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Big Brother 9 Betting: Nicole is treading on thin ice

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Feizal's Thoughts: Feizal talks us through the events in the BB house over the last week that included Mikey ruling with an iron fist as Head Of The House and Nicole becoming the favourite to be evicted this week.

With both this week's task and eviction being uninteresting and inconsequential, attentions were instead focused on what has become the Rex and Nicole show.

The house divide removed, the two were able to engage far more intimately in their apparent love/hate relationship. Quite why the pair sees fit to air their dirty laundry in public is uncertain, but like all the best soap operas, it inexplicably provides for some gripping viewing.

Sloaney student Nicole seemingly has no other purpose in the house than to wind up Rex with her spoilt brat antics, though arguably he deserves as much given his domineering attitude towards her.

The infatuation with his teenage girlfriend continues to reveal a deep weakness within Rex, yet, he has somehow emerged from this week in a stronger position than the last and it's Nicole who's proving the more unpopular, straight in at an odds-on [1.8] to be the 10th evictee.

So rather than sound the death knell for the curt culinarian, the introduction of the sour-faced Nicole may have actually given an unintended boost to Rex's chances. Previously coming across as ruthless and cold-hearted, now there is some visible emotional vulnerability to the man. He maintains an acerbic tack with housemates yet it's such upfront avoidance of beating around the bush that gives him a unique appeal.

Now set to rule as Head of House for the coming week, the tide of the last fortnight may be about to turn for our Big Brother panto villain. Fond of recalling his party animal lifestyle, Rex is likely to ensure there will be fun and games for all this week, in whichever form he may choose, good or evil.

Immune from nomination, he is guaranteed another fortnight's stay and with paranoia amongst the others at a all-time high, Rex may be sitting comfortably in the final week and - halved into [23.0] to win - could well be back on course for victory.

As Head of House last week, a shorn-headed Mikey patrolled his domain like a Travis Bickle sans Mohawk, squirting dissenters in the face with his duck-shaped water weapon. Despite riling most with his authoritarian regime, he single-handedly won the weekly shopping task to ensure there'll be plenty of creature comforts for housemates to battle over in the coming week.

Stagnant in the winner market at around [3.7], Mikey remains favourite but fails to convince as this year's victor. The same applies to Rachel and Kathreya - the former receiving sizable boos on eviction night, which eventually saw soppy Stuart exit. Regardless, the happy-house duo retains support at [5.0] and [8.0] respectively to win, with a dangerous-looking Darnell at [4.5].

One very interesting market mover is self-proclaimed 'life expert', Lisa. Fond of a tall tale or twenty, the 40-year-old has sought to carry on where evicted partner Mario left off. From sightings of little green men to close friendships with scientists who discovered DNA, Lisa has seen and done it all.

However, whilst providing a modicum of amusement amidst the general tedium, she doesn't quite deliver her punchlines with the classic aplomb of the dearly missed Mario. Mystifyingly trading at under [10.0] to win, there is surely no way the compulsive liar can win and the [5.2] available in the 10th Eviction market offers far greater value.

Another to intrigue is the much-maligned Mohamed. It's hard to remember any highlight show edit that hasn't shown him either stuffing his face, being taunted about his alleged greediness or making a fool of himself with an ill-chosen word or action. Yet, despite all this he continues to occupy a place in the house and there's little evidence that he'll be on his way out soon.

With the end game in sight and others seeking to get rid of their perceived dangers, Slo-Mo could be living proof of the tortoise and hare fable. It's difficult to reason quite why he is multi-fold the price of certain others who have definite enemies in the house and a gaugeable level of unpopularity outside of it.

In comparison, for instance, to Rachel - one could not say he has offered us less than the non-committal Welsh girl. Rather, when asked an opinion, he has no problem in offering it and could surely not be accused of playing up to the cameras or clinging onto 'popular' housemates.

Instead, Mo has been true to himself throughout, however unappealing he may sometimes be, and should he stay clear of dangers in the final few weeks and make it to the final four, then the [50.0] currently available to win will look very large indeed.

Quote Of The Week: "He's a bully, he's arrogant, selfish, egotistical, boastful, a wind-up merchant... and yet everybody still loves him" - Mikey paints a verbal picture of a potential Big Brother winner. Can you tell who it is yet?