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11 Reasons Why I Hate NCAA’s March Madness.. And You Will Too

First of all, relax… Before you send me hate email about how March Madness is amazing, hear me out. March Madness is BY FAR my personal favorite sporting event of the year. I even use March Madness in my Statistics class, and teach about the stats of the tournament for an entire month. In my opinion, the only sporting event that could hold a candle to the NCAA basketball tournament is the Triple Crown, but trust me, you can expect an article in May about why that sucks too.

My classroom board in March. Artwork done all on my own. I know what you're thinking... and yes, that is a self-made bobblehead doll of myself. (photo credit: R. Jacobson)

My classroom board in March. Art work done all on my own. And I know what you’re thinking… yes, that is a self-made bobblehead doll of myself using Jonathan Papelbon’s headless body that was nearly trashed when he left the Red Sox, but salvaged out of the garbage once I came up with the idea to put an oversized picture of my face on the bobbly cord sticking out of the gaping hole where his head used to be before I got mad at him. (photo credit: R. Jacobson)

 

Despite the fact that I “watch” a few hours of college basketball a year, it is still something that gets me all in a tizzy (I say “watch” because I am usually in attendance at a few games, and watching the actual game is nearly impossible for an ADD, busybody like me, that is too worried about flagging down the beer man or plotting how I am going to pee, because I sure as hell refuse to ask the poor people in my row to move again so I can go to the bathroom, purchase more food that I absolutely do not need, or get another beer.*)

*two beers. Half of one beer is guaranteed to spill all over the kind people that let me through their aisle for the sixth time.

So, if I love March Madness so much, how is it possible that I easily created a countdown of why I hate March Madness so much? Read on, and you too, will quickly realize that you hate March Madness just as much as I do.

11. Having to Listen to Friends/Co-workers Talk About College Basketball And Pretend They Are NCAA experts.

Let’s face it, unless you are Dick Vitale, nobody gives a damn about your “expert advice,” or who you are sure is going to win each game based on their rebound percentage, or points allowed per game.
When someone at work starts talking to me about who they think is going to win, and why, I always do one of two things: tell them I don’t care, or tell them I don’t give a shit.

*edited to add that I don’t even give a shit what Dick Vitale says either.

10. When Your “Underdog” Pick That You Have in the Elite 8 Is Eliminated In Round 1.

Nothing is worse than when you try to make a big move and include a #15 seeded “Northwestern North Dakota Tech” in your elite 8 (just so you could be the only one that can brag about them beating a #2 seed in Rd. 1,) and they get beat in round 1 by 41 points.

Congratulations. Every single person on the planet just gained 1 point on you for being such an idiot.

9. When You Can’t Remember You Passwords From Last Year

I have spent countless hours trying to register for ESPN, Fox Sports, Yahoo, CBS Sports, my local newspapers, my local TV stations, my local radio stations, etc. pools, but can not remember my user name, password, or email address that I used to sign up the previous year.

I probably now have 17 email addresses registered at Foxsports.com from all the years of unsuccessful attempts at logging in.

8. When You Lose a Final Four Pick In Round One Or Two

Two words: Red X’s.

7. When You Have Too Many Brackets

Nothing is worse than not knowing if you should root for a team or not.

Me (every game): “Ohhhhhhhhhh, look at this, if Gonzaga wins, I gain four points on Johnny in Jared’s pool. But, if they lose, I have them making it all the way to the final four in Jenny’s pool, and that would suck. But, then again, Greg has them winning the entire tourney in the office pool, and I only have them making it to the Sweet 16, plus that bastard won the pool last year, and I would rather have anyone else win instead of him………..”

6. The TV Schedule

This is a two fold Whammy!

The first thing is the timing of the games. If you are on the East Coast, you have to stay awake until way past your bedtime to make sure your bracket is still thriving. If you are on the West Coast, you basically have to take a sick day from work for the first two days of the tourney to catch the first zillion games that will be over before you get out of your awful job.

* East Coast people, I recommend you take at least one day out of work as well. At the very least: leave work early. At the very most: quit.

