RNO Roundtable: ‘Survivor: South Pacific’ Pre-Show Predictions

Each season, various Reality News Online writers put together their collective heads and try to figure out which Survivor contestants will do well and which won’t. Some of them have had pretty good success. Others, not so much. We have seven writers participating this season, so let’s see what William Hammon, Ken Kellam III, Chris Harris, Jenn Brasler, Jeffrey Clinard, Sting7, and David Bloomberg have to say!

Coach

William: Despite claims to the contrary in his bio, Coach looks to be the same old Coach once he opens his mouth. He says he’s going to try to be less arrogant and more sanely confident, and I give him credit for at least recognizing that he’s going to be a polarizing figure, but let’s call a spade a spade. Coach is Coach. There is no one else quite like him, and in all honesty, he’d be foolish to try to change who he is. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, mind you. Rob didn’t change the essential elements of who he is as a player over the course of four seasons, and he finally got his win last time out (he tweaked minor things here and there, but essentially, Boston Rob will always be Boston Rob). On the other hand, Russell did try to change his game the third time out (or at least he said he tried), and he was unceremoniously booted at the first opportunity. Coach is a known commodity who won’t come off as a threat until at least the midway point of the game, so I have every confidence that we’ll see him for a good while. The sadistic part of me hopes that Brandon backstabs him at some point, just so we can have a player get snaked by two members of the same bloodline, but I think that’s a long shot.

Ken: I find Ben’s bio (I still refuse to call him “Coach”) intriguing and confusing. I’m intrigued because he says he’s going to kill ’em with kindness this time, but confused because he’s listed as a mens’ soccer coach and pastor. So now he coaches men? And as far as being a pastor, he always seemed to have a bit of a God complex. In any case, if his teammates are able to see beyond his past reputation, he may stick around awhile, but jury duty at best.

Chris: What can I say? He’s this year’s Russell. Ozzy is the Rob – the one his team will want to keep around for his physical acumen and camp skills (and hopefully be smart enough to rid themselves of eventually, unlike Rob’s tribe). Coach is the one they will want off the island from Day 1. Coach has suggested he’ll be a totally different player this time around. He’d better be, because it’s his only chance for survival … but he may not have the chance to prove it.

Jenn: This season I’m going for something new – the random draw. I put the names of all the Survivors in a bowl, and the order I draw them out is the order I’m saying they’ll be eliminated. The last person in the bowl is the winner. So by my highly scientific, well-thought-out method, Coach will be one of the first out.

Jeffrey: Coach has always been a character, but not really in a good way. He has endless stories and a whole new audience to get sick of them. After his previous seasons, I think people, including his tribemates, have stopped listening. I think he'll be out before the jury phase.

Sting7: Coach promises us a whole new Coach. A whole new strategy. Coach 3.0 even! Not buying it. The new nice “kill them with kindness” Coach will last maybe a day. He’ll find a compadre/henchman like Tyson, and he’ll immediately start pontificating about himself, who needs to go, himself, who he distrusts, himself, who isn’t working hard enough, himself, himself, who’s here for the wrong reasons, and himself. Something about this group says they won’t tolerate Coach’s shenanigans this year.

David: Almost everybody here raised the excellent point that Coach is who he is and cannot change. That means that, unlike Rob and Russell from last season, he is not truly a strategic player of this game. He has no real ability to properly plan because his connection with reality is somewhat tenuous, at best. But William also made the good point that he will not be viewed as an early threat and will thus be kept around for a while. I agree with several others who noted that the may annoy his tribe, but Russell’s tribe didn’t vote him out quickly because he was annoying – they did it because he was a threat. Coach is no threat. He’ll almost certainly make the jury, but get no further.

Ozzy

William: First things first. What the hell is up with Ozzy’s hair? It looks like they Photoshopped Coach’s locks onto his head. Moving on, not much has changed about Ozzy from a game play aspect. He recognizes the mistakes he made the last two times out, but he can’t grasp how to correct them this time around. He just knows he wants to. Honestly, the best thing that could happen to Ozzy would be for him to be the first one voted out. Redemption Island is a twist tailor-made for a hardcore challenge competitor like him. We thought Matt’s run last season was impressive. Just watch what Ozzy will do if anyone has the stones to vote him out. In all sincerity, he may make it to the end by default, just because there will never be an opportune moment before the final five where he will be guaranteed to be gone if voted out, and even then he’ll probably win the last two individual immunity challenges to save himself. Ozzy wants to improve his game. With the Redemption Island twist, he really doesn’t need to.

Ken: With his hair as long as it is now, hopefully there won’t be any challenges taking place around heavy machinery. Barring that, third time could be a charm. We’ve already seen what happens when you let a returning player, i.e. Boston Rob, stick around, and it could well happen again. Well, probably not, but I’ve never picked the winner correctly, and this seems to be as good a way to go as any.

Chris: See above. I do think this year’s group will be smart enough to rid themselves of Ozzy when the time is right – and much like what happened to him in Micronesia, he’ll have gotten fat and happy, and won’t see it coming – but I’d really be shocked if Ozzy is out pre-merge. If he’s anywhere close to what he was in past seasons, and there are water challenges aplenty, then he’s basically a ringer who will allow his team to kill at challenges. His value drops a little bit if there aren’t many water challenges … but only a little.

Jenn: Ozzy won’t make it to the jury this time around.

Jeffrey: Ozzy is a real wildcard. There isn't any doubt that he's an asset to any tribe lucky enough to get him, and he commands a fair share of hero worship. The downside is he's coming off Rob's victory and is a known challenge winner. This poses a real challenge; when should his tribe use him, and when should he be discarded? Will the hero-worship business keep him a long time, or will Rob's victory make the tribe wish to wash their hands of him early? I'm guessing it is a balance of the two, getting to the jury or near-jury phase and then striking him out. I'm only guessing what side of that line he'll be on.

Sting7: The curious thing about Ozzy is that he is almost the flip side of the coin of Boston Rob. Boston Rob's "usefulness" with those fools who forgot they had to eliminate him in order to win was his experience. Ozzy's usefulness will be in his camp prowess. What can't he do? Fantastic as he is, I don't think Survivor can have found more fools. Ozzy will not win this season.

