[EricH]

Originally Posted by Tubatroopa

Don't the rules about the wildcard slots say "Wild Card slots are filled in the order of:

1. Finalist Alliance Captain

2. Finalist First Pick

3. Finalist Second Pick

4. Finalist Backup Team"

Shouldn't this insinuate that there will be alliances of at least 3?

Actually... It does the opposite. Alliances of no greater than 4 (including backup). More likely, alliances of no greater than 3.

Before 2005, there were 3-team alliances in the eliminations--but only 2 teams were on the field. (Exception, 2001, 5-team alliances with 4 on the field.) So, it is entirely possible that two-team alliances are in the offing--pick your own backup, play them at least once per round. The backup team in this case would be played under normal 3-on-the-field rules; teams just get more time to take care of broken robots by sitting them out.

Or not.