Carolina Royal Ravens vs. Los Angeles Thieves Prediction on January 29, 2026

Match info

The Call of Duty League 2026: Stage 1 Major is the first LAN Major of the new season, where Black Ops 7 mode is used, making it one of the most important early checkpoints for teams chasing championship momentum and CDL points. This event shapes power rankings, determines early narrative leaders, and often exposes which rosters actually perform under stage pressure.

For fans following competitive Call of Duty through analysis hubs and review platforms such as eSports betting sites — which track tournament coverage, regional markets, and operator comparisons — this matchup stands out as one of the most balanced opening-round clashes of the Major.

The upper bracket quarterfinals carry extra importance: winning keeps a team in the upper bracket with two lives intact, while losing immediately forces a drop into the elimination bracket. At this stage of the season, avoiding early lower-bracket runs can make a huge difference to energy levels and match preparation across the weekend. All this, of course, applies to the two US sides – the Ravens and the Thieves – who’ll lock horns in a bo5 on Thursday, January 29, 2026, at 13:30 CT (Central Time, local time) at Moody Coliseum, University of Dallas, University Park, Dallas, Texas, USA.

Meeting statistics

Current form and & playstyle: Carolina Royal Ravens

Carolina Royal Ravens arrive at the Major with strong late-qualifier momentum. Their recent 3–2 victory over LA Thieves showed a team that has become more composed in close situations, especially during late rotations and clutch Search & Destroy rounds.

Instead of relying purely on individual gunfights, Carolina has leaned into structured setups, disciplined spacing, and coordinated pushes. When they control tempo, they tend to slowly choke opponents out of map control rather than trying to win every engagement outright.

Current form & playstyle: Los Angeles Thieves  

Los Angeles Thieves, meanwhile, bring a higher-variance style into this series. Their qualifier run placed them just behind Carolina in the standings, but their ceiling remains extremely high. LAT thrive when they increase pace, force early map pressure, and turn broken setups into snowball opportunities. The downside is that when matches slow down into tactical chess battles, they sometimes struggle to regain momentum.

Coming into this rematch, the biggest question is whether they can tighten their late-game execution after falling short against Carolina days earlier.

Head-to-head

Historically, Los Angeles Thieves lead the overall series record, holding eight wins compared to Carolina’s two victories across official CDL matchups. However, the most recent meeting favors the Ravens: on January 25, 2026, they defeated the Thieves 3–2. This adds extra narrative tension heading into the Major rematch.

Match analytics

Based on current form and the latest head-to-head result, this series looks set to be another tight five-map battle. Carolina’s improved structure and clutch factor give it a slight edge, while LA Thieves’ explosive playstyle keeps them dangerous throughout the series.

Tip: Winner: Carolina Royal Ravens at 2.43 odds on Bet it All.