The other thing about the schedule is that it may have an impact on your regularly scheduled programming. I once nearly had a mini stroke on a Friday night, when The Amazing Race’s Phil Koeghan announced “When the The Amazing Race returns on April 1st….” In fact, I am not embarrassed to say that I actually think I physically gasped a little when I heard April 1st, and then promptly opened my nearest calendar and frantically counted how many weeks away April 1st was. I was so pissed at the NCAA that Friday night.

INTERESTING SIDE NOTE: I am 100% confident that CBS moved Survivor from its original home of 8pm on Thursday nights to 8pm on Wednesday nights a few years ago, simply because of all the strongly-worded hate mail and/or death threats I sent to their offices kindly asking that they not F*%k with me and my Survivor ever again.

5. When You Lose Your Office Pool To the Old Lady That You Work With’s 8 Year Old Great-Grandson

Who the hell even invited him, lady?

4. Having To Drink on Thursday and Then Having to Drink on Friday

Within 7 minutes of leaving work on the first Thursday of the tournament I am sipping on a cold beer, with a folder containing my 73 brackets, a blue highlighter and a red pen. I am cheers’ing with my co-workers, high-fiving that Dayton won the 12:15 game, and congratulating ourselves at still having a perfect bracket, even though only two games have finished.

At least, that is always what I imagine is going to happen, as I am driving twice the legal speed limit to rush to the crowded bar that is already full, and has nowhere for us to sit. We have to stand behind 6 burly construction workers, awkwardly exchange beer and money with the bartender while making sure to not disrupt the scary construction men, and not having a place to rest my 64 oz. Bud Light mug that I instinctively ordered.

Couple that with my highlighter typically dying after three games, and me losing my pen, and I am one miserable NCAA college basketball “fan.”

Then, I wake up on Friday feeling like shit. I promise myself that I will come home and watch the games in bed when I get out of work. By 9:20am I have already made plans to watch the continuation of round 1 at the exact same bar we were at the day before, and end up being double hungover on Saturday morning.*

*Afternoon

3. The Anxiety During the Final Seconds of Nearly Every Game

Everyone may say they love a “good game,” but that is really just bullshit. If I have Marquette in the final four, I want them to win by 91 points, every game, and I will not be happy if they are letting their opponents within 20 points at any point throughout the game.

Washington Redskins aside, if I ever drop dead during a sporting event, it will most certainly be during the final seconds in a semi-meaningless #12 vs #5 seeded game in which I have the underdog making the Sweet Sixteen in one of my 37 pools.

2. When You Are Doing Great But Someone Else is Doing a Little Better, But You Can’t Catch Up To Them No Matter What Happens.

When you are crushing the office pool, nailing upset after upset, and convinced that you have a victory in the bag. Then you find out that someone else is doing one point better than you, but has the EXACT SAME FINAL 4, FINAL 2, AND CHAMPION AS YOU. You have all been there, and know how devastating it can truly be to one’s mental health.

 

1. Risking Jail Time

I don’t know what state you are from, but in most states, participating in an NCAA Tourney office pool is technically “illegal” if you play for money. (Not that any of us at my workplace play for money, State, we just play for fun.) This may be the stupidest, most ridiculous law ever, and if my place of employment ever got questioned for participating in a “fun only” NCAA office pool, (and they are looking for “the ringleader”), everyone’s fingers will snap off of their hands for collectively pointing as enthusiastically as humanly possible at my face.

If you are anything like me, today and tomorrow you will be prancing around your office building looking more professional and important than you do all year. Carrying folded up papers, envelopes, binders, like 5 pens, and whispering into co-workers ears, as if you are inviting them into an underground tunnel that leads to the lost treasure of the Sierra Nevada…. Is that something, or am I just naming a beer? It sounds so right and so wrong at the same time, but I am literally too lazy to Google it.