David: Like Coach, Ozzy has never been a great strategist. Mind you, at least he recognized this when he returned the first time, as he even told me he needed to focus more on that aspect of the game. But once he got there, it didn’t work out the way he planned. This time around, he has a better shot, but he’s still no Boston Rob. His tribe could go one of two ways: They could keep him around because he’s a challenge monster who will help them in the early stages. Or they could boot him because he’s a challenge monster and they are looking beyond the early stages and want to get him out while they can. It’s possible they may try to do something in between, where they keep him ‘til they think it’s time for a merge and then try to boot him, but good luck with planning something that precise. I think he’ll make the jury, but nobody will want to stand next to him at the end and he will not be able to create a cult like Rob did, so he’ll be voting rather than campaigning for votes at the final jury.

Albert

William: Right off the bat we have a bona fide contender. While I think the idea of being a “dating” coach is rather lame (though I’m sure I could probably benefit from one), Albert doesn’t seem full of himself and has a good head on his shoulders. He will obviously be looked at as a physical threat late in the game, but as he points out in his interview, he is singularly focused on social dynamics and strategy. The hardest points for him will be the surviving the last couple of votes before and after the merge point, then making the end once we get down to the final five or six. I think he’s got a decent chance here. His strategic mind can get him into the right alliances at the right time, and his physicality can save him when the tables turn.

Ken: He claims to have little patience for ignorance, and I can see him getting into it with someone on day one. He’d better have the right alliance or he’ll be gone before he knows what hit him, and even then I have a hard time seeing him lasting much past the merge.

Chris: A baseball/dating coach: WTF? And how often does this guy get “tell me what the three bases are again” jokes, anyway? He bores me, and I don’t think he’ll be a big strategic threat, despite the suggestion that a “dating coach” would know how to win over people. He’ll probably do well in challenges, due to his physique, so he could make the merge.

Jenn: Albert will be on the jury.

Jeffrey: Albert seems like he'll be a mix of challenge threat and showmance candidates. Those are both great qualities to look for in somebody who is going to go far but not win. He probably won't get to the finals either. He's getting jury duty.

Sting7: It makes me nervous when contestants seem so happy to be themselves. Albert can’t seem to stop talking about his attributes. Among them, his admiration of J.T. is a good thing. His impatience with ignorance (one I share) is not. His reported athletic prowess will be golden, as Ozzy and Coach value this.

David: First, I have to admit that I share in Albert’s pet peeve, “I have little to no patience for ignorance. People who are uninformed about something, yet insist to be opinionated about it, really irritate me.” However, when you go on Survivor, you have to be able to put such peeves aside. If he’s faced with somebody the likes of Coach, well, good luck in controlling that! But on a more serious note, Albert is correct in noting that his athleticism will certainly make him a challenge threat. If he is any good at being a dating coach, that means he has social skills as well. Can he really pull it all together? My head says “yes” but my gut says “no.” I’m afraid that he will see himself as a perfect contestant and his head might swell just a bit. He did note that he likes the way J.T. led by example rather than by pushing people, so maybe he’s already got this under control. But I just don’t think he will make it all the way to the end.

Brandon

William: Much has been made of Brandon Hantz, due to the notoriety (and notoriousness) of his uncle. Quite frankly, though, I’m unimpressed. He seems to be fairly self-aware, and wants to prove that the Hantz family are not all villains (which I guess explains the Jesus overkill in his bio), but at the same time, everything could backfire against this kid. He wants to restore honor to the family name, yet he has it tattooed on his arm. Anyone who knows of Russell (and I’m sure even the recruits will be shown Russell’s seasons so that they’re aware) will see that tattoo and associate Brandon with his uncle, and it will take an astonishing amount of, as fellow writers Christian and Shane call it, diplomatic capital, to break through that. His best hope will be to cling to Coach, since they’re on the same tribe. If he can convince Coach that he wants to restore his family’s honor and atone for his uncle’s alleged misdeeds (remember that Russell backstabbed Coach in Heroes vs. Villains), he might be able to get into a good alliance that will carry him at least to the jury point. At least on the surface, he’s not nearly as dynamic as Russell, but I’ll reserve full judgment until the game begins.

Ken: He may be the first relative of a past player to make the cast, but I don’t expect him to be anything like his (in)famous uncle. And that’s a smart move. Unfortunately, he comes across as the type of player his uncle would chew up and spit out when the time comes, much like Boston Rob did with Grant last season. And when all is said and done, the show will still not have a winner named Hantz.

Chris: You’ll likely hear this a lot in this roundtable exercise, but the key for Brandon is simple: Hide that you’re a Hantz, you can do well (he reminds me a little of J.T.). Let people know you’re a Hantz, you’re dead. And if he’s really got his last name tattooed on his body, like Jeff Probst says … buh-bye Brandon. Which is a shame, because if it weren’t for those tattoos, I think he could go a long way. But at some point, he’s going to have to take off his shirt, right?

Jenn: Brandon will fall just short of the finals, getting a seat on the jury panel.

Jeffrey: Brandon has two things going against him – his last name and his youth. I don't generally look for the youngest players in the game to win even though his reported role models all went far. Most schemers do well because they have their own bag of tricks, not recycled ones from villains past. I think he'll get the boot pre-jury.

Sting7: Being the nephew of Russell Hantz is quite a pedigree. Unfortunately, Brandon is going to spend most of his time overcoming that pedigree. Brandon says being a Hantz doesn’t have to mean being mean. On paper, he sounds like the second coming of Russell! Brandon is going to have to have an actual halo to escape Russell’s pernicious shadow! But outdoorsy southern types (Colby, JT), and the skills they bring, always seem to do well.

David: I agree with most of my fellow writers here – Brandon has a hell of a task ahead of him. My original thought was, as others have said, that he should never mention his uncle. The tattoo, however, changes everything. Then again, his whole bio doesn’t make sense. He says he wants to show he’s not like his uncle… then says the contestants he’s most like include his uncle and Jonny-freaking-Fairplay! (Oddly, he also includes Colby, who doesn’t at all fit with the others!) So, Brandon, are you like your uncle or not? Actually, I don’t think he is – I don’t think he’s likely to be nearly as smart or strategic. He’s going to try to play nice while the others play for a million dollars. He’s out before the merge.

Christine

William: Anyone who lists Emilio Zapata as a personal inspiration will at least get my attention, but beyond that, there’s not much to Christine. She comes off as a wonderful person, and anyone with the infinite patience to teach special needs children has my respect (because as I’ve discovered over the course of my life, I don’t have such patience). Still, there doesn’t seem to be anything to her game. She’s there for the thrill and for the spirit of the competition, but when asked how she’ll win, she merely states, “I know I’m going to win.” A positive outlook with no plan does not a winner make. Depending on her ability in challenges and her utility at camp, she might be around for a while, but I don’t expect anything spectacular.

