[Sticks]

If you look at the sequence of events, as two separate HM's they were not being nominated (and still have not) and Amanda was climbing in the polls threatening the chosen one, Brian.
They were two people when it suited Endemol / C4 but with the chosen one under threat something had to be done

Then came the time travel task where Sam and Amanda had to decide to be one or two, but either way one of them or both would be put in the firing line. It was obvious that they would choose to be one, given reports they had a secret pact that if one got evicted then the other would walk.

By putting both up as a single unit gave Brian and Liam fans an open goal to get rid of the competition since the media were by now tipping them as the new favourites. This was why I was so vocal

C4 wanted them out, and it could have worked had the fans voted tactically, but they did not. Maybe C4 remembered what happened with Adel V Jade (V Kate V Johnny) and that fans of Brian and Liam would reason that Amy would be up the following week so this was their one chance

But that is not how it happened.

They ought to win, as it would serve C4 right for trying to engineer their own chosen one, yet again.