I went into a co-worker’s room today, one of which I have not been in all year. I actually think the last time I spoke to her was when I barged into her room on March 14th, 2016 demanding her to stop what she was doing, fill out my bracket that she knows nothing about, and order her to have her completed bracket for me BY NOON on Thursday. The sooner the better.

If you include all the other office pools I may or may not “ring lead”:

– Celebrity Death Pools
– American Idol Fantasy Leagues
– The Voice Fantasy Leagues
– Survivor Drafts
– Big Brother Drafts
– Big Brother Canada Drafts
– Big Brother UK Drafts
-Superbowl Squares
– Ink Master Drafts
-The Bachelor/Bachelorette Drafts
-Over/Under on how long the newest Bachelor/ette couple will stay together
–Amazing Race Drafts
– Power Ball “Gr

oup Buy-Ins”
-Mega Millions “Group Buy Ins”

I would be in jail for life without the eligibility of parole, if, indeed, money was at stake, which it is not. Because that would be unlawful.

 

… fine, and Project Runway Drafts 🙁

So, those are the reasons why the next two weeks are going to completely suck. But, also the reason why I am going to hopped out of bed this morning like a giddy middle school girl getting dolled up for her first Justin Bieber concert.

 

Best of luck with all of your pools, and enjoy the Madness.

-Ryan

P.S. If anyone would like to participate in a Dancing With the Stars: Season 24 Fantasy League, hit me up by Monday.

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Who Will Win Every Reality Show You’re Currently Watching?

With so many competitive Reality TV shows currently airing, it is nearly impossible to stay up to date on all of them. Between The Bachelor, which concludes its 20th season on Monday, and The Voice, which is still dragging out completing its Top 48, here is a 100% spoiler-free assessment of who is most likely to win each of your guilty pleasures.

Ranked in Order of “Still Anyone’s Game” to “Solid Lock for Victory.”

10. Top Chef 13: California, Jeremy

Jeremy, Top Chef 15 (photo credit: bravotv.com)

Jeremy, Top Chef 13 (photo credit: bravotv.com)

 

Jeremy came out of the gates with guns blazing, winning two of the first four Elimination Challenges, and being on the top for one of the other two. During Restaurant Wars, however, he crumbled faster and harder than my inevitable NCAA “perfect bracket” will, after a number 15 seed upsets a number 2 seed.
Last week, Jeremy reminded us all of why we all chose him as the likely winner back in week one, by winning the final Quickfire Challenge, as well as the Elimination Challenge.

With Amar or Carl coming back from Last Chance Kitchen this week, Jeremy will have to defeat them, and Top Baker, Marjorie, to take home the prize. Let’s face it, as funny and entertaining as Isaac is, I have a better chance of winning Top Chef than he does.

Alternate Pick (Marjorie)

9. Ink Master 7: Revenge, Christian

Christian, Ink Master (photo credit: spiketv.com)

Christian, Ink Master (photo credit: spiketv.com)

 

Just by looking at this dude, you know that he is the real deal (as far as tattoo artists are concerned.) He is probably the most intimidating reality contestant on TV today, and the most likely of the rookies to be able to take down all of the returning vets.
As if the rookies were not already at a disadvantage for never playing before and having to compete against 8 all-stars, Ink Master has decided to stagger the return of all 8 all-stars, making it even that much more unfair for the newbies. One of the returning all-stars will not be joining the competition until week 8. WTF is up with that?

My prediction: Christian will defeat all 7 rookies, and all 8 returnees, and Dave Navarro will be more dramatic than ever, and barely able to contain his excitement when he can announce Christian as “the greatest winner of all time.”

Alternate Pick: Sausage

8. Amazing Race 28, Tyler & Korey

Tyler & Korey, Amazing Race 28 (photo credit: cbs.com)

Tyler & Korey, Amazing Race 28 (photo credit: cbs.com)

 

Let’s be clear: there is a zero percent chance that these guys are not making it to the finish line. Tyler Oakley is the most famous player to ever compete on The Amazing Race (FYI: I had no idea who he was until three weeks ago, but with over five million Twitter followers, you must be pretty damn famous.)
The Amazing Race can certainly be finagled by the producers to save their favorites (i.e. train/bus/plane times, how many teams they allow to complete each task at once, non-elimination legs,) and there is no way they would risk losing their viewers because their favorite internet personality got eliminated in week five because they had a half-dead taxi driver that drove under the actual speed limit and had to stop and get petro.
Tyler & Korey are locks for the final three, but whether or not they can beat the final two teams (without the help of production) is anyone’s guess.