Ken: She lists one of her pet peeves as people who don’t remove the price sticker off the bottom of their shoes. If that’s all it takes to rile her, she may not be long for this game. Plus, she sees herself as a born leader. That could put a target on her back, and fast. I’ll be surprised if she sticks around past the first few episodes.

Chris: Being 39 does not make you old in real life, but it does in Survivor, especially if you’re a woman. I’d be tempted to say she’s in trouble, but making the right alliance is key – a number of older women have done well over the years by following this advice (from Sue in Season 1 to Jane, Holly, and even last season’s Julie to a certain extent in recent years). She does seem to value being outspoken and stubborn, so these traits won’t help her social game. Probst seems to like her though, so maybe she’s more able than I can tell.

Jenn: Christine will get to the jury.

Jeffrey: I think Christine can go fairly far in the game. She's not the oldest woman on her tribe, and I think that gives her a bit of breathing room to make deals. She should be able to make it to the jury phase of the game. Beyond that, she might have problems.

Sting7: Christine sounds like a lovely woman. We could do lunch! Survivor chances? Not so sure. If she ends up on Coach’s tribe, she could very well go home first! Teachers have a horrible rep on this show, and Christine is a person who likes human harmony. There is none of that on Survivor. Call me, Christine, you’ll be free soon.

David: While Ken mentioned her shoe sticker peeve, I think the more important one is her concern about people not waiting their turn. In the middle of a tribal debate, is she going to patiently wait to speak up, raising her hand in the hopes she gets called on? Or will she stand up and put forth her point? If the former, she’ll be trampled. As Sting said, she just seems too nice. No jury for her.

Dawn

William: I want to root for Dawn, I really do. But there’s just nothing there. So she has six adopted kids. So what? There are thousands of other families with similar dynamics. That doesn’t mean anything about raising that family can translate to this game. I always want to root for true fans of this show and of this game, but with Dawn there’s nothing to go on besides personal determination. She also has one of the biggest whammies against her, and that’s her age. She’s only 41, which isn’t ancient by Survivor standards [Editor’s Note: Or by writer/editor standards. Ahem.], but she is the second oldest woman in the game (she’s three years younger than Stacey), and the oldest woman on her tribe by 14 years. It’s a shame, because as a fan of the show for its duration, she probably would have been a great candidate in the earlier seasons when she was in her early 30s. But as we’ve seen all too often in recent years, the “fans” apply every year until the producers relent and put them on, then they’re voted out in the first three episodes by the 21-year-old models who were recruited for eye candy purposes. Unless Dawn gets into a protective alliance early, she’s toast.

Ken: She thinks she has the drive and determination to dominate the game, but in a cast that includes Coach Ben and Ozzy, she may be in for a surprise. Nonetheless, she sounds like she’s playing for the right reasons, and she could stick around.

Chris: I like Dawn. Like Christine, she’s an older woman (41), but reminds me more of the successful older women in past seasons. I think she’ll do well, similar to the woman who took her place in Nicaragua, Holly. Maybe even well enough to reach the finals. She may be seen as the harmless older lady who just keeps slipping along and slipping along … until she’s at the end.

Jenn: Out before the jury.

Jeffrey: I usually don't have a lot to go on in making these pre-season selections and I usually end up discounting some players based on an arbitrary factor. One of these is eliminating the oldest woman from each tribe, and Dawn fits that category. I think it is harder for them to bond with the younger tribe members, and are seen (rightly or wrongly) as weak. I put her out pre-jury.

Sting7: Dawn says she is “persuasive,” and if she’s as good as she says, she can stay on Coach’s good side (if she ends up on his tribe). She may have to persuade Ozzy that her age isn’t a detriment. Somehow, someway, my gut says she can pull it off!

David: As with Christine, I just don’t have a good feeling that Dawn can do anything serious here. I’m glad she’s a fan and she seems like a nice person, but we’ve seen fans who get to Survivor and really have no clue what to do or how to manipulate the social situations. I also believe her age and gender will work against her if she doesn’t immediately prove her worth in challenges. Out pre-jury.

Edna

William: Edna gets points for her sense of determination, and for being the first in her family to finish college. Lord knows if I ever get on one of these shows, I’ll be listing that as my “claim to fame” as well (you know, instead of delusions of actually being “famous”). However, this gal’s got a lot going against her. She defies Asian stereotypes by admitting she’s bad at puzzles, which may negate any perceptions of her usefulness. She hates liars (you’re on the wrong show, honey), and admits that she has a tell (shifty eyes) when she lies herself. Also, she thinks of herself as an aggressive leader, but realizes that she can just come off as bossy. The final nail in her coffin is that she compares herself favorably to Mick Trimming. If you don’t know who that is, you’re not alone. He was the useless dead weight leader-in-name-only of Russell’s original tribe in Samoa who got dragged to the end and didn’t get a single vote. I think Edna’s a great person, but she’s horrible for this game. She might make the merge, but she’ll be lucky if she does.

Ken: She describes one of her pet peeves as liars. Well, that won’t be a problem in this game now, will it? She lists her strengths as being good as tasks and building a team. But does she have the skill to dismantle that team when the time comes? I just don’t see it. They’ll get her before she gets them. And when they do, she’ll be one of those who, in her closing comments, expressed her disgust with the deceit and treachery within her tribe.

Chris: Our “older” lady trend continues. Edna seems like she could be too outspoken and too controlling, traits that will spell an early end for her in this game. I see nothing in her that screams “success.” Probst identifies her as a flirt. Not sure who she’s flirting with … Coach, maybe? I can actually kind of see that. Could she be this season’s Debbie?

Jenn: Edna will be cashing this season’s check for the runner-up.

Jeffrey: I think Edna will do well. I see her as a core alliance member in her tribe and it will carry her to the jury phase of the game. She might even go further.

Sting7: Her bio just screams “intelligence.” Smart is an excellent tool, but it won’t necessarily win the day. The social element for Edna is going to huge. I think Edna is going to be seen as a threat early on. A girl who studies that much is probably not so great an athlete; as soon as she is perceived to have cost her tribe a challenge, she will gone quick. Or Edna will quietly align herself with the majority until she can strike out on her own. She will be interesting to watch.

David: My immediate reaction tells me to side with those who think Edna will be out early. As others have noted, she is playing Survivor and two pet peeves are liars and deception? But she also seems incredibly smart and I love to see somebody who describes herself as a “critical thinker” in this game. So I’m going to give her points for intelligence and believe that she can overcome her pet peeves and think her way to the jury.

