Reverse psychology only works so far. When you go to THAT extreme, it makes you look like a total ass. Subtle praise and elevation of Archuleta would have been okay for reverse psychology. But the extreme praise for Archuleta's superiority can only have been used to make him win.

The judges look more incompetent and lack more credibility than they already do if Cook ends up winning-especially considering that Cook IS much better than Archuleta (unlike the case with Taylor when we KNEW it was all a joke).