Lots of interesting things about this group. I'll quickly share them before I get into the analysis:

* After being almost model/beauty queen free for TAR9, they made up for it here. Two queens, two models, and four other ladies who must have just missed. Good season for cheesecake. I'm rooting for lots of underwater challenges.
* Look at all those minorities!
* We're back to 12 teams this time around. I'm not fond of this move, but we'll see how it works out.
* We're also back to a 90-minute premiere. Hmmm, interesting.
* No immediate write-offs this time around, but some teams seem to have a lot better chance than others.

You can read & see much more about these teams at CBS's offiical Web site.

Bilal & Sa'eed
Relationship: Best friends
Why they will win: They're the right sex
Why they won't win: Conflicting personalities, religion?
Morning line: 12-1

David & Mary
Relationship: Married
Remind me of: David & Lori (9)
Why they will win: Why not?
Why they won't win: Why?
Morning line: 12-1

Duke & Lauren
Relationship: Father-daughter
Remind me of: Gus & Hera (6), Dennis & Andrew (3)
Why they will win: They're on the race, so they've got a chance
Why they won't win: Parent-child teams still haven't done well on TAR
Morning line: 25-1

Dustin & Kandace
Relationship: Best friends
Remind me of: Danielle & Dani (9), Debbie & Bianca (7), Megan & Heidi (7), Meredith & Maria (6), Heather & Eve (3), Kim & Leslie (Classic)
Why they will win: They're beauty queens, so they've already won
Why they won't win: Cute female teams have been disappointing since day one
Morning line: 20-1

Erwin & Godwin
Relationship: Brothers
Remind me of: Derek & Drew (3)
Why they will win: Overachievers, competitive, smart, look fit
Why they won't win: Darned if I know, but I'm sure they'll think of something
Morning line: 5-1

Kellie & Jamie
Relationship: Best friends
Remind me of: see Dustin & Kandace, above
Why they're gonna win: Young, fit, former cheerleaders - go team go!
Why they ain't gonna win: see Dustin & Kandace, above
Morning line: 18-1

Lyn & Karlyn
Relationship: Best friends
Remind me of: Gina & Sylvia (3)
Why they will win: Being mothers will give them some experience that'll help during the race, I think
Why they won't win: No 2-person female team has made the top 3 in the race, and I don't expect this one to be the one to break that streak
Morning line: 25-1

Peter & Sarah
Relationship: Friends
Why they will win: This is the team everyone is going to be rooting for (then again, I said that about the Weavers..). They're also really fit.
Why they won't win: The team everyone roots for usually doesn't win
Morning line: 12-1

Rob & Kimberly
Relationship: Dating
Remind me of: Dennis & Erika (5)
Why they will win: There seem to be worse teams around
Why they won't win: Another team that's using the race as a test for their relationship. That usually doesn't work.
Morning line: 12-1

Tom & Terry
Relationship: Dating
Remind me of: Reichen & Chip (4), Ken & Gerard (3), Oswald & Danny (2), Joe & Bill (Classic)
Why they will win: Gay men rule this race
Why they won't win: Another relationship testing team
Morning line: 6-1

Tyler & James
Relationship: Best friends
Remind me of: Eric & Jeremy (9), David & Jeff (4), Derek & Drew (3), Chris & Alex (2)
Why they will win: The last Tyler to race did kinda good
Why they won't win: It figures to be a 3 man race for the million here; maybe one of the other two will get it instead
Morning line: 6-1

Vipul & Arti
Relationship: Best friends
Why they will win: Lots of travel, lots of language skills, young & fit
Why they won't win: If she can't control him, they could be in trouble
Morning line: 9-1

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