against all odds
overpessimistic
glass-half-empty
unwilling
long odds
edge
pessimistically
overpessimism
gradable opposition
insecure
after all
midlist
reservation
invite
ask for
head-to-head
nonopposition
antiprogressivist
antiprogressive
one step ahead
negative
dissatisfactory
antipolar
conformity
neck and neck
unsatisfying
antiprogress
accordance
accord
nip and tuck
disappointing
antipodean
fat tail
unbackable
nonoptimal
semicompetitive
antithetic
overchance
opposable
antiempirical
all things considered
still and all
invariance
contrary
oddswise
doubtfully
semideterministic
snowball's chance in hell
unsusceptibility
dubiously