Elyse

William: Elyse is probably going to annoy the hell out of me, just by her voice alone. Seriously, she sounds like Leslie Mann if she were being strangled while talking a mile a minute. Also, anyone who thinks “Elise” is spelled with a “Y” is already on my crap list. Still, we get a lot of information out of her about her back story, her determination to win, and her ambitions within the social game. This likely means she’ll be sticking around for a while. Also, and this is to her credit, she plans to not tell anyone that she almost won Miss America. All too often we get these vapid pageant girls who claim they want to be “more than just a pretty face.” Well Elyse has the best chance to actually make this work by not even mentioning her years as a model and pageant girl to the others, and just focus on the game. She may not win (and frankly I hope she doesn’t – again, she already annoys me), but she has the potential to do very well.

Ken: Her pet peeves are wet laundry that doesn’t get moved to the dryer immediately, pretty girls wearing ugly shoes, and people who drink decaf. I hate to break it to her, but there are no dryers in this game. And why does she care what others wear or drink? If all of this bothers her, I’d hate to see her on caffeine. Oh, and she describes herself as spunky. As Lou Grant once told Mary Richards, “You’ve got spunk. I hate spunk.” Yet she may last awhile, mainly because she’s a useful idiot, similar to “Shambo” a few seasons ago. I could even see her being this season’s player who makes the finals because no one will vote for her. Otherwise, she comes across as a bit of a princess who could find herself dispatched to the dungeon in no time.

Chris: Elyse is cute and perky and bubbly and gets on my last nerve. However, I have this horrible feeling that it’s the Year of the Cheerleader … or dance team member, in Elyse’s case. Elyse compares herself to Brenda and Parvati, and I actually see it. And you know what? Those two were actually good players. Elyse’s profile is full of information that makes me want to dislike her, but I actually think she’ll do well in this game. Plus, she’s from Las Vegas, so she may have that “gambler’s instinct” you need to make big moves in this game.

Jenn: Elyse won’t make the jury.

Jeffrey: I see Elyse as getting to the latter stages of the game. As for whether I'll like or hate my fellow Las Vegan... time will tell. I'd really like to predict her as the winner. Unfortunately, I can't see that happening.

Sting7: Here comes trouble! She was almost Miss America, she admires Brenda and Parvati, and considers herself “a character.” I’ll translate: This is the girl who will ruin the game for those who want to stay under the radar. They will openly despise her and it will rattle them right out of their games. But she is an athlete and I place high stock in that, simply because the Alpha Males get into the challenges and when they lose, the rationale is usually “who can help us win challenges and who doesn’t.” If Elyse can show she is the former and not the latter, we may have to deal with her for awhile.

David: With almost everybody talking about how annoying they find Elyse just from her preview information, can you imagine living with her? Early in the game, people are just looking for a reason to boot somebody out, and annoying everybody is as good a reason as any. So unless she makes up for it by winning challenges (or her tribe is lucky enough to go on an early winning streak), I’m thinking Elyse will annoy her way right out of the game.

Jim

William: It’s weird that Jim notes in his bio that he’s a completely unique Survivor player, because his bravado matches that of the only other poker player that’s ever been on this show, Jean-Robert Bellande. Jim isn’t as much of a big time player as JR (he only has one World Poker Tour title and about $125,000 in career earnings, whereas Jean-Robert has earned – and lost – millions over the course of his career), but the swagger is still there. He may be the perfect storm-type player, having a balance of strategic acumen, social ability, and physical skill that can get him to the end because he won’t be the “best” in any given area. That means he won’t be perceived as a threat until very late in the game. As long as he can keep his ego in check and not annoy the crap out of the rest of his tribe, he could go very far, even to the finals. Also, since he currently works as a medical marijuana distributor, if I ever move to Denver, I plan to become his friend and be suddenly “stricken” with glaucoma. Just saying.

Ken: Reading his bio makes me wonder if he’s been smoking the marijuana he’s supposed to be dispensing. He claims he’s on the show for life experience and excitement, which makes me think he has no idea how to play the game. In addition, he describes himself as the “most unique person to ever apply.” Aside from his incorrect grammar, maybe he doesn’t realize the show has been on long enough now that there aren’t too many personality types we haven’t seen. Then again, he may be correct, and that uniqueness will be his undoing if he gets on his tribe’s nerves. I just don’t see him having the manipulative tools needed to win this game. Yes, I know he’s won numerous poker tournaments, but Jean-Robert from Survivor: China was a poker professional, and he never seemed to get the social aspect of the game. Jury at best, if that.

Chris: Jim is a character, that’s for sure. Can this game stand two characters like Jim and Coach? Probst seems to think Jim may be too wacky for his own good. I’m going to go out on a limb and call him a dark horse. If he’s really the great poker player he claims to be, the ability to bluff will be a valuable skill in this game. The others may think he’s just a goofy idiot, but hey … it worked for Fabio. Plus, if anybody needs a weed connection? He could be their guy.

Jenn: Jim gets jury duty.

Jeffrey: Jim is a guy who can fit in with most people. I see him as a core player on his tribe and somebody who can make it far into the game. I'm putting him in the jury pool. More than that, I'm putting him in the finals.

Sting7: He’s a medical marijuana dispenser. He’s a poker player. He’s also started businesses and has an MBA. Jim says he’s the most “unique person” to apply for Survivor. He may be right! My gut says all those ingredients won’t make a stew, however. In a show full of big personalities, they all can’t fit. Checkout is at 11:00, Jim.

David: I think Jim may have the gamer’s perspective necessary to go far. Others have noted that Jean-Robert Bellande was also a poker player and that he didn’t do well, but I’d have to say that Jean-Robert has a very different personality type. The one thing that worries me the most about Jim is his quote, “No one with my combination of character, intelligence, cunning and athleticism has ever been on Survivor.” That shows a huge ego after 22 seasons of the show. Will that ego make itself known? If so, he could be in trouble. But I’m going to say he will be able to keep a good poker face and might actually do well.

John

William: Johnnie Cochran died in 2005. When he got to Heaven, he told God that he wanted to be reincarnated as a pasty white kid and be on a reality show. God obliged. All joking aside, I really want this kid to win. Us super fan nerdy kids need one of our own to finally take the crown. The Rob Cesterninos, Stephen Fishbachs, and Brian Corridans of the world need this. He knows the game inside and out, he’s staying in the moment (as evidenced by his immense fear of being the first one voted out) instead of planning too far ahead, and he plans to play a manipulative social game where he leverages other people’s wants and needs to make them do what’s best for him. He won a Dean’s Scholar Prize at Harvard Law for a paper he wrote about the Survivor jury process. I would love to read it. Still, with that in mind, as much as I want him to win, I think it would be massively appropriate for him to end up on the very jury he studied.

