Former 'Survivor' Players Place Their Bets On Who Will Win
As you can expect, Survivor fans have been placing their bets on which castaway will take home the $2 million dollar prize at the end of the all-winners season ever since it was first announced, but for every Parvati or Boston Rob fan, there's someone else proclaiming that Sophie or Ethan is going to win.
But since there's only so much that a viewer can know about these former winners, we decided to talk to the people that know them best—the other Survivor contestants that they played with. Their answers were revealing, thoughtful, and sometimes really surprising.
Here's who these 12 former Survivor players think will win Survivor: Winners at War.
His pick for winner: "Although I was bummed for a couple of reasons (I didn't win and so the 'woulda coulda shoulda' emerged it's ugly head again), as I reflect on Survivor I'm surprised at how many winners I've played with...I always have to go with my boy Tyson. And I'd say after Island of the Idols Rob and Sandra have no chance. It will be interesting to see if Adam, Ben, Wendell and Nick and other new players will bond together. And I think Tony had an outside chance to play his crazy ass style and go far."
Who he wanted to see play: "I would have loved to see Todd from China or Cochran from South Pacific have a go again. Hatch would have been classic and it would be interesting to see how and if he could navigate thru the new school winners."
Her pick for winner: "I'm so incredibly excited to see how this seasons plays out, so many of my friends playing against each other it’s hard to decide who to root for!!! I’ve also played with so many of these players Jeremy, Tony, Sandra, Sarah, Tyson...it’s going to be so hard to pick someone to root for! But I’m going to put my money on Michele Fitzgerald for the win! She is such an underdog, and I always love rooting for the underdog. She is so likable; and underestimated. Her biggest hurtle is going to be able to make some moves she can claim as her own!! If she can do that, she has a sure shoot to win."
Who she wanted to see play: "I would have really loved to see my buddy Aras out there!!!!! It would have been so fun to see how him and Tyson play together for a second time. And Aras brings such a good energy and a different dynamic to the show."
His pick for winner: "I'm especially pumped to see my best friend Wendell Holland back out on the island. Regardless of the fact that he's my friend, I think Wendell has a great shot at winning. On his original season, Ghost Island, he played a stealthy social and strategic game that carried him to the win without ever getting in too perilous a position. Additionally, he's fantastic at puzzles and an absolute challenge beast.
I also have my eyes on my former cast mates from Survivor Cagayan: Sarah Lacina and Tony Vlachos...I feel Tony and Sarah are equipped with not only the knowledge on how to win against strong competition, but are also aware of the mistakes that led to their demise in their less successful seasons. And Survivor’s queen bee herself, Parvati Shallow knows the game like the back of her hand and is willing to stab her closest alliance members in the back to get to the top while maintaining an undeniable charisma."
Who he wanted to see play: "I was a little sad to find out that the winner from one of my favorite seasons, Survivor Gabon, will not be playing. I was looking forward to seeing a dear friend and everyone’s favorite teacher from Maine, Bob Crowley, back on the island...Overall, I am unbelievably eager to watch Winners at War and you had better believe I’ll be talking about it every week on my podcast.
Her pick for winner: "This is so hard to choose! I love all the winners playing for different reason, and they're all so different. I think someone like Denise can go really far. She played a pretty unassuming game the first time, but is very well rounded—she's good at challenges, doesn't slack off at camp life, and socially I think she is very relatable. And did you see the guns on that lady? For the guys, I think Tyson has a pretty good shot of winning. He's not as threatening as someone like a Boston Rob or a Tony, and I think he has a lot of connections on this cast. I think he's one of the more conniving players but because he's funny and likable, people will keep him around."
Who she wanted to see play: "I've always wanted to see Todd Herzog, the winner from my first season, play again! I knew from the minute I met him that if Todd made it to the end, he would win, and that's why I kept trying to vote him out. He's very strategic, knows the game inside and out, and gets along with everyone. He has been through a lot, but I think it made him better and healthier even more than ever."
His pick for winner: "Ben Driebergen for the win of season 40. He has amazing social skills, never gives up, and has a knack for finding idols and advantages. The road to his success is fueled by the love for his family and the need to better their lives with winning 2 million dollars. As a fellow veteran I really hope he pulls it off again."
Who he wanted to see play: "Richard Hatch should have been cast for season forty. You can not have a season of winners and name it “Winners at War” and not have the first winner of Survivor on it. It’s ridiculous."
Her pick for winner: "Anyone who listens to Why _____ Lost knows that I’m trash at picking winners in the preseason. I have only picked correctly one time in 39 seasons. Instead, I am going with a sleeper pick: Denise Stapley. Her original game consisted of steadfast loyalty coupled with a cutthroat move at the end to take out Malcolm. She was at every single tribal council and managed to survive, even when in the minority after a swap. She’s a great listener, not overly flashy, and have you seen her? Strong as hell."
