The Call of Duty League continues to rage on, with Stage 3 set to enter the playoffs where we’ll finally see a champion be crowned.
CDL’s Major stage comes as a culmination of Stage 3, which is the third of five regular-season phases in the league. The teams have already extensively battled over April and the start of May, with the results of the regular season deciding the seedings for the Stage 3 Major phase.
Considering we’ve already seen the teams in action not too long ago, we have some idea of what we might be able to expect in the playoffs. However, as with any competition, upsets can happen, meaning there’s still plenty of opportunity for exciting wagering action.
Make sure to check out our guide on all things Call of Duty betting and let’s take a look at the event in more detail.
Who’s Playing at Call of Duty League Stage 3 Major?
If you’ve followed CoD esports lately, you’ll know the current league features a franchised format, meaning we’ll always see the same organizations competing. Most team squads have also remained consistent, so we’ll also see the same lineups as usual.
For those new to Call of Duty esports, there are 12 different teams, all of which are able to compete with the others in some way and are based in different cities. The favorites include Atlanta FaZe, Toronto Ultra and New York Subliners, while there are also some fan-favorite sides like Optic Chicago and Paris Legion, who house CoD legends like Scump and Skrapz, respectively.
Overall, the league is actually very competitive. The 2021 season is just over the halfway mark now, but we’ve already seen two Major events with two different winners, as well as “weaker” teams like Dallas Empire and Minnesota Rokkr making some very strong runs.
When it comes to the format of the event, we see a double-elimination bracket with teams seeded based on initial Stage 3 results. The Toronto Ultra and New York Subliners topped their groups, so they head straight to the second winners round. Meanwhile, four teams are seeded in the first winners round and the remaining six start in the losers bracket.
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Atlanta FaZe | +150 |
| Toronto Ultra | +300 |
| New York Subliners | +350 |
| Los Angeles Thieves | +800 |
| Dallas Empire | +1000 |
| Florida Mutineers | +1400 |
| Chicago Optic | +1600 |
| Minnesota Rokkr | +2000 |
| London Royal Ravens | +3300 |
| Los Angeles Guerrillas | +3300 |
| Paris Legion | +5000 |
| Seattle Surge | +5000 |
Odds as of May 11 at [Sportsbook not available for your region]
Toronto Ultra Look For Back-to-Back Titles
The Toronto Ultra enter with the second-best odds to win the Major but considering recent results, it’s a tad surprising to see them not be favorites. The team won the Stage 2 Major and has looked incredibly strong so far in Stage 3, dropping just one map in total.
They’re playing like a team with almost no weaknesses and have put up one of the strongest performances in the league ever. There are some strong rivals, but it’s looking very tough for anyone who has to face this Toronto Ultra side.
Atlanta FaZe Aim to Bounce Back
The Atlanta FaZe are the big favorites for this event and will be looking to put another win under their belt after a surprising loss to Toronto Ultra in the finals of Stage 2. The FaZe are a legendary Call of Duty side and feature a strong mix of legendary players like Simp and Abezy along with some young blood.
They were the Stage 1 champions of 2021 in quite dominant fashion, but lost out in Stage 2 in shocking fashion as Toronto Ultra completed a huge losers-bracket run to claim the final.
Now, as the most consistent team of the year so far, the Atlanta FaZe are looking to bounce back and regain their lost throne.
Can We Expect Another Impressive Underdog Run?
Call of Duty is a game where no one can really be counted out and the underdogs can shine. So far, 2021 has already seen its fair share of underdog runs, with Dallas Empire coming second in Stage 1, Minnesota Rokkr earning a top finish in Stage 2, and of course Toronto Ultra completing their massive lower-bracket run.
We’re bound to see some more upsets here in Stage 3, but it is very difficult to know where they’ll come from. Almost every team has the potential to pull a rabbit out of the hat and make something happen, even if it’s just one big playoff win rather than taking the whole event.
If you’re looking to have a bit of fun and take a big risk on an underdog, then the CDL may just be the best place to do it.
