My top three to win this season are:
1. Denise Stapley. Yes, she's the oldest, but she appears to be in even better shape than she was the last time she played and I think she will fit the role of "not enough of a threat to vote out early, under the radar enough to survive post-merge." And I'm absolutely rooting more for her since she's from Iowa.
2. Yul Kwon. Yul is generally likable but also has the smarts and physical ability to do well. IMO he's one of the most underrated winners the show's ever had and I don't think he'll be targeted as early-on as names like Boston Rob / Parvati / Sandra.
3. Kim Spradlin-Wolfe. Another strategic player who won't be seen as a huge threat early-on but will likely have made good connections by the later half of the game.
My top three to go home first:
1. Tony Vlachos. Yes, he bombed in his second go-round, but that's because his tribe mates did the right thing by getting rid of him immediately. Tony's the kind of guy who will search for immunity idols relentlessly and you have to get rid of idol hunters before they are given days to search (and find) idols.
2. Boston Rob / Sandra. Sorry... The "Idols" are Idols for a reason. Give either of them a chance to hang around and they'll have more time to cement themselves for the long term.
3. Amber Mariano. Since they split up Amber from Rob, Amber's tribe is going to be playing the odds and know they need to get rid of Amber in the event she and Rob were to both get to the merge.
