The Overwatch League (OWL) is a professional esports league created by Blizzard to develop a fresh competitive format for video gaming. A total of 20 teams compete across 28 matches from February 2020 through August 9, 2020 in the goal of winning the league title and claim a hefty chunk of the $5,000,000 prize purse.

Today we take a closer look at the available Overwatch League betting odds and opportunities across sportsbooks out there. Since the OWL is a rather new phenomenon, most sportsbooks prefer to play close to the chest and offer a few available bets at a time.

Welcome to the Overwatch League, your home for all the latest information, news, scores and stats from the league! Overwatch League in terms of esports betting. The biggest factor here lies in esports betting sites and their willingness to make betting markets for Overwatch League. Even though all the major esports betting sites offered proper Inaugural Season coverage, much more could’ve been done for the playoff matches.

We will now have a detailed look at this year’s event and help you find out all you need to know about making a bet on OW. Most importantly, we recommend to experience the game yourself for starters. Let’s start with the latest Overwatch odds.

Odds for Outright Winners in the 2020 Overwatch League Season

Bet on Overwatch League with GG.BET » Prediction Accuracy Tracker. Our Accuracy Tracker is at 61.11% with 11 out of 18 correctly predicted matches so far. Overwatch League Format. Before we dive deep into the ins and outs of Overwatch League betting, let’s get familiar with the competitive format of the OWL.

The currently available odds are subject to change from week to week because of the volatile nature of the league. As the event progresses, favorites will begin to shape up and that will be reflected in their odds.

• Overwatch League 2020 Playoffs: Grand Finals Betting Predictions. The action will begin on Oct. 8 with a meeting between Seoul Dynasty and San Francisco Shock, followed by an exciting clash featuring Philadelphia Fusion and Shanghai Dragons. Here we will cover both fixtures and give our predictions with betting odds courtesy of MyBookie.
• The second factor of safety in Overwatch League betting online revolves around your safety from the legal side of things. Online gambling on esports isn’t 100% legal across the globe. There are many countries that either ban esports betting outright or have it in some sort of a gray area.

Here are the latest 2020 Overwatch betting odds:

*Odds last checked on January 24, 2020

Where Is the 2020 Overwatch League Season Taking Place?

The regular season will be played offline from various locations with teams traveling to other teams’ home stadia to play in front of live crowds. Each event will feature a four-map contest and teams will participate in a total of 28 matches in the regular season.

Presently, the smallest stadium capacity in the league is the Full Sail Live at Full Sail University, Winter Park, Orlando, home to Florida Mayhem. Conversely, the largest capacity venue is the National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham, West Midlands home to London Spitfire.

Where Can I Watch the OWL Games?

Blizzard has done a fantastic job of broadcasting all main events in multiple languages via Twitch and even signing deals with TV stations in Germany and Brazil.

• Watch the Overwatch League on Twitch(English)

Mind, this is also the first season when the OWL has fully adopted the home/away format, bringing the league closer to its original design – emulating the big sports leagues in the United States.

However, there has been some doubt as to whether the OWL can scale globally the same way it has been developing in the U.S. with investment going in home arenas and franchised slots going for reportedly between $30 million and $60 million per a single slot.

Players to Consider This Season

Each esports has its own idiosyncrasies. In Overwatch, the ability of individuals to wreak havoc and reduce enemies to piles of pixelated flesh and bones works just alright to secure an important win.

Mind-blowing plays are an everyday occurrence in the OWL, and you would do well to keep your eyes open for those players who have the ability to sway entire games. In fact, Overwatch even puts an emphasis on showering the MVPs withs accolades.

Besides, the league is entering its third year, and the pool of contenders is teeming with newly-fledged talent perfectly capable of staging comebacks in crucial moments. Here is the list of players to keep in mind when placing your bets this year and ahead of the opening week:

Dong-gyu “MANO” Kim – New York Excelsior

Overwatch League Betting League

Teaming with talent, New York Excelsior works together as a well-oiled machine, one in which you could often overlook the support roles. But Dong-gyu Kim, better known by his moniker, “MANO,” is a player to watch out for this year. Voted as one of the most gifted players on the Overwatch League block, his tanking style is a little more aggressive than a conservative defender would play. Yet, it pays off, and the overall set-up in NYXL suggests that they will be coming into this season hard, looking for the title at all costs.

Sung-hyeon “JJONAK” Bang – New York Excelsior

NYXL just know how to choose talent and there is no denying that. You may often overlook the support role in Overwatch, but you can hardly look the other way when Sung-hyeon Bang or JJONAK is in there for your team. He has been delivering mind-boggling plays, offering well-timed heals and generally being the backbone of NYXL’s offensive and defensive for two good years now. He often runs for the MVP title himself and in 2020, JJONAK is one of the key elements to New York’s overall chances of claiming the title.