Ken: On one hand, he looks like a refugee from the cast of Big Bang Theory. On the other, he seems to know as much about the show, and the game, as anyone in the cast. I see him as another “Todd” from Survivor: China. That is, he’ll stick around in the beginning due to alliances and telling people what they want to hear, and post-merge, he’ll stick around due to not being seen as a threat.

Chris: Probst compares John to Woody Allen. He also seems to think he could be a real player, despite his less-than-imposing looks. It’s hard to be a Rob Cesternino anymore, it seems, but if anyone could pull it off, I’d say it would be John. Not only is he a Harvard law student, but as William mentioned, he wrote about Survivor and won a prestigious prize for his essay there. His tribe placement could make all the difference. If Ozzy is on his tribe, they will win a lot and he will be protected, allowing him to show off his mental game. If he’s with Coach, they’ll likely lose more, and a non-physical-threat like John could be among the first ones off. Then again, if he can weasel his way onto the jury from the less advantageous position, we’ll know he’s a player.

Jenn: Out before the jury.

Jeffrey: I don't doubt John is smart. However, neurotic, insecure, and brilliant are not qualities I look for in a winner. His physical attributes are lacking as well. I think I'd like him a great deal in real life. I just don't like his chances in Survivor at all. Out before the jury.

Sting7: John is a contestant I am going to enjoy. Harvard Law! He’s a hybrid of Yul, Johnathan, and Rob C.! A number of contestants have suggested they are cunning, but I suggest they heard John say it! I fully expect John to use social acumen to the highest level. I don’t think he’ll have a chance of outdoing Albert or Ozzy, so he’ll have to hang his hat on that. Unlike Brandon, I think John will be aware of his situation and act accordingly.

David: I want John to do well. He shares another pet peeve with me (“People who think or act like they are smarter than they actually are”), he mentions the likes of Rob Cesternino, Yul, and Jonathan, and he seems to understand the game. I have to say that I’m rooting for this guy! Will I let me emotions overtake my brains? In this case, hell yeah!

Keith

William: Keith, like Kelly B. two seasons ago, has a medical condition that can’t be ignored. Kelly had an artificial leg, and Keith has a congenital heart defect that requires him to have a pacemaker. That can make life exceedingly difficult for him. He mentions that as a kid he wasn’t allowed to play contact sports for fear that the pacemaker would be jarred or damaged. That will make for a very sticky situation during some of the rougher tribal immunity challenges. He’ll be on the same tribe as Ozzy, and I think the two of them can get along well, with Ozzy respecting Keith’s drive and physical spirit. At the same time, Ozzy is a fierce competitor who wants to win at all costs. Unless Keith is in a tight alliance, I can certainly see his heart defect being used as a reason to boot him earlier than someone of his physique would normally go out.

Ken: Another player who seems to have no idea how to play the game. He thinks he’ll survive because he’s EMT certified? Last time I check, one of the rules for winning was not, “Provide medical care.” He seems to think he can make others think his decisions are in their best interests, but I have the feeling they’ll see right through him. I have no doubt he’s here to win, and that he thinks he can. I just don’t see him having the skills to pull it off.

Chris: I agree with Probst: Keith will make it to the merge just because he can help his team physically in challenges, but he doesn’t seem like a very cutthroat player beyond that. That being said, Keith does compare himself to Boston Rob, so maybe there’s more there than meets the eye. I call delusion, but maybe it won’t matter: Given the recent trend of nice guys beating out cunning strategists, Keith’s meh-ness may work in his favor.

Jenn: Keith was the last name drawn from the bowl, so this lucky guy gets the title of Sole Survivor.

Jeffrey: Keith shouldn't have any problems making the jury. In fact, he looks like a challenge threat and a tribe asset. He's also the kind of toxic asset who becomes a threat towards the last stages of the game and is eliminated. Jury duty.

Sting7: While John fascinates me, Keith doesn’t interest me at all. I think Keith is probably a very nice guy, but I see nothing in his bio that suggests he will do well in this game. He has an EMT certification. That’s nice. He moved to Hawaii because it was a dream. Great. The fact that he admires Boston Rob, someone who bears no resemblance to him, says Keith will learn a lot about himself, but he won’t win. Let’s hope he joins a good alliance.

David: One of Keith’s pet peeves is people talking about him behind his back. Man, he’s on the wrong show. Maybe I’m judging too much from his physical appearance and his vapid smile, but I just don’t see very much indication that there’s anybody home there. He may get lucky and hook up with some other young players, but I think he’s out before the jury.

Mark

William: I automatically have to root for Mark, as he is this season’s YouTube contest winner and a lifelong fan of the show (unlike last year’s winner, Jimmy Tarantino, who had never seen the show before and applied on a dare from his sister). These people get massive props from me. Every time one of them gets a chance, there’s a model out there who doesn’t. That said, Mark strikes me much more as a fan of the show than he is a fan of the game. He seems like he’s here much more for the experience than for the actual competition. He’ll play to win. I have no doubt about that. But he’s got his age working against him, he doesn’t seem to have any sort of game plan, and he acts like he’s more worried about the lack of luxuries than his competitors. I think he’ll be a fun character for as long as he’s around, but I doubt we’ll see him for too long.

Ken: He cites listening skills as a strength, and that’s good. But he also cites lifelong leadership skills. That’s not so good. No doubt he’ll be a challenge asset in the beginning, but without the right alliance, he could be history shortly after the merge.

Chris: Older guys tend to get a fairer shot than older women in this game, but Mark is hardly Tom Westman, at least physically. All the credit in the world goes to Mark for being a retired NYPD detective, much like Tom was a firefighter. However, he’s quite a character, and his strong personality could be an acquired taste among his tribe. If his age works against him too, he could be in for a short stay in the South Pacific.

Jenn: Sorry, Mark, but you’ll be the first out. The bowl has spoken.

Jeffrey: Mark is either going to be loved or hated. If he can keep his sarcasm to the confessional cameras, he should do okay. He's in trouble if he doesn't or his tribe goes on a losing streak and has to cut more than their fair share of players. All things considered, I suspect he's going to wear out his welcome and get the boot before the jury forms.

Sting7: Being older presents a whole new set of challenges for a Survivor contestant. Mark will need to stay under the radar. He’ll need to be a buddy and a confidante, but he must avoid being put in a leadership role. With Ozzy and Coach around, that will be easier. Mark seems physically fit and sharp. My gut says Mark will be around for a long time.

