First the good news: There have been three winners on "American Idol" who got intimate with the bottom three during their runs. That means that Hollie Cavanagh, Jessica Sanchez and Joshua Ledet still have a shot at taking the top prize if they can survive the next two weeks.

Now the bad news: no singer has ever won "Idol" after being saved (Sanchez) or making more than one trip to the bottom (Cavanagh). And while that's a ray of sunshine for Ledet, who has only hit the stools of shame once, the odds are not in his favor considering that of the 10 previous winners, only three have gone on to victory after facing elimination.

That puts Phillip Phillips in fine company, as seven "Idol" champs have skated through without once staring at the abyss, including the two most successful, Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood, as well as Jordin Sparks, David Cook and Scotty McCreery and also-rans Taylor Hicks and Lee DeWyze.

Though she's been on an [article id="1684385"]unexpected upswing[/article]
 over the past two weeks, the odds seem most grim for Cavanagh, who has been in the bottom three a head-spinning five times. No "Idol" champ has ever gotten to the finish line after being on the chopping block more than once.

Sanchez, 16, seemed like an almost sure bet to reach the finale a few weeks ago, but after a series of stumbles and some harsh comments from mentor Jimmy Iovine on Thursday night about what he deemed her too-risque stage attire, her balloon appears to be deflating. Then there's the daunting fact that nobody has ever made it to the golden circle after getting saved by the judges.

She can take consolation, though, in the fact that she's gotten further than any other saved contestant to date, so that's something. The other daunting prospect for both ladies is that a female has not won the show since season six's Sparks.

Do you think Jessica or Hollie can win "American Idol?" Let us know in comments below.

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