Alternate Winner: Brodie & Kurt

7. Big Brother Canada 4, Nick (and Phil)

Nick and Phil, BB Canada 4 (photo credit: bigbrothercanada.globaltv.com/)

Nick and Phil, BB Canada 4 (photo credit:
bigbrothercanada.globaltv.com/)

 

Not only are Phil and Nick super likable, fun, and entertaining dudes, but they are also fairly decent at the strategic game of Big Brother. After being totally screwed by the producers by having to play the game together, they were almost destined to not be long for the game. However, with the recent turn of events in the BB house, Phil and Nick are sitting very pretty.

There are much bigger threats in the game, and they are playing both sides just well enough that they are nobody’s targets.

I expect them to split up at some point in the coming weeks, and be able to play for themselves. If that is the case, I almost guarantee that one of them wins (my guess is Nick.) But even if they are forced to play together for the duration of the game, they could be the first duel winners in any North American Big Brother series.

Alternate Winner: Tim (and yes, I did watch his season of BB: Australia. What the hell is wrong with me?)

6. Project Runway All Stars 5, Valerie

Valerie, Project Runway All Stars 5 (photo credit: lifetimetv.com)

Valerie, Project Runway All Stars 5 (photo credit: mylifetime.com)

 

Yes, you read that right. Project Runway is currently airing its FIFTH All Star version. And yes, I am watching the fifth all star version of Project Runway.

With that being said (it feels so good to finally share that secret with the world,) I do gamble with friends on every reality show that I watched, and would not be spending my precious time watching a minute of any Project Runway if I did not have some cash on the line. I do have to admit, however, that Unconventional Challenge Week makes me way more excited than it should.

And Avant Garde Week 🙁

Despite my very limited knowledge on fashion, I have watched a few season of PR, and despite everyone currently fan-girling over Kini, I predict a Valerie upset in the finals, causing Kini to lose at Fashion Week for the second time.

Alternate Winner: Sam

5. Redneck Island 5: Battle of the Lake, Cody & Jorden

Cody, Redneck Island (photo credit: cmt.com)

Cody, Redneck Island (photo credit: cmt.com)

 

Jorden, Redneck Island (photo credit: cmt.com)

Jorden, Redneck Island (photo credit: cmt.com)

 

Side Note: My parents would be so disappointed if they read this and realize how much Reality TV I actually watch.

Anyway, I may be one of the few people that have actually watched Redneck Island from its inception (I promise you, I have a very active social life.)

Cody has completely dominated this season, and now that Jorden is his partner, she is along for the ride to the finals. Like Cody or not, he is great TV, and the small guy that all the big, scary dudes need to watch out for. And now that Tuff is eliminated, Jorden’s path to the prize should be a much smoother journey.

ALTERNATE PICK: Margaret & Josh

4. Survivor 32: Kaoh Rong, Michele

Michele, Survivor Kaoh Rong (photo credit: cbs.com)

Michele, Survivor Kaoh Rong (photo credit: cbs.com)

 

While Michele’s game took a big hit this week with Caleb’s medical evacuation, her and her two female beauty allies are sitting very pretty.

The impending merge will be imperative for each of the remaining 13 contestants, but the beauty girls have the most to lose. Of the three (Julia, Anna, and Michele) Michele seems to be the one that can adapt best post swap/merge.

She has zero enemies, is not a challenge threat, and is likable enough to want to spend the remaining 30 days with. The tribal swap could be the difference between Michele being a bartender in May, or a millionaire.