Jun-ho “FURY” Kim – Philadelphia Fusion

Jun-ho Kim or FURY has joined Philadelphia Fusion after the team clocked a rather dispiriting season. Amid the falling performance of the team, Fusion’s management decided to shake up its roster and adding FURY to the front line – as he plays tank – has been a wise decision. With the league’s first official plays this season just around the corner – or probably already on for you as you read that – FURY is one of the biggest assets for his team and this will be put to a test as early as February 15 when Philadelphia faces off Washington Justice. Or conversely, it has been put to a test!

Hyojong “HAKSAL” Kim – Vancouver Titans

Often called a one-man-army, Hyojong Kim or HAKSAL is perfectly capable of executing genocides and sniffing the fire out of opponents. His heart-felt plays and super human reflexes give him a nearly overwhelming presence on the field, putting immeasurable pressure on opponents. HAKSAL may as well be what puts the Vancouver Titans on the map in the 2020 Overwatch League season.

Grant “MOTH” Espe – San Francisco Shock

Meet Grant Espe or as you may know him MOTH. He is a San Francisco Shock support player. Who has been an indispensable healer and an aid to his team, helping Shock push to the very top in the Overwatch World Cup 2019 as well as – understandably – the Overwatch League – 2019 Playoffs. Espe has been instrumental in boosting his team’s fortunes from a year before when San Francisco placed 5-8^th the Overwatch World Cup 2018. Even though you won’t hear commentators mention his name as often, he’s definitely able to set a pace for the game, so keep your eyes peeled for him.

Joon-yeong “PROFIT” Park – Seoul Dynasty

Joon-yeong Park or “PROFIT” spend two seasons playing for London Spitfire, winning the 2018 Overwatch League MVP award and establishing himself as one of the most appreciated players across the entire OW competitive scene. Since the first season, PROFIT has been there for his team, His signature heroes include Genji, Hanzo and Tracer and he is equally lethal with all of them. Whether Seoul Dynasty makes it to the top this year is another matter, but PROFIT is definitely going to play a big role in determining the team’s fortunes.

Top-Performing Teams in the Overwatch League

The Overwatch League rewards talent and with just two seasons out there, you are probably wondering how to pinpoint the best teams. We have created a simple reference table that quickly informs you which teams have won the most OW Grand Finals titles and Midseason titles:

Top 10 OWL Teams by Earnings

1. San Francisco Shock – $3,500,000
2. London Spitfire – $1,425,000
3. New York Excelsior – $1,200,000
4. Vancouver Titans – $950,000
5. Philadelphia Fusion – $575,000
6. Los Angeles Gladiators – $525,000
7. Los Angeles Valiant – $450,000
8. Hangzhou Spark – $425,000
9. Seoul Dynasty – $350,000
10. Atlanta Reign – $325,000

Overwatch League 2020 Begins

The Overwatch League is without a doubt one of the most ambitious esports projects. Still in its initial stages of development, and backed by heavy investment, Overwatch is the first serious attempt to test the franchised model on esports. Fans have been reacting positively, but the game definitely has a long way to go if it is to establish itself on a similar scale as traditional ports. In the meantime, make sure to tune in, watch your favorite teams play or even place the occasional wager.

Latest Esports Headlines

The Overwatch League, referred to as OWL, is the professional esports league for Overwatch. The game, which debuted in 2016, is still one of the most beloved online multiplayer games.

Blizzard, the developers of Overwatch, are an almost mythical company. The studio is responsible for creating World of Warcraft, Starcraft, and the Diablo franchises.

Upon the release of Overwatch, it was evident to gamers that the hero shooter could become an exciting esport.

Though it took some time to get there, the Overwatch League is highly visible, sometimes making appearances on mainstream sports channels. Several OWL matches have appeared live on ESPN.

Below are the best teams in the OWL currently, and the ones you should keep an eye out for when placing a bet at Overwatch betting sites.

1 – Philadelphia Fusion

The Philadelphia Fusion have come close to winning the championship, and they have held onto that hunger. The Fusion are currently the top team in the league, and they are showing no signs of stopping.

Halfway through the season, the Fusion have proven that they’re a force and one of the teams to look out for this season. Players like Alarm, Carpe, Chipsa, and others are the reason why the team is so good this year.

If they can hold onto their top position in the Atlantic Conference, they will qualify for the playoffs as a top seed, giving them a higher chance to win the league.

The New York Excelsior are the Fusion’s nearest threat in the conference, but the Fusion are unrivaled in the South Division of the Atlantic Conference.

During the first OWL season, the Fusion made it all the way to the Grand Finals, which they lost to the London Spitfire. Though they have come close before, this might be the Fusion’s year.

2 – Shanghai Dragons

The Shanghai Dragons come from humble beginnings. They did not manage to win a single match in their first season, finishing dead last.

However, the Dragons have been working hard since then.

In their second season in the league, the Dragons finished 7th, losing to the Spitfire during the play-in tournament that would have got them into the playoffs. Though they were close to the playoffs, the Dragons would have to wait another year.

The Shanghai Dragons are currently the top team in the Pacific Conference, and they are the second overall team in the league.

Should they maintain their positions, the Dragons will qualify as a top-seeded team in the playoffs. If they win the Grand Finals, they would be the first team from Asia and the Pacific Conference to win the championship.

