The two Overwatch League teams from the Lone Star State will square off once again in Week 24. The Houston Outlaws and the Dallas Fuel will meet for the eighth time in their three-year history.
At the moment, Dallas leads the lifetime match-up against Houston four games to three. Fuel have managed to win their last three matches in a row versus the Outlaws. Most recently, both teams met in the May Melee Knockout Stage. Dallas snagged a 3-1 victory and eliminated Houston from the tournament
Much has changed in the time since that last meetup though. This edition of the Texas Showdown is set to take on a much different complexion than those previous.
Somber times in Dallas
It might be an understatement to say that Fuel’s season is spiraling downward. They’ve lost six of their last eight games, including a devastating 3-0 defeat at the hands of the lowly Vancouver Titans in Week 20.
Two weeks ago, Dallas were knocked out of the Summer Showdown by the Paris Eternal 3-1. Eternal largely dominated the series, despite Fuel eking out a map victory on King’s Row. Paris would go on to win the whole thing, taking home the Summer Showdown crown. It’s the second time in as many tournaments this season that Dallas have lost to the eventual tourney champions.
Even with frustration mounting, it’s crucial for Fuel that they come out of this Friday’s match victorious. Dallas possesses a disappointing 5-8 record on the year. They’ll need to start adding to the win column if they hope to obtain a good seed in the end-of-season playoffs.
Fuel are sure to bring their “A” game in Week 24, but so too are their cross-state rivals.
Houston, we have liftoff!
On the flip side of the coin, the Outlaws have been slowly turning their season around. Houston has achieved positive results against some above average teams in recent weeks. It’s certainly a far cry from where they were in the beginning of the season.
While the Outlaws’ Summer Showdown campaign may have come to an abrupt halt versus the Philadelphia Fusion, they still have something to show for it. They were able to beat the Florida Mayhem in the Knockout Stage. Florida were poised to make a run in the tournament, building off of their trip to the Finals in the May Melee. Houston sent them packing after outplaying them on mostly mirror compositions.
If the Outlaws are capable of outshining a team like Mayhem, it’s fair to say they have shot at doing the same against Fuel. However, Houston still has some decisions to make to insure they come out of Week 24 successful.
But wait, who’s on Genji?
Perhaps the most daunting question for Houston at the moment: who’s best Genji player on the Outlaws’ roster?
Looking back on the outcome of the Summer Showdown, it’s clear that Genji plays a key role in the current meta. Genji was the most played DPS hero during the Summer Showdown. Even with the Brigette nerfs, it’s likely that the cyborg ninja will still see playtime in Week 24.
The Outlaws need to select one of their three DPS players to lock Genji against Dallas. It’s definitely not an easy choice, all three of their DPS are qualified for the task.
Jeffrey “blasé” Tsang has been Houston’s Genji player for most of this season. However, the team has struggled to produce results with the blasé Genji in past matches.
Jiri “LiNkzr” Masalin has a history on Genji. He played the hero for Houston back in the Season 1 Dive meta. Genji is one of LiNkzr’s signature heroes, dating all the way back to his pre-OWL days on Team Gigantti.
Dante “Danteh” Cruz also has prior experience with Genji. He’s seen time on Genji in a few recent matches, including against both Mayhem and Fusion in the Summer Showdown.
It’s difficult to tell who Houston’s best option is from the outside. There’s no doubt they’ll be using their latest scrim performances to make their decision. One thing’s for sure, the Outlaws better be confident in their pick. Their choice of Genji player has potential to be a major factor in this upcoming match.
Week 24 Prediction: 3-1 Houston
Dallas may have the superior DPS lineup, especially with the return of superstar Flex DPS Gui-un “Decay” Jang. But Houston has them beat in the Tank and Support department. The Tanks and Supports on the Outlaws have looked far more comfortable in the current meta than in metas previous. It’s been a vital part of Houston’s recent success. The Tanks and Supports for Fuel have played a big role in their failure thus far (especially the tanks).
Given both teams’ current form, it’s hard not to favor the Outlaws in this series.
Featured Image Courtesy of Robert Paul for Blizzard Entertainment
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