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.

Science
As if the economic meltdown wasn’t enough, now we have swine flu. The outbreak started in Mexico but in a matter of days cases in places as far away as New Zealand have popped up. The Center for Disease Control and World Health Organization haven’t yet referred to the outbreak as a pandemic, but before 2010 the chances of swine flu developing into a pandemic are a worrying 23%.

Will the Mexican/U.S. swine flu (A/H1N1) grow into a pandemic in 2009 as feared?

Entertainment
Sean Hannity is on the record saying he’d be water boarded for charity. Therefore Keith Olbermann’s offer to give $1,000 per second to charity for as long as Hannity stays under seems fair. The question is will Hannity chicken out?

How much will Keith Olbermann pay Hannity for the waterboard treatment?

It’s TV show culling time again! Although some entertainment pundits have doubts about Chuck returning for another season, Hubdubbers seem to categorically agree with Deadline Hollywood Daily forecasting Chuck has a 71% chance of renewal.

Bubble shows: Will Chuck be renewed?

Politics
This week President Barack Obama has his third prime time press conference, with so many issues on his plate though mentions of Obama’s former rival John McCain seem unlikely.

Primetime Press Conference 4/29: Will John McCains name be mentioned specifically.

Sports

“The fastest Two Minutes in Sports,” better known as the Kentucky Derby is this week and Hubdub has forecasts on which horse is most likely to win. Pioneer of the Nile with a 29% chance is the front runner followed by I Want Revenge and Quality Road with 25% and 18% chances of winning respectively.

Who will win this years Kentucky Derby?

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.

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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