The Amazing Race is unique within the realm of reality TV programs. Not only is it far more bombastic and adventurous than similar shows, but it also relies heavily on aspects of luck. An amazing team that performed consistently throughout the season could find a confused taxi driver and become hopelessly lost, losing out on what had seemed like an inevitable victory.
Similarly, a team could have barely managed to escape elimination throughout most of the race but somehow pull out a victory thanks to a combination of luck and perseverance. This unpredictability means some seasons featured strong teams that definitely should have won but didn't.
Frank And Margarita
The very first season of The Amazing Race was won by Rob and Brennan. And while they certainly performed well, they were arguably out-performed by separated couple Frank and Margarita.
They raced exceptionally well, scoring six second-place finishes and three first-place victories. In all but three of the season's 13 legs, Frank and Margarita never placed below third. In the end, Rob and Brennan scored a better cab than Frank and Margarita, allowing them to cruise to the finish line. It was certainly a suitable final two, but the victory could have very well gone to Frank and Margarita without much controversy or surprise. And to think, it very well may have if they scored a different driver.
Trey And Lexi
Statistically, Josh and Brent of The Amazing Race 21 are the worst winners in the show's history. They finished the season with an average of 4.58, their only first-place finish coming on the last leg of the race. In fact, it was their only top-two finish of the entire race. They even came in last place on leg 5, but they were spared by a non-elimination leg.
By most accounts, Trey and Lexi deserved to win this season. And while the team was capitalizing on their potential with a dominant final leg, their game completely fell apart when Lexi struggled with the final roadblock. The struggle resulted in a disappointing third-place finish.
Dustin And Kandice
It's ironic that The Amazing Race: All-Stars contained two of the least deserving winners in the show's history. Dustin and Kandice comprise one of the best teams who didn't win, losing in shocking fashion to Eric and Danielle.
Dustin and Kandice dominated the second half of the race, but they performed poorly in the final task. In fact, Eric and Danielle were the only team that was able to complete it successfully, guaranteeing them their unpredicted win. It also turned out to be their only first-place finish of the entire race.
Eric And Jeremy
Despite having one of the best friendships on The Amazing Race, BJ and Tyler should have gone home. This team definitely had Lady Luck on their side, as they survived not one but two non-elimination legs. Their continued lucky breaks would certainly prove frustrating for the (arguably) deserving winners, Eric and Jeremy.
Eric and Jeremy had more first-place finishes (six if both parts of leg 3 are counted), they never finished lower than fourth, they were never saved by a non-elimination leg, and they had a higher average of 1.75, one of the best averages in the history of The Amazing Race. Unfortunately, the final task of the race was mental in nature, which played to the strengths of BJ and Tyler. Eric and Jeremy faltered, BJ and Tyler flourished, and the latter team proved victorious in a rather unforeseeable turn of events.
Tara And Joey
Strangers Tara and Joey performed quite well throughout The Amazing Race 29. Being complete strangers and given their unique professions (army officer and police sergeant, respectively), Tara and Joey are one of the most memorable The Amazing Race teams ever.
They landed three first-place victories and two second-place finishes for an average placement of 3.08. Meanwhile, winners Brooke and Scott had an average of 4.08 and got off to a very rocky start, placing above fifth for five of the first six legs. In fact, Brooke and Scott have the lowest average of a co-ed winning team. There was nothing specifically about the race that should have resulted in Tara and Joey's victory. In this case, the stats speak for themselves.
Misti And Jim
Misti and Jim were one of the most dominant The Amazing Race teams in terms of leg wins, so The Amazing Race 25 was theirs to lose. Unfortunately, that's exactly what they did. Misti and Jim started strong with a first-place finish, and it would prove their first victory of five. Outside of a near elimination in leg 4, the team performed exceptionally well and finished with a strong average of 2.58.
Unfortunately, they lost to Amy and Maya after Misti struggled at the final roadblock. Misti and Jim were the easy favorites to win, but Amy's dominant performance at the mental roadblock over a struggling Misti resulted in their shocking upset loss.
Jet & Cord
Jet and Cord were easily the strongest contestants on The Amazing Race 16. The two rarely fell below the top three, and they enjoyed four first-place victories. In the end, the cowboy brothers finished with an average of 2.58.
It was by far the highest average of the top three, indicating their probable win. However, their lack of strategy came back to bite them. Winners Dan and Jordan moved themselves up to first class on the final plane to San Francisco, allowing them to disembark the plane before Jet and Cord. It was the favorable bump they needed to win, as getting off the plane first gave the team a brief head start that they never lost.
Kris And Jon
The Amazing Race 6 would prove one of the first controversial seasons of the series, not just for the finish, but for the contestants' attitudes. Winners Freddy and Kendra proved highly controversial throughout the season, owing mainly to Kendra's insensitive racial comments.
Many viewers thought that runners-up Kris and Jon were far more deserving, as they enjoyed four first-place finishes and a better final average of 2.17. Unfortunately, a passing train proved to be their undoing, as they got stuck and could not proceed with the race. It's an example of how the random nature of the race or just a bit of bad luck can completely turn the tide.
Rob And Amber
Rob Mariano and Amber Brkich are arguably the most famous couple in reality TV history, having competed together and fallen in love during Survivor: All Stars. To this day, fan opinion remains divided about who deserved to win their season of The Amazing Race.
The then-engaged couple competed on The Amazing Race 7 and dominated the competition, scoring four first-place finishes (including the first half of leg 8) and landing an average of 2.42. Unfortunately, they failed to complete the final puzzle as fast as Uchenna and Joyce, resulting in their somewhat disappointing second-place finish.
Azaria And Hendekea
The case of Azaria and Hendekea of The Amazing Race 12 remains one of the show's most tragic. The brother-sister duo got off to a commanding start, scaring off the competition with three first-place victories in the first four legs.
Many viewers called them the favorites to win, but a disastrous sixth leg and a fateful mix-up with plane tickets culminated in their shocking elimination. Despite their early exit (finishing in sixth), Azaria and Hendekea had the strongest average of the season (3.00) thanks to their incredible start. Of course, it was their own fault that they mixed up the plane tickets, so some viewers may feel they deserved their downfall. But it's amazing how one mistake can derail a commanding and unstoppable team.