With math on their side, can presidential frontrunners be caught?

Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders defied the polls and pulled the upset in Michigan Tuesday night. But former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton won the delegate count, propelled by a huge win in Mississippi.

“She’s winning overwhelming victories in the south, so, the irony is it looks like she will win the nomination by winning states she will lose in November,” KRDO political analyst Josh Dunn said.

On the Republican side, the numbers are more complicated.

Right now, Donald Trump leads Sen. Ted Cruz by 99 pledged delegates. Next Tuesday, Ohio and Florida vote in winner-take-all primaries. If Trump wins both states, it becomes virtually insurmountable for Cruz and his other challengers to overtake him.

“I think we’re going to do really well in Florida,” Trump said in his victory speech Tuesday in the Sunshine State. “It’s my second home. I love Florida, I love Florida.”

Dunn sees a potential, albeit lofty scenario where Trump loses the GOP nomination.

“There’s a 60-70 percent chance Trump wins the nomination outright,” Dunn, a UCCS professor of politics said. “But if that doesn’t happen you’re left with two options: Cruz winning the nomination or a brokered convention. I think it’s pretty close between those two options because the math is pretty difficult for Ted Cruz. Maybe the math is easier for a brokered convention.”

Sanders and Clinton debate in Miami Wednesday night.

The Republicans will have their turn on stage in Miami Thursday night.