David: I have a good feeling about Mark. Nobody will want to vote out a retired cop who seems like he will come across as a nice guy. On the other hand, I hope he doesn’t screw up in any early challenges. Overall, though, I think he’ll hit the jury.

Mikayla

William: Every season there’s at least one girl who makes it deep into the game despite having absolutely no acumen. Last season it was Natalie (who got even further than the high jury spot I predicted for her), and this season it will be Mikayla. She gets credit for being a fan of the show and knowing the importance of alliances. She also gets major props for taking a giant dump on the idiots from Jersey Shore, but her kudos end there. She’s a typical model, having posed for Playboy, and currently plays in the laughable Lingerie Football League. She loses even more points for trying to claim that it’s just as physically tough as men’s football. Sorry, the NFL doesn’t play in Speedos, you lose. She seems very full of herself, and part of her comes off as kind of creepy. I think it’s because she has the weird Shannen Doherty offset eyes. Anyway, we’ll definitely be seeing more of her than we want to, because she’s physically fit enough to be competent in challenges, and she’ll get into the majority alliance on her tribe quickly. It’ll probably all fall apart after the merge, but I have no reason to believe we’ll be mercifully rid of her early on.

Ken: ”Playing sports all my life, I feel I am a competitor at heart. I am very athletic and am very likeable. I plan to use these qualities to get me to the end.” That’s a direct quote from her profile. If she really believes all that, she may well be the most delusional player of the season. You’d think she’d never seen an episode, but she claims to have watched the show since she was 10. I’m not sure what I find more amusing: People who go on the show and have watched it little or not at all, or those who claim to have watched it a long time, sometimes from the beginning of the series, yet seem to have no clue what it takes to win. She will probably also have no clue why she’s out so early.

Chris: I want to like Mikayla. Hey, she’s a lingerie football player and a Playboy model. What guy wouldn’t like that? Then she goes and says Jane is her favorite former contestant, and my feelings sour. Probst compares her to a female Boston Rob. I see her as being more of a Stephenie LaGrossa type. Her athleticism will serve her well and get her to the merge. After that, all bets are off, but I think she’s got a good shot to go deep ... something she’s used to doing in skimpy clothing.

Jenn: Mikayla will make the jury, but no farther.

Jeffrey: I get a good feeling from reading about Mikayla. She's young but not too young, has showmance potential, and I think she can hold her own in challenges. All that adds up to a threat that can sail through the game as a partner in an alliance and on her own. She may even make it to the end.

Sting7: So! Mikayla is a former Playboy covergirl and is currently a lingerie football player. But… at no point did she say she is going to use her “feminine wiles” like soooo many pretty players before her have done! This gives me tremendous confidence. Her social game must be keen: girl among girls with the women, female “dude” with the guys. If she can achieve that and be reasonably athletic, Mikayla could be a serious contender!

David: I have mixed feelings about Mikayla. On the one hand, as others have noted, she says she’s been watching the show since she was 10. But on the other hand, she noted that it was her mother’s favorite show and her mother said she should go on if she ever got the chance. That speaks volumes to me – in a negative way. Also, Mikayala is already been giving away signed copies of her Playboy pictures as part of a Twitter/Facebook contest. It seems like she didn’t come to win, but to promote herself, and I think she’s doing it because she doesn’t get very far in the game.

Rick

William: Rick and Dawn are peas in a pod. They’re both from Utah. They’re both super fans of the show who’ve applied multiple times (in a rather sad testimony on the way this show has devolved, Rick has applied 14 times, but had only been interviewed three times before being selected). And unfortunately, they’re both likely to suffer a similar fate due to their ages. I give Rick a bit better odds than Dawn, as he’s on the same tribe as Coach, so his work ethic and sense of honor and loyalty will hold more sway. He also claims to be an older version of J.T. from Tocantins, so that might help ingratiate him to Coach’s side, as Coach had a lot of respect and admiration for his country boy counterpart. At this point, I’d say that Rick is on the bubble for the jury, but I’ll have to crunch my numbers before I can be sure of his position.

Ken: Rick seems like a hard-working, likable guy. Well, that and a buck will get you a cup of coffee in this game. Whereas Mikayla cited athletic skills and likeability, Rick goes with outdoor skills and work ethic. While that’s well and good, it won’t be enough to win a game like this, and unless Rick has a devious side, he may find himself on the jury, at best.

Chris: Like Mark, Rick’s age (51) could work against him, particularly if his folksy personality rubs some the wrong way. I say he’s in for the same fate I predicted for John: Fortunate if he’s with Ozzy, not-so-good if it’s Coach. Though Coach will probably call him a “noble warrior” or some crap like that. After the guy applied 14 times to be on the show, I can’t help but root for him a little bit.

Jenn: We’ll be seeing Rick on the jury.

Jeffrey: Rick should be useful to his tribe and, despite his age, should be able to hold his own in challenges. However, with 18 players, somebody eventually has to go, and I think one of the ones who will miss jury duty is Rick. Rick may go early or just miss the jury, but his age works against him the longer he needs to play a social game.

Sting7: There’s all kinds of things to like about Rick! Rough-hewn, country strong, like Brandon, has those rural skills that work so well in the Survivor environs. I also like that he’s applied 14 times! He has perseverance. Just like Mark, if he can avoid being a leader (I sense he will struggle with that) and a liability in challenges, Rick has strong stuff!

David: Rick has applied 14 times, yet he still seems to think Survivor is about camping and working hard and starting fires. There is, of course, that element to it, but it’s not what the game is about. Because of his apparent lack of understanding there, I suspect Rick will become a useful tool of somebody else, but then be voted out early in the jury phase.

Semhar

William: Loading her name into Google Translate, it appears that “Semhar” is the Tigrinya word for “dandruff.” That makes sense, because this chick is a huge FLAKE! Seriously, did we learn nothing from “NaOnka”? Are we required to have at least one unpronounceable name per season? But yeah, where to begin with this one? She’s a spoken word artist? Is that a real thing? Sorry, the only time I care about “spoken words” is when Jeff Probst says, “The tribe has spoken,” and snuffs someone’s torch. Something tells me this one will be hearing those words a lot quicker than the others. I wonder if she’ll think the words are “art” then. Apart from that, she’s your typical pageant girl (the antithesis of Elyse), winning Miss Eritrea on a whim, and of all the people in this cast, she’s the only diva who actually required a chair for her pregame interview. Everyone else either sits on a rock or a log. Semhar sits on a plastic deck chair in the sand. She is way out of her element, and the only thing that will save her is the fact that Dawn’s on her tribe, so they’ll have an easier target for the first vote.

