Is there still hope for Houston and Seoul?

As Stage 4 is ending, this is the last week for teams to secure a spot in the Overwatch League Postseason Playoffs. With a good performance during the regular season, three teams have already qualified for the Postseason Playoffs. Two of those teams, the New York Excelsior and Los Angeles Valiant, have earned themselves a first round bye in the postseason, since they are the leaders in their respective divisions. Another contender, the Boston Uprising, also qualified. The Uprising will qualify mathematically due to their record in third place of 24-14.

However, the big question is who the fourth, fifth and sixth Postseason teams will be? The London Spitfire, LA Gladiators and Philadelphia Fusion have put themselves in a good position to make the Postseason, all with a current record of 23-15. The only other possible contenders are the Houston Outlaws and the Seoul Dynasty. However, both have a record of 21-5 and with only two games left the chances of them making the Postseason are slim. Will the Houston Outlaws or Seoul Dynasty make it to the Postseason?

Overall Standings as of Stage 4 Week 5

So, you’re saying there’s a chance

In the fifth and final week of Stage 4, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Games like the Houston Outlaws vs Philadelphia Fusion, Houston Outlaws vs New York Excelsior, LA Gladiators vs Seoul Dynasty and Philadelphia Fusion vs London Spitfire all have a huge impact. Whoever wins, will determine what other teams makes it to the Postseason. It won’t be easy, but there is a small chance that the Houston Outlaws or the Seoul Dynasty can make the Postseason Playoffs.

The Houston Outlaws will have a better chance to make the Postseason if they win their last two games. However, if they lose even one out of their last two games, they are out of the running. Similarly, the two teams that they play are tough opponents – New York Excelsior and Philadelphia Fusion. And even if they do win, the chances of them making the Postseason Playoffs are still very slim. The London Spitfire, LA Gladiators or Philadelphia Fusion would have to lose both of their games in the final week for there to be a chance for the Outlaws to go. Bottom line, there is a chance if the Houston Outlaws go 2-0 and the other borderline teams go 0-2 in their Stage 4 Week 5 games.

The Seoul Dynasty are in the same boat as the Outlaws, the only way they make it is if they go 2-0 and the other teams go 0-2 in the final week. Seoul also faces two tough teams that have looked decent thus far in Stage 4 – the LA Gladiators and Dallas Fuel. If Seoul Dynasty, a team that many people initially thought would win the Overwatch League, doesn’t make it, it would be a big shock to many. Bottom line for Seoul, they must play well and go 2-0 in the final week while other teams go 0-2.

Looking ahead

It would be a shock to many if the Houston Outlaws nor the Seoul Dynasty made an appearance in Postseason. However, to no one else’s fault but their own, they set themselves up for failure. If the Houston Outlaws or Seoul Dynasty aren’t one of the six best teams in the Overwatch League, they simply should not earn the right to make it to the Postseason Playoffs. The final stage is set this week as Stage 4 ends. Will the Houston Outlaws or the Seoul Dynasty make the Playoffs? To find out how the final week unfolds, tune into the Overwatch League.

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Featured Image Credit: Blizzard Entertainment/Overwatch