a change in the meta their biggest strengths emerged straight away.

They were one of the first teams (and arguably the most successful) that incorporated Brigitte into their arsenal and they managed to execute their strats to a tee. More often than not it was Jake who took up Brigitte duty, while the rest of the Outlaws went for a two tanks and supports paired with LiNkzr on Widowmaker. Speaking of LiNkzr, he had one of his best games to date with some absolutely insane, mind-boggling Widow performances that perhaps only Pine and Carpe could match. However it wasn't only LiNkzr that stepped up but the rest of Houston as well. They all played their part and they incorporated SPREE quite a lot more now that Zarya became somewhat of a staple pick. (part due to the map pool and part to the change in the meta) It was evident that SPREE had one of the best Zarya's in the entire League, especially when he mopped the floor with Kalios, outdamaging him and charging ultimates up to thirty seconds faster.

The Outlaws displayed an incredible ability to adapt and play to the meta's biggest strengths. They fully realized what was the most optimal way to play the game and they show no signs of stopping.

In short, for Houston it was just another day at the office.

The Outlaws now sit in a very favorable position when it comes to the overall playoff picture, with 18 wins and 14 losses. While their record could be better what could be their saving grace is their fantastic +19 map differential. They just need a couple of wins to pass Seoul or the Valiant and secure their playoff spot. If they continue playing like this - and the meta won't be shifting any time soon - they have all the right tools to do so.

As for the Gladiators they're as flexible and dangerous as ever. They're one of the rare teams in the Overwatch League that manages to sub in players to such a successful degree. Hydration, Silkthread and Surefour constantly rotate and it never really impacts the team's overall synergy and level of play which is exactly what makes them such a formidable aggressive team. (not to mention their stellar tank and support duos)

After witnessing Shock's improvement over the last couple of weeks everyone expected them to put up a bigger fight against the Gladiators last week but it was nowhere near as close as anticipated. The Gladiators remained undefeated on Blizzard World and didn't struggle on other maps either.

Perhaps the biggest surprise was seeing just how much playtime Silkthread got, and he didn't waste his opportunity. He started for both BlizzWorld and Lunar Horizon Colony and played a plethora of heroes - Junkrat, Genji, Tracer and Sombra - all at a very high level. Hydration was subbed in for Lijiang Tower however and with good reason - his staple Pharah play was the deciding factor on both points.

If we look at the maps being played they're pretty much dead even on King's Row - but we're siding with Houston due to their stellar Junkrat, Widow and Hanzo play over the months, Houston leads in their Hanamura win percentage (roughly 60% to 40%), Oasis is where the Gladiators mop the floor with the Outlaws who have a 33.3% win rate and finally Dorado where the Outlaws take the lead. (around 70% compared to Gladiators 40%)

Of course statistics don't paint the complete picture but it's a lot to go by, especially for Houston who have historically played best on certain maps and in certain metas. This time around they have both going in their favor, especially with the rise in Junkrat's playrates and LiNkzr's insane Widowmaker performance last week.

They're flexible, aggressive and quick to adapt so we're going with the Outlaws on this one. That said the Gladiators won't go down without a fight so this might be a bit too close for comfort. That said, if the Outlaws play like they did last week - it should be a win for Texas without a doubt.