[RichieLion]

I don't think we TV'ers are the core Idol Audience, and like Islandgirl points out, Metal isn't the popular music with the teens anymore, and that hurt James, I think. The "cool" music right now is Country and Pop; Taylor Swift and Lady Antebellum, Lady GaGa and Adele. James is not in that genre (although, he could have been. He can sing anything). Also he wasn't being humble anymore. I think the humbleness of Scotty McCreery is very appealing, and James lost his. (The judges acting like he had it won already didn't help him)

The youngsters sit and vote over and over and over. You heard Lauren's brother say he was voting for 2 hours. He obviously kept calling until he was able to get through the phone traffic to vote multiple times, maybe on the phone and on Facebook. The kids will do that; would you?

Scotty seems to be the favorite because the young girls love him. Maybe he's a one trick pony, as Redwitch says, but it's a darn good trick. I think Haley is the performer with the most sheer talent, and she seems to be resonating with the voters even with 2 of the judges constantly criticizing her (unfairly in my mind. I thought she nailed the songs they disliked, last week and this week). Lauren is almost as erratic as my golf game, but her sweetness is very appealing.

My money is on Scotty McCreery. (although I'm not a lucky gambler)