Overwatch League Playoff Picture, amateur analyst edition

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With the Fusion officially out of the running for Stage 1 Playoffs, the horse race now leaves 6 racehorses. Of them, only the Excelsior are assured of a playoff spot and will fight for the right to the #1 seed. The remaining 5 have to scrap it out in order to survive, so let's take a look at the contenders.

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Scenarios for different teams

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London Spitfire:

The Spitfire will make the playoffs if they:

- Win against the Excelsior (will also secure 1st seed unless the win is a 3-2 win)

- Lose against the Excelsior, but the Outlaws win against the Uprising, and the Spitfire loss is a 3-2 or 3-1 loss

The Spitfire will be eliminated if they:

- Lose against the Excelsior by a score of 4-0, the Uprising win against the Outlaws by a score of 3-0 or 4-0, and the Valiant win against the Dragons by a score of 4-0

The Spitfire are in control, with a very straightforward path to playoff positions. It would take a lot of bad luck on the Spitfire side to mess things up, but the Excelsior are not opponents to be taken lightly in the slightest, as are the rest of the pack in the hunt.

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Houston Outlaws:

The Outlaws will make the playoffs if they:

- Win against the Uprising

The Outlaws will be eliminated if they:

- Lose against the Uprising

Much like the Spitfire, the Outlaws are in firm control of their destiny. One win over the Uprising would be all it takes for them to reach the final 3, but the Uprising themselves are also fighting for playoff positions, and if the Outlaws slip here, it's game over.

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Boston Uprising:

The Uprising will make the playoffs if they:

- Win against the Outlaws by a margin of 3-0 or 4-0

- Win against the Outlaws with a 4-0 or 3-0 margin, and the Spitfire lose by 4-0 against the Excelsior

- Win against the Outlaws with a 3-1 victory, and the Valiant and Dynasty both drop a map

The Uprising will be eliminated if they:

- Lose against the Outlaws

- Win against the Outlaws by 3-2, and the Valiant or Dynasty win 4-0 against their opponents

The Uprising are under quite a bit of pressure heading into their final game. Their game-plan has to be absolutely flawless and the execution picture-perfect for them to have a shot at the playoffs, not an easy prospect given the Outlaws are tough as nails and the Valiant nipping at the heels.

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Los Angeles Valiant:

The Valiant will make the playoffs if they:

- Win against the Dragons by a margin of 4-0, and the Uprising win against the Outlaws by a margin of 1 map

- Win against the Dragons, the Uprising win against the Outlaws, and the Spitfire lose by 4-0

The Valiant will be eliminated if they:

- Lose against the Dragons

- Win against the Dragons by a margin of less than 4

- Win, but the Outlaws and Spitfire also win

- Win, but the Uprising pull off a 3-0 or 4-0 victory and the Spitfire win

The Valiant are not in control of their destiny. In addition to having to play a perfect game against the Dragons, the Valiant also need the Uprising to win their game in order to remotely secure a chance at playoffs. Even then, the Valiant need a perfect game plan against a very scrappy Dragons side looking to play spoilers, and their chances are long-shots at best.

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Seoul Dynasty:

The Dynasty will make the playoffs if they:

- Win against the Shock by a margin of 4-0, the Outlaws and Valiant all lose, and the Uprising win by 3-2 score

- Win against the Shock, the Outlaws lose by 1 map, and the Valiant win by 1 map

The Dynasty will be eliminated if they:

- Lose against the Shock

- Win against the Shock by a margin of less than 4

- Win, but the Outlaws also win

- Win, but the Uprising win by a margin higher than 1

- Win, but the Valiant also win by a margin higher than 2