The more Rachel wants to avoid the drama, the higher the tensions ratchet on this season of The Bachelorette. Keeping Lee around was a surprising move that all but guaranteed more fighting among the men, and more to discuss around The A.V. Club’s water cooler (again, the La Croix fridge) this week. Dean got the one-on-one, securing some cash for those who bet on him, but none of the obvious contenders were eliminated: Besides Lee, Iggy, Jonathan, and Eric live to see another rose ceremony.
Lee didn’t wear a Confederate flag tie, but there’s still plenty of time. From the preview for next week’s “UNBELIEVABLE two-night event” (sigh), it looks like Lee and Kenny will be duking it out on a two-on-one “date” with Rachel. But we just want to see Will and Josiah cosplay Game Of Thrones while they pass time in the mansion. Our Vegas-style odds are provided by Benjamin Lee Eckstein, Bachelor/Bachelorette fan and a nationally syndicated odds maker and owner of America’s Line, a betting odds website. After gushing a lot about Peter, Benjamin’s favorite contestant and crush, he gave us the odds on what will happen in next week’s episode(s) of Bachelorette, along with his rationale behind the odds.
2-1 Kenny and Lee get into a physical fight
The oddsmaker says: The “fight” is defined loosely. It can be a slap or punch, or an all-out brawl.
The A.V. Club says: The “next week” preview was showing Kenny’s bloody face a whole lot, but these teasers are notorious for implying action that ends up being much less action-packed than the cut makes it seem.
3-1 Lee gets the rose on the two-on-one date
The oddsmaker says: It makes for better TV if Lee stays—better TV in the Bachelorette world, that is.
The A.V. Club says: I think the two-on-one date is the producers tightening the screws on these two for maximum drama, and Lee won’t make it past this date.
5-1 Kenny gets the rose on the two-on-one date
The oddsmaker says: I still think Kenny’s too nice, plus he has little spark with Rachel. (Not like Peter does.)
The A.V. Club says: While I agree that the spark is missing between Kenny and Rachel, I just can’t see her giving the rose to Lee over Kenny. At least, I really hope that wouldn’t happen.
15-1 Rachel eliminates both Kenny and Lee on the two-on-one date
The oddsmaker says: It may be time for Rachel to drop all this arguing nonsense and get rid of all the subtly racist comments from Lee.
The A.V. Club says: This is realistic.
6-5 Iggy is eliminated
The oddsmaker says: I don’t want to use bad words. I’ll just say that Iggy should audition for The Real Housewives Of Atlanta, he’s such a drama queen. He’s not even good TV; he’s just a mole who reports back to her.
The A.V. Club says: I’m getting very tired of watching Iggy stir up drama just for the sake of getting screen time, and his “protectiveness” is benevolent sexism in a big, meaty nutshell.
2-1 Lee is eliminated (if he doesn’t leave on the date)
3-1 Kenny is eliminated (if he doesn’t leave on the date)
5-1 Jonathan is eliminated
The oddsmaker says: Now they’re calling him “Tickle.” I just can’t with this guy.
The A.V. Club says: I’m not sure why he’s still around, other than he’s pretty innocuous in the drama department. But with the group getting more and more culled every week, he’s got to be going soon.
10-1 Will is eliminated
The oddsmaker says: Will seems like a blank who hasn’t done much to impress me, or impress Rachel. I haven’t seen even a glimmer of a spark between the two of them. Then again, Peter is the best guy.
The A.V. Club says: I like Will, but he certainly isn’t designating himself as someone special.
8-1 The field
The oddsmaker says: These are the guys who are inconsequential to me. They don’t even deserve odds.
The A.V. Club says: The field includes Adam, Alex, Anthony, Bryan, Dean, Jack Stone (why does he get a last name?), Josiah, Matt, and Peter. A few of them are definitely as good as gone.
7-5 Bryan gets the one-on-one date
The oddsmaker says: He’s the one for sure. Rachel wants to find out if Mr. Charming is really all that charming.
The A.V. Club says: He got the first impression rose, so Rachel’s probably been saving him. This could very well be his week.
The bets
Caity PenzeyMoog ($2,360 in the bank): $1,000 on the field; $200 on Kenny getting the two-on-one rose; $200 on Lee getting the two-on-one rose; $200 on Lee getting eliminated; $200 on Rachel sending both Kenny and Lee home on the two-on-one.
Alex McLevy: ($1,250 in the bank): $700 on the field; $50 Kenny gets the rose on the two-on-one; $30 Lee gets the rose on the two-on-one; $30 Kenny AND Lee get sent home from the two-on-one; $20 Iggy goes home. “We all know Iggy isn’t long for this program, but the real action here is Kenny and Lee. Someone is going down, and despite Lee’s obvious awfulness, right now he’s still pulling some mind voodoo and tricking Rachel into thinking he doesn’t suck. So I genuinely don’t know what’ll happen on this two-on-one date—hence, covering my bases.”
Meg Brett: ($350 in the bank): $70 on the field (“mostly for Adam and Alex, sorry”); $60 on Lee going home; $20 on Bryan getting a one-on-one; $30 on Iggy going home. “The guy that complains about other guys never wins.”
Julia Nelson ($610 in the bank): $50 on Lee going home; $50 Kenny gets the rose on the two-on-one date; $100 on the field. “Lee’s beliefs are as out-of-date as his hair.”
Stephanie Potakis ($290 in the bank): $25 on Iggy getting eliminated; $50 on the field; $10 on both Kenny and Lee getting eliminated on the two-on-one date. “I know this is a long shot but, I don’t think she’ll put up with Kenny if he reacts with anger at Lee, even if Lee is a piece of shit, which he straight-up is.”
Cameron Lowe: ($1,000 in the bank): $100 the field; $80 Lee gets eliminated (“Please, for the love of god.”); $50 Kenny gets the two-on-one rose; $80 Iggy is eliminated. “OMG no more dudes bragging about how they’re boring tight asses.”
Lauren Welke ($30 in the bank): $10 on the field; $20 on superdouche Iggy getting the boot. “I have $30 left and everything to lose.”