Watch American Idol each week and look for contestants who have good voices and who also receive good critiques from the judges. Usually, contestants who do well on the show have gotten early and continuous praise from the judges.
Look for trends on the Internet. A contestant has a better chance of winning the show if he or she achieves a high ranking in search volume. In addition, an American Idol finalist who has viewers searching for his or her past Internet videos and music, or who has achieved a high number of iTune sales, will have a better chance of winning the title.
Pay attention to the American Idol live audience and watch for fan signs and enthusiastic responses. This will help you figure out who is popular and more likely to receive a significant number of votes.
Look at past winners to see the voting trends. A good-looking male singer seems to have greater odds of winning the show. This is especially true if the congestant has an appealing voice and receives a lot of positive praise from the judges.
Watch for music trends. The American Idol winner usually sings a style of music that is popular and current.
Read the results of American Idol surveys to see who is a fan favorite. The top vote-getter will generally do better on the show as a result of his or her large fan base.