I take it your typical route is ORD-ATL? What times of the week are you flying? If it's a peak-business traveller flight, those ORD-ATL flights are chock-full of Platinums and other Medallions on full Ys - a Gold in the 20s on the upgrade list here wouldn't be too crazy to think (I've seen 50+ people on the upgrade list for ATL-ORD in the past).

You shouldn't have any lower priority, but if there is hardly anyone below you on the GIDS screens (all DL destinations out of ORD have them, as does ORD), then there's an issue that needs to be fixed. If you're in the middle of the pack though, it's quite possible that there are 40+ elites on that flight if it's a peak business traveller hour.