ALTERNATE PICK: Anna

3. American Idol 15, Dalton Rapattoni

Dalton Rapattoni, American Idol 15 (photo credit: fox.com)

Dalton Rapattoni, American Idol 15 (photo credit: fox.com)

 

Dalton has been one of the frontrunners since his audition episode. He may not be the judges pick to win at the moment (as of the final 8,) but they don’t matter anymore. He is the most marketable of the remaining eight contestants, and likely has the biggest teenage fan following.
His unique renditions of all genres of music helps his to stand out from his competitors. If he can tolerate standing in the shadows of La’Porsha and Trent for a few more weeks, he will be able to step out into the spotlight just in time to be crowed the final winner of American Idol.

ALTERNATE PICK: Trent

2. The Bachelor 20, Lauren B.

Lauren B, The Bachelor (photo credit: abc.com)

Lauren B, The Bachelor (photo credit: abc.com)

 

Granted there is a 50-50 chance for her to win, and predicting Lauren to beat Jo-Jo is as difficult as predicting a coin toss, but I will still mark it as a victory should it occur.
Even though I think Jo-Jo is way more into Ben than Lauren is, Ben will choose Lauren, even though he already told Jo-Jo he loved her.

Am I the only one that wonders how much of an act both Ben and Lauren are putting on to come across so perfect and lovable? I am not sure I know one single person that seems so wonderful as Ben. Rumor has is, Ben slept with all three girls in the fantasy sweet, and America is still in love with the guy. Juan Pablo was nearly burned at the stake after a fling in the ocean with Clare.

Even though I wish Ben (and whoever he chooses) nothing but the best, I would love to see some amateur footage of the two of them getting into a serious argument about who is too good for who, while wasted at their local watering hole, just to make the rest of us feel a little bit better about ourselves.

ALTERNATE PICK: Ben proposes to Lauren B and Jo-Jo

1. Hell’s Kitchen 15, Jared

Jared, Hell's Kitchen (photo credit: fox.com)

Jared, Hell’s Kitchen (photo credit: fox.com)

 

I get it, and I agree with you…. who the HELL cares. I am not sure if this is an endorsement of Jared, or a protest against the remaining eight contestants, but I can not imagine a scenario that Jared does not win the 15th season of Hell’s Kitchen, and become the “head chef” and some random Gordon Ramsey establishment for a few months.

I understand your anti-climatic letdown, but to me, I see nobody else that Ramsey could possibly let win, and am very confident that the couple hundred thousand people that watch the Hell’s Kitchen 15 finale will witness him being doused with all the confetti that the Fox interns can find at the nearest Dollar Store in the vicinity of Hell’s Kitchen.

ALTERNATE PICK: Chad

* Coming Next Week – The Voice Predictions, as well as any changes in the unlikely event that I change my mind.

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Survivor: Kaoh Rong, Episode 3. Who Will Survive?

After back-to-back losses by the Brawn tribe, they are down two tribe members to the Beauty and Brains tribe. Will their pathetic challenge performance continue, or will a smart or beautiful person take the walk of shame tonight? My predictions on who will be voted out in episode 3 of Survivor: Kaoh Rong below.

Ranked in order of LEAST likely to MOST likely to be voted out in 16th place.

16. Michelle (Beauty)

(photo credit: cbs.com)

(photo credit: cbs.com)

 

Michelle is sitting pretty right now (pun shamelessly intended.) She is in the best position in her tribe, as she is strong, good at challenges, and  very tight with the ladies on her tribe. If Beauty loses, I expect Michele to not be on anyone’s radar. In addition, from this week’s previews, it is clear that Michele and Anna will be sitting out of the challenge for the Beauty tribe. So, in the event that they do lose the Immunity Challenge, no blame will be on either of their beautiful shoulders.

15. Anna (Beauty)

(photo credit: cbs.com)

(photo credit: cbs.com)

 

Like Michele, Anna is in a great spot on her tribe. If Beauty loses immunity, the ladies will certainly stick together, and it is very unlikely that the 3 Beauty men will have the brains to concoct a plan to save them all. Plus, like I said about Michele, Anna sits out in this week’s challenge, and will be free from any challenge blame should they have to attend Tribal Council.

