Hubdub’s Hot Predictions this week, as decided by Hubdub users and staff, are selected based on their newsworthiness for the week. These stories are bound to be big news this week - and we have forecasts on how they’re likely to turn out.

Politics
Tim Geithner has been getting  a unfair rap for his desperate attempts to fix our ailing economy. I mean he is kind of running a one man show at the Treasury department. Undoubtedly this week he’ll be used again as a political punching bag, but will the complaints and criticisms lead to anything? Hubdubbers doubt it giving Geithner only a 20% chance of leaving his post by 2010.

Will Tim Geithner depart as Secretary of the Treasury before midnight on 31 Dec 2009?

President Obama has a primetime press conference this week to reiterate his plans for the federal budget this year. It won’t all be numbers and graphs though, with Hubdub forecasting President Obama will talk about his NCAA Basketball picks during the press conference.

President Obama Primetime Press Conf. 3/24/09: Will he be asked about his NCAA Basketball picks?

Business
The Dow’s been having some pretty good days these past few weeks. So much so that before March 31st Hubdubbers predict there’s a 56% chance that the Dow closes above 7500.

Dow - Up or down ? Which comes first, 6500 or 7500?

Sports
The NCAAB tournament continues this week, and one of the major games to watch will be when Oklahoma state goes against Syracuse on Friday. The game is bound to be close but right now Oklahoma has edged up against Syracuse, with a 52% chance of winning on Friday.

NCAAB Tournament - #2 Oklahoma vs #3 Syracuse. Who will win?

Entertainment

This week American Idol heads to Detroit where contestants will compete in the category of Motown music. Who’s likely to get the least support? Hubdub forecasts Michael Sarver has the highest chance of getting the fewest votes this week.

Who will have the fewest votes on American Idol this week?

Trading percentages given are at time of posting and may not match up with markets after the fact due to Hubdub users forecasting on said markets.

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Hubdub’s Hot Predictions this week, as decided by Hubdub users and staff, are selected based on their newsworthiness for the week. These stories are bound to be big news this week - and we have forecasts on how they’re likely to turn out.

Business
Hubdub’s holding to its forecast that by April 1st the DJIA will have passed below the 7,000 mark, giving it 97% certainty. May the Dow rest in peace…

Dow - Up or down before April 1? Which comes first, 7000 or 8000?

Gasoline prices have been fluctuating all month and in a economy where every penny counts, higher or lower prices can make or break individuals. By next Sunday Hubdub is forecasting the nationwide average for regular unleaded will be $1.950 - 1.974.

What will be the AAA average price for regular unleaded gasoline in the US on Sunday, March 8th?

Politics
The Republican party still has allot of soul searching to do these days. Bobby ‘leave it beaver’ Jindal didn’t have the best opening performance on the national stage last week. Probably one of the reasons why Hubdub forecasts Mitt Romney as the GOP front runner for 2012 with a 52% chance of winning the next Republican Presidential straw poll.

Who will win the next Republican Presidential straw poll?

Entertainment
American Idol is bound to be a treat this week. So far 2 out of 6 women have been chosen as finalists, with the semi-finals this week though how many women altogether will get the nod? Hubdub forecasts there’s a 49% chance that of the 12 finalists, 5 will be women. For all the American Idol markets we have make sure to go to our tags page here.

American Idol: How many women in the top 12?

Sport

Sad news in the world of sports this week. Detroit Lions defensive end Corey Smith, and Oakland Raiders linebacker Marquis Cooper are both feared lost at sea with others off the Florida coast. The coast guard is searching the 750 square-mile area but hasn’t yet turned up anything. Unfortunately Hubdub forecasts there’s a 60% chance the two won’t be found by this Saturday.

When will the NFL players lost at sea be found?

Trading percentages given are at time of posting and may not match up with markets after the fact due to Hubdub users forecasting on said markets.

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