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4. Nicky & Kim: MLB Wives

The ladies' ball-playing husbands may be out of contention for World Series glory but the wives are still in The Race. "Roller coaster" seems an apt way to describe my feeling toward this team. First, I thought they would be strong. Then, I thought they would succumb to one of their (already) many emotional breakdowns. Finally, last week, they showed they can be strategic with their shrewd standby list move. Not only did they hit the mat as number three but in doing so, they showed the other teams they know how to work the airport obstacles. Plus they ticked off Exes Tim & Marie, so that's worth several points in my book.

5. Tim & Danny: Team Okies

While the boys are still showing some fish-out-of-water-ness, they impressed me last week during the prolonged flight shuffle. Leo & Jamal attempted to persuade them that their flight was the best option, in order to put another team on the flight. Danny immediately questioned why the Afghanimals would be so quick to share with them since they hasn't exactly been chumming around with them. Danny deduced correctly that they were just hoping to pad the flight to avoid having to compete solely with Ally & Ashley. So, they went with Danny's gut and found an even earlier flight. Trust your instincts, fellas, but not OK-Tim's woeful math skills.

6. Tim & Marie: Bitter, Bitter Exes.

Hey, it's the team that lives the theme song of The Itchy & Scratchy Show and last week was more of the same. I want them gone more than any team but their Express Pass is still on the table so it's not likely to happen yet. In addition, they have an Express Pass burning a hole in their pocket and it's not the one they get to use. Marie is dead-set on using this to incentivize the other teams to help them. Alas, it hasn't played out that way for them. Well, there is only one leg after this one where they have to gift it and if the previews are accurate, then it's Nicole who does the strong-arming for the Pass. A team so off-putting to the other teams (and viewers) is destined for a U-turn, which is all I can hope for.

7. Ally & Ashley: Ice Crew Girls

The girls have actually shown they aren't truly dumb blondes but they have made one of the dumbest mistakes in the Race this season: blind allegiance to the inept Afghanimals. Ashley was right to rub in their faces that they ignored her suggestion of Tiles over Miles Detours, which cost them time. Plus it was just lazy of them to accept the flight into Lisbon that Leo & Jamal found. With a little effort, like the Okies exerted, the girls would've been an hour or more ahead of the cousins' flight. Ally & Ashley need to not let Leo & Jamal steamroll them and dictate the decisions in the alliance if they want to survive deep into the Race.

8. Leo & Jamal: Cousins/Afghanimals

Confidence is not lacking for these guys. Too bad it is unfounded and misplaced confidence. First, there is the aforementioned flight laziness. Because they believe they are so great, they didn't even question that better flights would be possible. Oops. Next, they were so convinced the Miles task would be easy and they'd finish it on the first guess; they ignored Ashley's suggestion of Tiles. Oops again. Add in the cousins constantly on the brink of melting down with one another and the brink of elimination every week.

Since I don't think we will get an elimination this week, this whole week will be our first exercise in running in place this season.

We'll see in just a few hours.

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