Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-5598112-20180913010636/@comment-36760404-20180918210939

This final is going to be interesting. Unlike the past 2 seasons, particularly last year, where it was pretty darn obvious who was going to win quite a way before this point, we have 5 acts that you can make a good case for taking the victory this week. Those 5 acts I think will lock out the top 5 and be quite a way ahead of everyone else in the vote. This is my top 10 order prediction.

10. Vicki Barbolak - I don't think she is going to be the least popular person, but considering she is directly against Samuel J Comroe, who will probably be the more popular, thus will take votes off of her, I can see her winding up in tenth.

9. Duo Transcend - I wouldn't be surprised if they completely defy this and go a lot higher, but for that they'd need to find a massive step up and surprise element, which I feel like they may have had to use too early in the semi finals. I think their act has kind of run its course, and they will wind up in ninth.

8. Daniel Emmet - A lot of people here put him last but I think if producers way up the underdog/wildcard storyline, the public could get onboard and he could get a single figures finish.

7. Glennis Grace - She seems to be getting producer favour lately, and she does have a lot of popularity, but as a singer there isnt much that sets her apart, and there are a lot of singers, so I think seventh is where she will wind up.

6. Samuel J Comroe - Out of the two comedians he seems to be the more popular looking at polls online, and he will probably take a lot of the comedian vote, hence why I predicted Vicki for a tenth place finish. And I think if he steps it up, a combination of that and the comedian vote will see him come on the edge of the top 5.

This is where it gets interesting, as either of these 5 I wouldn't be surprised if they took the crown, but I predicted an order based on what will happen in the vote, their talent and producer intentions.

5. Michael Ketterer - Michael is the vote magnet type. A very likeable and nice guy that all viewers wished they had someone like in their life, who can sing well. That nature has propelled many on X Factor to the victory however they disappeared post show. This category Michael very much fits into and I think producers will know this, so I don't see him getting a push for the win, however the public vote could overcome that.

4. Shin Lim - In other seasons, I'd be predicting him to win, he is incredible at what he does and is someone who I think producers would be proud to call a winner of their show. However his issue is the other four that could potentially take the crown. He is just unlucky to have gone on this season and not another season where he would've won with ease.

3. Courtney Hadwin - Courtney has had producer favour every round, despite a slight dampening, she has been pushed so hard by the show, particularly in the auditions and the quarter finals. Kind of like the past 2 winners Darci and Grace had been. But the issue for her is whilst Darci and Grace had new material they could show off, and whilst other acts have been improving, Courtney's act has started to die off and get a bit boring as her performances are all the same, which I think will be enough to see her behind the two above.

2. Brian King Joseph - I think it can be argued he was the act that got the most producer favour out of anyone in the semi finals. Whilst Courtney had her moment in the auditions and samey routines since has dampened her winning prospects, Brian started off as someone who you wouldn't think to be a contender but has progressed every performance and put himself in contention. That has more of an effect on the audience than just consistently doing good performances but not improving, and that will see him take the runners' up spot.

1. Zurcaroh - When they auditioned, they were an early tip for the win. That started to dampen a little when Courtney came on but since their quarter finals they came back into contention. The thing I think will see them take the victory is the fact they can do so much with their act, and the feeling of their quarter finals and semi finals performances were that they are some sort of prelude to an absolute knockout routine in the final. If they do that, then along with producer favour which they have on their side, as well as the fact they'd be a new type of winner for the show, could see them take the victory.

As I said this is my rough prediction, I wouldn't be surprised with any order in the top 5 but this is just what I feel is the most likely order. One thing I can also say is it will be very close at the front, I can see the top 5 being separated by around 5% of the vote, which means any push/falter any act has, whether its on their part or to do with their edit/producer favour, can have a massive effect. And the running order will be absolutely key. The thing I like about this season is how wide open it is. For the past two years on AGT, particularly last year, it was obvious who was going to take the crown, so much that when watching, my only intrigue was who was going to take the runners up spot! But this year it isnt so much like that!