14. Neal (Brains)

(photo credit: cbs.com)

(photo credit: cbs.com)

 

It is looking like Neal will be in the swing vote position on the Brains tribe for as long as these tribes stay in tact. The previews this week show Peter and Elisabeth scheming to get out the old folk, and Debbie telling the camera that “it is not going to happen.” If Brains loses, I expect a showdown between Peter/Elisabeth and Debbie/Joe with Neal and Aubry having to choose a side.

13. Julia (Beauty)

(photo credit: cbs.com)

(photo credit: cbs.com)

 

Although she does compete in this week’s challenge, a massive blunder that causes Beauty to lose immunity is just about the only thing that could send Julia packing tonight. She has the numbers on the tribe with Michele and Anna. Also, Tai is on her tribe, so pretty much all the 5 other Beauty’s are safe until a tribal switch as long as Tai is still around.

12. Aubry (Brains)

(photo credit: cbs.com)

(photo credit: cbs.com)

 

After a rough first few days, Aubry may be in one of the best spots on the Brains tribe if she can stay mentally sound. As long as she does not have any more meltdowns, the target should stay on the older tribe members (Debbie and Joseph,) and the two that are gunning for them (Peter and Elisabeth.) If Aubry and Neal work together, they can choose which two they want to form a solid 4 way alliance with, and take full control of the Brains tribe.

11. Caleb (Brawn)

(photo credit: cbs.com)

(photo credit: cbs.com)

 

Let’s face it, the girls on the Beauty tribe are in control. While they may be getting a bit concerned with how close Caleb and Tai are becoming, Caleb has nothing to worry about because Tai would be their first target. Should Tai find an idol, and the girls catch wind of it, it will be a mad dash to decide who to vote out between Caleb and Nick if the tribe has to trek their pretty little asses to Tribal. Caleb seems to be a bit more likable, and more of an asset around camp than Nick, so I will give Caleb the edge, and say that he is the safest guy on the Beauty tribe.

10. Kyle/Jason (Brawn)

(photo credit: cbs.com)

(photo credit: cbs.com)

 

While the Brawn tribe is currently a complete mess, Kyle or Jason, whatever you want to call him, is in the power position. Him and Scot are clearly very close, and the ladies would be stupid to force a tie. They will go after each other and beg the men to keep them around for a few more days.
If, on the slim chance, Alecia and Cydney decide to team up and vote out a guy, Scot is the one that voted out Alecia last week, so he will likely be her target.
The only way Kyle goes is if Brawn loses, and one of the ladies finds (and uses) the idol, and writes down his name.

9. Nick (Beauty)

(photo credit: cbs.com)

(photo credit: cbs.com)

 

Nick has been pretty much invisible in the first two episodes. Partly because the Beauty tribe keeps winning challenges, party because of the big personalities on his tribe, and partly because he is just boring.
Pre Season I ranked Nick as the #1 least likely to win the game, and I haven’t swayed too far from that prediction. The only way Nick will be in danger tonight though, is if the Beauty’s lose immunity, and Tai finds an idol. Nick, Caleb, and Tai are nowhere near smart enough, or good enough at the game, to combat the solid Beauty girl’s alliance.

8. Peter (Brains)

(photo credit: cbs.com)

(photo credit: cbs.com)

 

Peter may be shooting himself in the foot this week, as he is seen trying to make some moves to vote out Debbie and Joe. Literally, the ONLY thing Peter had to do is fly under the radar and not get his tribemate’s a reason to vote him out. There are so many other targets at the Brains tribe that he could have sailed through to the merge without his name being uttered.
Instead, now Neal and Aubry will likely decide if they want to go with Peter/Aubry or with Debbie/Joe. If they go with Debbie/Joe, Peter’s game is all but finished. If not this week, than next week.
Additionally, last week we were shown footage of Peter saying that he wanted to keep Debbie around as long as possible. It may be that he keeps her just long enough to vote him out.
My prediction: If Debbie does not vote Peter out tonight, she will jump ship when the merge comes, and vote him out then.
7. Debbie (Brains)

(photo credit: cbs.com)

(photo credit: cbs.com)

 

Debbie has been quite a character so far this season. Without having a chance to really see the Brains tribe “play the game” yet, tonight may be the time for Debbie to shine, or for her to end her own game.
I expect Debbie to go full force after Elisabeth/Peter tonight, and when the dust settles, if Debbie is still standing, she could make it a very long way in this game.

