I have not yet seen Bowies show this year but based on their last few years its a safe bet that they should still be considered the favorite to take Area D, though it is close. I think i saw someone call Johnson a BOA monster but honestly what first sparked my interest in them was 2010 when they were still a somewhat obscure band, but their success in UIL and showing at state kind of got their name out there. I expect Johnson to perform extremely well under UIL scoring once again but i just dont think theyre ready to topple a giant like Bowie yet. Give them a year or two and thatll be a whole different story no doubt.
Regarding CP, dont get me wrong because they are one of my all time favorite bands, but i dont consider them a powerhouse. They have the talent, and possibly the best sound of any group, but i find their visual packages and sometimes show designs to be a little dull which has kept them out of the top 5 as of late, finishing 6th at San Antonio last year, and 9th the year before, with a 10th place Grand Nats finish. Not to mention their scoring seems to be a little erratic, placing 9th in Area prelims last year and then 3rd in finals, and as yall know taking 1st at State. So i dont think its exactly a new trend that they seem underrated most years since On Edge in 08. But as Danpod mentioned, they are 4A which is why they participated in the 4A State Marching Contest last year.