Ken: Semhar is this season’s designated “African-American female with an unusual name.” She claims she can make friends with almost anyone, and cites having lived in Eritrea. But I see her as another player who gets carried along because others need her vote, and then being discarded because they no longer need her. Or she could rub others the wrong way and get dispatched rather early. Either way, no million dollars here.

Chris: Probst suggests that Semhar is not cut out for this game and she only cares about her hair. I’m gonna take his word for it and say we won’t see a lot of Semhar, largely because I see nothing else about her that makes me think she has any real Survivor skills, other than being a self-proclaimed “people person.” Then again ... Anyway, she says she knows how to ask for things and how to phrase things. Yep. I learned those skills too – when I was about two or three. So what makes you special, Semhar?

Jenn: She’ll be out before the jury phase.

Jeffrey: Semhar fits one of the roles I see making it a long way into the game – the silly flirty girl who never gets a jury vote because she does nothing in the game besides hook up with a senior partner. That's why I suspect she'll make it to the finals and not win.

Sting7: She’s a spoken-word artist and watches a lot of Oprah. Meet the annoying one! She lived in Eritrea! That’s cool, I lived in France! Doesn’t mean I’m going to win Survivor! Expect someone to get a Semhar Seminar within the first two weeks. Then, expect a very large target on her back, and inevitably, she will be hit.

David: Semhar thinks she’ll win because nobody expects her to do so. I think nobody expects her to do so because there is no way she will do so! I suppose it’s possible she’ll get carried along somehow, but I just can’t bring myself to think that way. Out before the jury.

Sophie

William: I think Sophie may very well be Russell’s female equivalent. Sadly, that will likely be to her detriment. Fair or not, arrogant, conniving women are punished much more harshly (and much earlier in the game) for those transgressions than men are. Whether it’s the perception that others are intimidated by the persona, or if they just come off as too bitchy, women usually pay the price for being cutthroat a lot more than men do. I have my hopes for Sophie, but she had better get a strong alliance together quickly. I have a sneaking suspicion that she’s going to want to form a women’s alliance early on, but she doesn’t have the right women on her tribe to pull it off. Mikayla will likely cling to the stronger men, Edna may become a lightning rod, and Christine will just be struggling to survive from the first day, along with Stacey. Also, with Coach on her tribe, she has to know that he is one of the textbook men who are “intimidated by strong women,” and if she comes on too strong, she’ll be an early, and convenient, target. Still, I think she’s smart enough to overcome all that and make a decent showing for herself.

Ken: One of her pet peeves is smart women who pretend to be dumb. It’s a good thing she’s not playing the game with Russell. Of course, she could still be in for a rude awakening. She admits to having bragged to friends about how easy the game is and how good she would be. If she believes that, she’s even more delusional than Mikayla. Something tells me that she really has no idea what’s in store for her. In addition, she calls herself a leader and cites her willingness to step up – which could lead to her tribe’s willingness to give her the boot. One way or another she’s getting blindsided – either by her tribe, or by the harshness of the game.

Chris: Sophie thinks she’s the smartest person out here. She a geek, she’s a jock, she’s a former prom princess. She does it all. She actually does have a nice set of brains on her, but in a way that makes her seem like she’s not as bright as she believes she is. If she underestimates her competition, she could go down hard. I also don’t see her getting along well with Coach, if that situation arises. It’s a shame, because I actually kind of like her personally, but I don’t see her hanging around long.

Jenn: Also out before the jury.

Jeffrey: Sophie is my other candidates for junior partner in a male / female alliance who won't get votes to win. However, as her pet peeve is smart women who pretend to be dumb, I don't think she will fit into the role. On the other hand, I also don’t think she will perform of my own Survivor pet peeves – becoming the young woman who tries to make beauty products out of island materials. I see her making the jury. I don't see her winning.

Sting7: There is something I like about Sophie. She’s an unconventional woman in unconventional circumstances! I think she will surprise herself. Sadly, I think her Sophie-ness will make her an unintentional outsider with her tribe. Coach would despise her! She will have trouble with the Mikaylas and the Elyses. The guys won’t accept her and the girls will treat her like the high school girls treated Carrie. Sophie hates girls who act dumber than they are, when that may be the very prescription for her survival!

David: Sophie likes parts of Russell and Stephen, which means she ranks pretty well right off the bat. But can she use those things and her own intelligence to get herself far in the game? Or will she instead fall prey to her own ego? Her answer to the question of why she’ll win certainly seems to suggest the latter, which worries me. Still, right now I see her as potentially the woman who makes it the farthest in the game.

Stacey

William: I get the feeling from watching Stacey’s video that the editors were trying to showcase as much of her personality as possible because we won’t get a chance to see it in the game when she’s voted out first. She’s got a lot going against her. She’s the oldest woman in the game (44 years old, which isn’t terrible, but the older women are always targets), she’s loud, she’s a “diva,” and even worse, she’s a religious diva. She reminds me of Joanna from Amazon, who was the fourth one voted out because she annoyed everyone (and then earned herself a Reality TV Hall of Shame induction for her behavior in the game and once she left it!). In strategic terms, she claims to know the game and is willing to do any amount of lying and backstabbing to accomplish her goals. On the other hand, she compares herself with Vecepia Towery, the winner of Marquesas, who I will always consider the least deserving winner of this game, as she actively decided not to play the game, then claimed a “holier than thou” attitude after the few times where she did participate in a backstabbing. She’s not quite annoying to the level of the stereotypical “crazy black woman” that reality shows love to cast (and the audience rolls their eyes at every time), but that doesn’t say much. At worst she’s Joanna. At best she’s Francesca (Fransessqua). Either way, it does not auger well for her.

Ken: Yet another player who cites leadership skills. But she’s also a team player. Oh, and she’ll win because she’s not a quitter. I hate to not like Stacey since she’s from my neck of the woods, but leadership skills can be hazardous to your game, being a team player will only get you so far, and being a non-quitter can be a moot point if you’re also a non-plotter. And since we’re on the subject, and I like to ask questions, let me ask the first one of the season: Why do so many in this cast cite leadership skills? Haven’t they watched previous editions? But I digress. Don’t expect to see Stacey hanging around at the end.

Chris: There are a lot of women on the show this year whose mouths make it seem like they may not be attractive options to keep around. I think she’s a tough woman, and like Jane, she might be able to endear herself to the right alliance. If she can’t manage that... she’s toast.

