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.

World

The doomsday clock probably moved up another notch this week with North Korea flexing its military might. First a nuclear detonation, then missile tests and now the world awaits more irrational action. More missile tests between June 1 - June 7 have a 48% chance of occurring, and a new war in Asia has a 36% chance.

When will North Korea launch their next missile?

Sports
The NBA final is now underway, it’s a best of seven series, and as of now Hubdubbers only slightly favor the LA Lakers over the Orlando Magic.

NBA Finals, LA Lakers - Orlando Magic, series outcome?

The NHL playoffs are also underway this week. The final is between the Detroit Red Wings and the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Red Wings are certainly the front runners to win the best of seven series.

Stanley Cup Final, Detroit Red Wings - Pittsburgh Penguins, series outcome?

Science
The Atlantic hurricane season officially begins this week and the initial outlook calls for a 50% chance of a normal season, a 25% chance of an above-normal season and a 25% chance of a below-normal season. Hubdub forecasts that in June and July there’s a equal 32% probability that we have either no storms or only one.

How many hurricanes will there be in the Atlantic in June and July?

Politics
Barack Obama’s Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor has evoked some criticism from the right, from questions of her sexuality to her views on abortion, but for now she seems to have weathered the storm. Abortion being the sticky issue it is, Sonia Sotomayor has a 69% chance of not specifying whether she is or isn’t pro-choice.

Will Justice Sotomayor describe herself as pro-choice?

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.

Hubdub Top 5 barack obama, detroit red wings, hurricane season, la lakers, los angeles lakers, national basketball association, national hockey league, nba, nhl, north korea, nuclear tests, orlando magic, pittsburgh penguins, playoffs, Sonia Sotomayor, south korea, supreme court, war

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.

Sports

March Madness is upon us my friends and life is good! So far Hubdub isn’t forecasting any of the known teams will be crowned winner in two weeks time. Although so far it seems North Carolina is the second likeliest front runner. If you haven’t done so already check out Hubdub’s March Madness Predict-A-Thon for more NCAA forecasts.

Which Team will Win the NCAA Championship?

Politics
Some of our esteemed Supreme Court Justices are getting a bit old, and with Barack Obama now in the White House it’s likely a more liberal leaning justice will be appointed soon. The question though is which justice will step down first? Hubdub forecasts the most likely candidate for resignation is David Souter with a 55% chance of stepping down.

Who will be the first Supreme Court Justice replaced?

World News
With wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, it’s easy to forget sometimes that those countries aren’t the only possible threats to American security. A fact made clear this March when Chinese ships harassed an American naval ship in the South China Sea. Both sides don’t want an escalation of tensions, and thankfully Hubdubbers agree giving only a 29% chance of similar tensions within the next two weeks.

Will China further harass any US Navy ships operating in international waters?

Business
It seems our ailing economy is getting better number these days. Out of the woods? No, better than before? Yes. For now Hubdub forecasts there’s a 51% probability the Dow Jones Industrial Averages in 2009 will be within the 6000 to 6999.99 range.

What will be the lowest close for the DJIA in 2009?

Entertainment
American Idol Season 8 is heating up and with a final listing of 10 possible winners, we can finally start predicting who’s gonna grab first place this year. In the lead this week, Adam Lambert (43%) and in second place Danny Gokey (27%). We’ve got 7 more weeks though, so don’t put your eggs all in one basket just yet.

Who will win American Idol Season 8?

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.

Hubdub Top 5 2009, adam lambert, american idol, barack obama, basketball, conflict, danny gokey, david souter, djia, dow jones industrial, harass, March Madness, navy China, ncaa, north carolina, politics, ruth bader ginsberg, south china sea, sports, supreme court, supreme court justices, us navy, war