Things are heating up in this year's Call of Duty League with the fifth and final Major of the season nearly upon us.

Call of Duty League's Major Five is set to take place in Toronto in Canada with Toronto Ultra acting as the hosting team with all 12 teams set to qualify for the main event. 

It is a key Major as it gives teams a last opportunity to impress before the end-of-season Call of Duty League Championship, which will feature only the best eight teams in the competition. 

Major Five is sure to impress but before the main event begins on Thursday 25th May, the event's online qualifiers must take place to determine where teams will start in the bracket. 

On Friday the action commences with a triple header. Atlanta FaZe, who lead the way in the regular season with 295 CDL points, are first up against lowly LA Guerrillas before Las Vegas Legion take on OpTic Texas in the second game of the day. 

Friday finishes with a slightly more evenly matched contest between Major Five hosts and Seattle Surge. 

FaZe fancied to cruise past LA Guerrillas

Atlanta FaZe were pipped to the post by Los Angeles Thieves in the Call of Duty League Championship last season and they are out for revenge in 2023. 

Although they have just the one Major to their name this season - they won Major Two hosted by Boston Breach - FaZe have once again been the most consistent team throughout the course of the season. 

They have amassed 295 CDL points - 25 more than OpTic Texas in second spot - and they came close again in Major Four, losing to OpTic Texas in the main event's lower-bracket final. 

Atlanta have also finished with positive qualifying records in each of the last three Majors in the Call of Duty League and it is no surprise to see them priced at 1/50 to defeat LA Guerrillas, who sit 11th out of 12 in the overall standings for 2023.  

The best bet in this one could be FaZe at -2.5 on the match handicap at 4/7.  

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Expect a routine win for OpTic Texas

Another one-sided affair could be on the cards in game two on Friday as 1/7 shots OpTic Texas take on Las Vegas Legion, who are 4/1 to win.  

Again it is hard to see past the obvious with OpTic Texas second in the overall CDL standings with 270 points and 25 wins from 38 matches this year. 

Despite that admirable record, they are yet to win a Major title in 2023 and for many it is now or never for the Texas outfit. 

OpTic were runners-up at Major Four, having been edged by Los Angeles Thieves 4-2 in the Grand Final, and they lost by the same scoreline against Toronto Ultra in the final of Major Three. 

They should definitely be considered among the big hitters in this season's Call of Duty League and are a value bet at -2.5 on the match handicap at 6/4 against Las Vegas Legion.  

Major Five hosts Toronto can hold their own against Seattle

The match most likely to throw up a surprise on Friday is Seattle Surge vs Toronto Ultra but even then, Toronto look a pretty safe bet at 4/11.  

Ultra are in fourth spot in the overall CDL standings with a points haul of 245 and already have a Major title under their belts this year after winning Major Three, which was hosted by OpTic Texas. 

This time around they will have the benefit of home advantage in the main event and securing a decent qualifying seed will be key if they are to go the distance. 

Their first opponents in qualifying Seattle Surge are on course to make the Call of Duty Championship at the end of the season, having nestled themselves inside the top six, but they have nearly lost as many matches as they have won (17-16) this term. 

A win for Ultra looks likely but back Surge to pick up a map in a 3-1 win for the upcoming tournament hosts at 5/2. 

bet365 News Team

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