Jenn: Stacey will make it all the way to the finals.

Jeffrey: Stacey is the oldest female member of her tribe, so I've made her an early exit. I don't think she can fit in with her tribe and her age makes her an easy target early. Out before the jury.

Sting7: It is very hard to keep from thinking of Cirie when reading Stacey’s profile. Cirie had incomprehensible skills in the social game! Does Stacey? She will need to be well above average, at least, to get very far. She may be seen as a liability at challenges, and let’s just face it: Ageism is alive and well in Survivor. Stacey will need to sharply find the right alliance and be loyal to it throughout to have a shot.

David: There really isn’t much that stands out for me about Stacey, other than that she’s a mortician. Presumably, that ironically gives her good social skills as she has to deal with the living who have just lost a loved one. But can she turn that sort of kindness into a weapon for use on Survivor? I just don’t see anything to make me answer “yes” to that question. So for that reason, I have to believe she will be out pre-jury.

Whitney

William: Even though I hate the idea and have rallied against it for years, can we just let Probst have his way and do Celebrity Survivor already? For one thing, it’ll hopefully stop the producers from casting D-list celebrities on the real show, and for another, Whitney’s about the level of “celebrity” that they’d be able to get. For those mercifully ignorant of Whitney’s existence, she placed fifth on the fifth season of Nashville Star, and even that was a bit generous. She talks more in her video about how awesome it’ll be for her “fans” to see her than she does about the actual game, which sickens me. She has no strategy, no concept of the game, and pretty much no clue. She’s aware of the bugs, which she’s fine with since she grew up in the sticks, but otherwise she has no idea what she’s getting into. Even in the promos leading up to the season, the big scene that she gets is jumping into the water while voicing over, “I didn’t think we’d be down to our underwear that quickly.” I’m going to despise every moment that I see her this season. Hopefully like all the “celebrities” before her (save Taj), she’ll be gone before we figure out which generic blonde she is.

Ken: Her name may be Whitney, but it may as well be “generic pretty blue-eyed blonde with entertainment industry aspirations.” She describes herself as smart, physically fit, and not afraid of anything. For her sake, that better include Tribal Council. Thing is, if you say you’re smart, you’re probably not as much as you think you are, and physical fitness and fearlessness can only get you so far. Unless she’s in an alliance with some of the hunger- and testosterone-driven males in her tribe, this country singer could be singing the blues.

Chris: First of all, Probst seems to think that Whitney’s tattoos make her a rebel because she’s a country singer. Um, no. Tattoos are not uncommon among girls who like country music. A Pat Boone cover band, maybe. But not girls with a twang. I just don’t see anyone who decides to list the combination of “Jesus and Elvis” as their inspirations as having the killer instinct to win this game. Nothing against either Jesus or Elvis; I just can’t see, say, Richard Hatch or Boston Rob or Brian Heidik saying that. She won’t go soon because she’s pretty, but I see her being a potential pre-merge axe if numbers start dwindling for her tribe.

Jenn: Whitney will be the first person to make the jury.

Jeffrey: Whitney claims to be outgoing, happy, and honest. Honesty is not the best policy on Survivor. While she is fit and probably can hold her own in challenges, sometimes somebody has to go and she's my pick. I hope I'm wrong, though.

Sting7: She admires Jesus and Elvis. Makes me wonder if Central Casting was looking for “typical blonde country singer.” My advice to Whitney: Cling to the girls and stay as pretty as possible. That alone might get her to the jury. It’s very possible Whitney may be holding her skills close to the vest, and I hope she is, because there isn’t anything I’m seeing that says she will win Survivor.

David: I don’t have much to add to what my fellow writers have already said – except one thing: Her pet peeve is people who talk down to her. I suspect she will get some of that in the early goings of this show because, well, she will look and act like she needs to be talked down to! That could turn her into part of a rebellion against a strong leader. If so, she could make it a while, but I suspect my other picks would be turned on their heads. If not, it’s goodbye early. I may split my options here and say she makes the jury but still hope for the best with my earlier picks.

Who will NOT make the jury?

William: Is it just me or is this cast uber-religious this season? Seriously, it ranks up there with Marquesas, Guatemala, and Samoa with the number of Jesus freaks. Like half the cast either listed Jesus as their inspiration or made some biblical reference in their bio. Scary. Anyway, my pre-jury evictees are Christine, Dawn, Edna, Keith, Mark, Semhar, Stacey, and Whitney.

Ken: Albert, Christie, Edna, Jim, Keith, Mikayla, Sophie, Stacey.

Chris: Coach, Brandon, Edna, Mark, Semhar, Sophie, Stacey, Whitney.

Jenn: Coach, Dawn, Elyse, John, Mark, Ozzy, Semhar, and Sophie.

Jeffrey: Brandon, Coach, Dawn, John, Mark, Stacey, Whitney, Rick.

Sting7: Christine, Coach, Dawn, Jim, Semhar, Whitney, Edna, Sophie.

David: Brandon, Christine, Dawn, Elyse, Keith, Mikayla, Semhar, and Stacey.

Who will make the final two (three)?

William: There are some solid contenders this season, especially with the presence of Redemption Island as a means to advance the physical threats. My final three are Jim and Ozzy, with Elyse as the potential third.

Ken: Ozzy, Elyse, (John).

Chris: Mikayla, Dawn, (Jim).

Jenn: Keith, Edna, (Stacey).

Jeffrey: Mikayla, Jim, (Semhar)

Sting7: Rick, John, (Mikayla)

David: I’m going to hope for the best and say that Jim and John will be our final two, with Mark as the potential third.

Who will win it all?

William: I have bad luck when I pick women, so I can’t pick Elyse. In hopes that the game is valued over challenges, I’m picking Jim to win. Now watch him get voted out first.

Ken: Ozzy.

Chris: Mikayla … especially if she decides to wear her lingerie football uniform to the final Tribal Council.

Jenn: Congratulations, Keith. Make me proud.

Jeffrey: Jim.

Sting7: Rick.

David: I’d really like it to be John. But Survivor strategists like him seems to have a knack for not quite making it. With that in mind, I have to go with Jim instead.

Conclusion

For the first time in a while, we have three RNO writers predicting the same winner – Jim! He seems at first like an unlikely choice, but maybe he’ll do us proud. Only one writer picked previous player Ozzy – and nobody picked Coach (probably not surprising there). Which writer will do the best with his/her predictions? Find out each week as we track them all along the way right here at Reality News Online!

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