3 – San Francisco Shock

After sweeping the Vancouver Titans at the 2019 Overwatch League Grand Finals, the San Francisco Shock became the second-ever OWL champs. Defending the title hasn’t been easy in the 2020 season, but the Shock has shown the league that they’re not a one-and-done team.

The Shock are stacked with great players, and they’ve continued to exert their dominance on lesser teams.

Sinatraa, considered by most to be the best player in the OWL, recently left the team and league to play Valorant for the Sentinels. Despite Sinatraa’s departure, the Shock are holding steady at the moment.

The Shock have been worthy competitors since the first week of the 2020 season, and they’ve only lost two matches so far.

They might not be at the top of the pack right now, but they rank within the top 6, which qualifies them for the playoffs. Once they’re in the playoffs, keep an eye on their odds at esports betting sites because anything can happen.

4 – New York Excelsior

Hailing from the city that never sleeps, the New York Excelsior are a perennial playoff contender. During the first season of the OWL, the team placed first in their conference and made it all the way to the semifinals of the Overwatch League Grand Finals.

The Excelsior have yet to win a Grand Final, but that has kept them going. The team is currently in the top 6, and they’re just a few points behind their conference rival, the Philadelphia Fusion.

The Excelsior’s best player is JJonak, who was voted the MVP for the 2018 season. JJonak is a support player who is mostly known for his high-damage aggressive play, which is not typical of a support player.

Depending on how the rest of the season plays out, it’s possible the Excelsior can claim the number-one seed.

They’re a good enough team to win the Grand Finals, so long as they’re not robbed by a wildcard team like last time.

5 – London Spitfire

As previously mentioned, the London Spitfire won the Grand Finals in the inaugural season of the OWL. However, the team entered the playoffs as a wildcard with a barely-winning record. But, as it often happens in the playoffs, the Spitfire went on to take the championship.

The Spitfire were not able to recreate the same magic for the second season, but they did manage to make the playoffs, nevertheless.

After qualifying for the 2019 playoffs by beating the Shanghai Dragons in the play-in tournament, the Spitfire continued to the playoffs. The team lost first to the Excelsior and were then eliminated by the Shock, who would go on to win the Grand Finals.

Currently, the London-based team is 7th in the Atlantic Conference, and 13th overall. Look for them to make a late season push for the playoffs.

Could they come from behind and steal the championship once again? It’s possible.

6 – LA Gladiators

Overwatch League fans living in Los Angeles have it good. Not only are there two OWL teams to choose from, but a vast majority of all matches were played in LA during the first two seasons.

If, however, you have to choose one LA team, I would pick the LA Gladiators.

Currently, the LA Valiant, which has fallen on hard times, is sitting toward the bottom of the pack.

The Gladiators, who began their season with a loss in Dallas against the Vancouver Titans, are currently in playoff contention, making them the superior LA team.

With a savvy pickup from the Dallas Fuel in the form of the tank player, OGE, the Gladiators are poised to be a threat come playoff time. Players such as Biggoose, Birdring, and Mirror will be instrumental if they reach the playoffs.

7- Dallas Fuel

Here are some facts about the Dallas Fuel: their fans are the loudest and most obnoxious in the league — I know this because I am one. Incidentally, they have also never appeared in the playoffs.

The team placed 10th in the inaugural season, only 2 spots above the Shanghai Dragons, and finished 15th out of 20 in the 2nd season — 8 new expansion teams were added for the second season.

The Fuel were not great during those first 2 seasons, but things have changed.

For the 3rd season of the OWL, the Fuel added some new talent, such as Decay, Doha, Gamsu, and Crimzo. Those 4 players have completely reinvigorated the team and fanbase, especially the new DPS player, Decay, who has been a constant threat for every opponent.

Overwatch League Mvp

The team hosted a homestand weekend event in Dallas to kick off the 3rd season, where they lost both games. The Fuel then went on hiatus for months as their games were rescheduled due to the pandemic.

After they came back from their break, the Fuel won 4 out of their 6 matches, beating their in-state rival, the Houston Outlaws, twice within a few weeks.

It would be smart to keep an eye on them, seeing as they’re tied for 4th place in the Pacific Conference.

The Fuel may not have the best win record, but they’ve been heating up recently. In the words of every Dallas Fuel fan: Burn Blue.

Conclusion

With mainstream professional sports taking an indefinite break at the moment, sports betting is at a standstill.

The Overwatch League can provide the same amount of competition, on-the-field drama, and opportunities for
esports betting. Though the season is at the halfway point, anything can happen in the OWL.

The teams listed in this article are currently the top teams in the league, except for the Fuel, who are currently in the hunt for a playoff spot. Multiple matches are happening every week, with stakes growing higher as the season comes to a close.

Teams like the Fuel, and other teams looking for a way into the playoffs, are exciting to watch, and they could upset much better teams. Betting on upstart teams may be a risky move, but, as the saying goes, fortune does favor the bold.

Do you agree with my picks? Is there anything else I should know about it? Let me know what you think in the comments.