If the Brains go to Tribal tonight, Debbie has more to lose than anyone else, because if she can survive the first Tribal Council, she will likely make it all the to the finals, as there will be much bigger fish to fry than Debbie once the tribes switch/merge.

My advice for Debbie: Do everything you can to sway Neal and Aubry to your side. If that fails, throw Joe under the bus as hard as you possibly can.

6. Scot (Brawn)

(photo credit: cbs.com)

(photo credit: cbs.com)

 

If the Brawn tribe loses again, Scot could be in some hot water, as he was the only one that voted out Alecia last week (besides Jenny.)
While it is unlikely that Alecia, Cydney, and Kyle will team up without Scot, the fact that he voted for Alecia could be enough drive for Alecia to find the idol, and make sure she uses it to vote him out.

5. Cydney (Brawn)

(photo credit: cbs.com)

(photo credit: cbs.com)

 

We have already determined that the Brawn tribe is a complete disaster. And Cydney is a complete unknown within the tribe. Nobody (the viewer at least) knows where she stands, and she could very well be on the outskirts, as she did vote against the tribe the first episode when she voted out Alecia over Darnell.
If the Brawn lose again, the boys may decide to ditch Cydney while they still can, and Alecia would be more than happy to repay the favor of writing her name down.

4. Joe (Brains)

(photo credit: cbs.com)

(photo credit: cbs.com)

 

Joe was sitting real nice until his argument with Elisabeth. It put an unnecessary target on his back, and now Elisabeth (and Peter) will have an additional reason to vote him out, besides him being “old.”
Hopefully he can get the support of Aubry and Neal, and survive until the merge or a switch. Like Debbie, if he can make it to the merge, he will likely cruise to the end of the game. Big week coming up for Joe and Debbie.

3. Tai (Beauty)

(photo credit: cbs.com)

(photo credit: cbs.com)

 

If the Beauty tribe loses, the only thing that will save Tai is a ladder to climb to the top of that tree to get his hidden idol. But, if the producers like Tai that much, a ladder may just magically wash up on to the Beauty tribe while the young beauties are all suntanning, far away from Tai.

A. I do not think the Beauty tribe will lose until the switch.
B. I do not think the producers have got their fill of Tai yet.

According to the previews, Tai will pull a Kimmi Kappenberg, and will have a bit of a meltdown about the killing of a chicken. This will lead us to believe he will be voted out tonight. But, a come from behind victory, will enable Tai to live to see another day.

2. Alecia (Brawn)

(photo credit: cbs.com)

(photo credit: cbs.com)

 

Alecia may be my favorite of all the castaways, but she will be at the bottom of the rankings until at least a merge.
If the Brawn tribe loses again, I think Scot, Kyle, and Cydney will decide that Alecia has had enough chances, and pin the loss on her, unanimously voting her out. I pray to the Survivor gods, that she finds, and uses, an idol, for the biggest #blindside of the season so far.

1. Elisabeth (Brains)

(photo credit: cbs.com)

(photo credit: cbs.com)

 

Elisabeth’s childish outburst last week will likely secure her departure the first time Brains lose immunity. I think Aubry gets along better with Joe and Debbie, and Neal will realize that it would be better for him to go with the numbers rather than risk a tie going with Elisabeth and Peter. The tribe will keep Peter over Elisabeth due to his strength, and Elisabeth will pay the ultimate price for being too thirsty and hungry to control her emotions last week. The case of the #Hangry’s strikes again.