EsportsGG’s CDL Champs 2021 Predictions: Zaarin vs Maverick

Zaarin's Predictions

1. Dallas Empire
   1. The defending champions are for some reason being heavily overlooked. They have had their struggles this season, but they are still a very scary team to play. Their core three will find a way to repeat as champions for the first time in COD Esports.
2. Atlanta FaZe
   1. One of the best teams in Call of Duty history have a chance to cement their legacy forever. Their 3 major wins and overall record of 34-7 mean absolutely nothing to them if they can’t get the job done this weekend. In shocking fashion, I believe the favorites will fall short.
3. Toronto Ultra
   1. Toronto is more than capable of taking the trophy home. If they hit their mid tournament stride as seen in the past, they can beat anyone. Matchups against Atlanta or Dallas will be detrimental to their tournament run.
4. New York Subliners
   1. Clayster will be attempting to secure a record fourth championship ring. It will absolutely give his Subliners squad a boost this weekend. Their bracket is a very ugly one and they’d likely have to meet up with Dallas or Toronto in the lower bracket. Clay will have to wait another year.
5. Minnesota Rokkr
   1. Rokkr shocked the COD world with their historic Stage 5 Major victory. They clearly have improved since the switch to LAN. Although, their journey will be a lot tougher this time around. They won’t be able to pull off another miracle at COD Champs.
6. Florida Mutineers
   1. Florida has shown signs of great things, especially in the latter half of the year. But their struggles at major events have been an ongoing problem. Their youth and inexperience will hurt big time, and there are just too many better teams along the way.
7. OpTic Chicago
   1. This one may be a shocker. However, I am a full believer in the COD Champs OpTic curse. There’s just something about the green white and black colors that smells like disappointment on the game’s biggest stage. I see a double first round exit for the Greenwall.
8. LA Thieves
   1. The Thieves have probably had the most bizarre season in CDL history. The constant roster changes throughout the year have yet to pay off and they won’t start now. They will have an ugly matchup regardless of who they play and may not even win a map.

Maverick's Predictions

1. OpTic Chicago
   1. OpTic could not have found their stride at a more crucial time. Despite many favouring FaZe to win it all this weekend, I truly believe that this OpTic squad have the makings of a true championship calibre team.
2. Atlanta FaZe
   1. To say that FaZe are the favourites to win it all would be an understatement. However, I feel that the cracks in their illustrious armour began to show themselves in Stage 5. I’m confident that they’ll make the final, but it will be a lot more difficult for them than people care to admit.
3. Minnesota Rokkr
   1. If Rokkr have taught us one thing this season it is that you can never count anyone out of a series. While I believe that they have the potential to make a good run for the Championship I just feel that they will be hard-pressed to replicate their fairy tale performance from the Stage 5 Major.
4. Toronto Ultra
   1. Toronto is on the road to redemption after their devastating loss to Rokkr in the Stage 5 Major. While they should be able to notch a few wins against whoever they come up against this weekend, I just think that that is too big of a loss to comeback from.
5. Dallas Empire
   1. Dallas is a tough team to predict. They have a squad that can beat anyone yet have been plagued with inconsistency. They could very well prove me wrong, however I don’t see them defending their crown this time around.
6. Florida Mutineers
   1. Florida have more-or-less been a team that has just been happy to keep to themselves. Though they start in the lower bracket they should be able to at least stave off instant elimination.
7. LA Thieves
   1. It seems that things are starting to click for this LA Thieves roster at long last. Unlike OpTic however, I feel that this is a “too little, too late” scenario for them.
8. New York Subliners
   1. The Subliners truly are a shadow of the team that we came to love at the start of the season. Though Clayster is back in the line-up, I don’t think that his presence will be enough for them to defy expectation this time.