Dallas Fuel vs Houston Outlaws

Clashes between the Dallas Fuel and the Houston Outlaws always carry that extra bit of something; the air is a bit different whenever these two teams step foot on stage to compete against each other. There's a lot on the line, even when there isn't — they're always fighting for regional Texan pride, if nothing else.

Fortunately, for the first time in what feels like forever, both organizations will be competing on even footing. Moreover, they're widely considered as some of the best and most capable teams in the Overwatch League right now, which means this el clasico is all but guaranteed to deliver. So, needless to say, you'd be wise to tune in!

Who'll win, however, is a lot harder to predict than it might seem at first glance. Dallas are favored and, well, there's a very good reason why — they're better across the board and have been a lot more consistent throughout the last couple of weeks. Their highs were also noticeably higher than anyone thought was possible, with their lows being relatively acceptable and, perhaps most importantly, fairly sporadic.

The Outlaws, on the other hand, have been relatively volatile thus far. Their last four outings (those that fall under the June Joust qualifiers) have been both hot and cold. They first lost to the Atlanta Reign before bouncing back against Florida. Losing to Atlanta is by no means the be-all and end-all, but Houston were expected to win given their prior performances. Moreover, their win over Florida isn't nearly as impressive as most folks thought, now that we can observe Mayhem's surprising "downfall" from a distance. Finally, their two wins over the London Spitfire and the Toronto Defiant are good but far from spectacular — both triumphs were a foregone conclusion. So, all in all, it's fair to say that Houston regressed, at least ever so slightly, and that the shift to the June Joust meta affected their performance, much like it did with so many of their peers.

The same can be said for Dallas, although they *do* have a bit more momentum when compared to their "compatriots." All in all, these two teams are separated by the slimmest of margins, and even if the Fuel do end up winning, it won't be a blowout. In fact, a five-map brawl is a lot more likely to happen, so you'd be wise to clear out your schedule and tune in!