Battle of the Decades preview: QF #4

Battle of the Decades – knockout rounds
Quarterfinals					Semifinals			Finals
1	2	3	4	5	1	2	3	1	2
preliminary round

The second of our two College Champs, Tom Cubbage, takes on Rachael Schwartz and Ken Jennings. You know for whom I’m pulling here!

Given his range of knowledge and skills on the buzzer, Ken is a solid pick to win – or to at least have the lead heading into Final. Both Tom and Rachael are strong players who could give him a challenge and be in great position for a wild card, particularly if they toss a lot on the line on a Daily Double.

Tom Cubbage

My fellow College Champion Tom was in perhaps the strongest overall 1980s preliminary game, and used savvy wagering to outmaneuver Bob Verini and Jerome Vered.

BOTD prelims (02/07/14)

Bob V	Tom C	Jerome
14,000	13,000	8,400

Proper wager: 3,801 – 4,599
Actual wager: 3,801

Tom went big in his TOC quarterfinal; he was already big in his College Championship quarterfinal.

College Championship quarterfinal (05/08/89) [pre-doubling]

Tom	Betty	Dave
15,400	2,800	600

Wager: 0

TOC quarterfinal (11/09/89) [pre-doubling]

Yael	Brian	Tom
5,395	4,900	4,100

Wager: 4,099

Rachael Schwartz

Rachael won a mind game in Final Jeopardy! against Eddie Timanus, staying above him on the double-miss in the preliminary round.

BOTD prelims (03/03/14)

Eddie	Rachael	Babu
14,400	10,500	2,000

Proper wager: 0 – 2,700
Alternate wager: 10,500
Actual wager: 2,600

It seems Rachael came in with target amounts each time she played. I wonder what she’ll go for this time?

TOC quarterfinal (11/17/94) [pre-doubling]

Rachael	John	David
6,200	5,300	5,200

Wager: 3,100

Million Dollar Masters quarterfinal (05/01/02)

Frank*	Bob H*	Rachael
19,200	15,800	10,100

Wager: 2,301

Ken Jennings

Ken made quick work of his preliminary-round opponents, although Michael’s large DD wager would have made things interesting had he been right. Ken has never played in a quarterfinal game.

BOTD prelims (04/03/14)

Ken	Michael	Vinita
26,800	4,800	3,600

Proper wager: 0 – 17,199
Actual wager: 3,200