Who she wanted to see play: "I’m saddened that Richard Hatch and Mike Holloway didn’t make the cut. Richard is the OG. Without Hatch it’s likely Survivor would not have outwitted, outlasted and outplayed for 40 seasons. He took a crazy idea for a game and built a strategic foundation that has been utilized and built upon by every player since. Mike was conniving and entertaining. He had to fight his way to the finish, tying the record for the most post merge immunity wins along the way. He then pulled off an impressive win with a 6-1-1 vote at final tribal, despite hurt feelings, the ultimate sign of respect for how well he played the game."
His pick for winner: For me, I have to root for my guy Wendell Holland. We were partners in crime in our season.
Who he wanted to see play: Hands down Richard Hatch. I know Rich personally. He’s an amazing person. But more importantly, his victory in season 1 set the tone for ALL future winners and players. Seems a bit wrong that Richard Hatch won’t be featured in Season 40.
Her pick for winner: "I think my boy Nick Wilson has a really good chance of winning. We are both from Whitley County, KY so of course I will always be rooting for him, but I think that him not being as well known as the other winners we serve him well in the game. There will probably be a lot of pregame alliances with the old school winners so it will be interesting to see how he navigates those relationships, but I really think he has a great chance of winning the whole damn thing."
Who she wanted to see play: "I think the 20 castaways CBS picked to compete on the upcoming season are really the cream of the crop when it comes to previous winners."
Her pick for winner: "I think the former winner most likely to win this season will be someone who is not as connected to as many other past contestants. I think there will be some big name folks who are playing with people they've played with before—or who they are married to!—and that will make them huge targets from the get go. And maybe (or maybe this is just wishful thinking on my part), someone who is underestimated from their original season because they were under-edited due to being up against someone who was a big name in the finals: so, someone like Sophie, Michele, or Danni!
Although, as someone who has played with Parvati, I would say you should never underestimate her. But also, I sort of think a woman can no longer win the game of Survivor. We haven't had a female winner since season 34, so we're way past due, but the game has become very difficult for a woman to win. So, all of that to say, I have no prediction on who is going to win, but I believe it'll be a man."
Who she wanted to see play: "I cannot believe we are having an all winner season of Survivor without the most iconic winner of all time, Richard Hatch. I also cannot believe Tina Wesson and Todd Herzog are not there. And selfishly, I would've loved to see Chris Daugherty who won my original season of Survivor, Vanuatu. I also wish Mike Holloway, Bob Crowley, and Earl Cole were on this season! Basically, I think they should've included any winner who was able to participate."
Her pick for winner: "I think someone low key is going to win, no one flashy, no one who's been featured a ridiculous amount of times. People like Boston rob and Sandra and Parvati will have a rough go of it. I predict notorious villains like Tyson or Tony will have a quick target as well, and old school players like Ethan may have a hard time with all the new aspects. Since this is a season of experts I think the winner is going to have to be sneaky and quietly in control, so I think someone like Sophie has strong potential."
Who she wanted to see play: "I'm not sure who was asked to be on the season and declined but I would have loved to see John Cochran in there."
Her pick to win: "My winner pick is Natalie Anderson."
Who she wanted to see play: "I would have loved to see Natalie White play again; probably extremely controversial since she wasn't great TV, but I do think her game was undervalued. We think of a certain type of Survivor game being 'better' than others. This is a structural fallacy. I think a real life example is how we view certain 'leadership' qualities to be better than others—like being outspoken, aggressive, and noticed. Sometimes the best leaders are introverted, thoughtful, and unseen."
His pick for winner: "None. I don’t do that, I don’t ever pick anybody. Survivor is a really ridiculously, difficult game to predict. Anything can happen at any point, and anyone’s emotions or mood or circumstances can shift in a heartbeat, and part of what it takes to win is recognizing that and being adaptable. I’m friends with many of the people that are playing, so I have some sense of who the players are, but my pick about who would win is worthless and I would never make it."
Who he wanted to see play: Himself. "I really feel like this is a loss to the game, and a loss to the fans, to have a season that they call all-winners and not have the original winner...I’m sorry I’m not there."
Former 'Survivor' Players Place Their Bets On Who Will Win
As you can expect, Survivor fans have been placing their bets on which castaway will take home the $2 million dollar prize at the end of the all-winners season ever since it was first announced, but for every Parvati or Boston Rob fan, there's someone else proclaiming that Sophie or Ethan is going to win.
But since there's only so much that a viewer can know about these former winners, we decided to talk to the people that know them best—the other Survivor contestants that they played with. Their answers were revealing, thoughtful, and sometimes really surprising.
Here's who these 12 former Survivor players think will win Survivor: Winners at War.
You might be surprised by their picks.
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