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Scotty McCreery vs. Lauren Alaina: Who will win on ‘American Idol’?

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So it all comes down to Scotty McCreery versus Lauren Alaina — country young’un versus country young’un — on the ‘American Idol’ finale this week. Who will snag the ‘Idol’ crown?

Not surprisingly, McCreery and Alaina have hometown fans rooting them on. McCreery’s grandparents told their local paper, the Pilot, that they’ve gotten a lot of reflected attention from their talented grandson’s ‘Idol’ run but said that whatever the final results, Scotty is ‘already a winner to us.’ His grandma added, ‘We love him whether he’s an American Idol or not.’

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McCreery’s high school choral director, Meredith Clayton, traveling from Garner, N.C., to California for this week’s finale, echoed McCreery’s grandparents’ sentiments. Whether he wins or not, McCreery will ‘be recording. He’ll be performing,’ Clayton told North Carolina’s NBC17. ‘Either way, first or second place ... we’re proud of him.’

Alaina, meanwhile, has received high marks locally for her fashion choices as well as for her singing. ‘She has definitely transformed in front of our eyes from a shy Chattanooga girl to a true star and hopefully soon to be American Idol,’ Chattanooga boutique owner Suzanne Bishop West told the Chattanooga Times Free Press. West admired Alaina’s increasingly elegant style, adding, ‘Her hair and makeup look great on the show, and my personal opinion is that her hair has improved dramatically since her audition, much more sleek and chic.’

Haley Reinhart, sent home as Season 10’s third-place finisher last week, declined to pick a favorite in the final two. ‘It’s a close one — so close because they’re in the same lane as far as country goes,’ Reinhart told reporters after her ouster. ‘It’s anyone’s game! … Those two are both so cute.’

Which is not to say that nobody’s laying odds. Judge Randy Jackson believes that, while both remaining contenders are in it to win it, McCreery has a bit of an edge, thanks in part to the teen ‘crush’ factor. And more than one newspaper has tipped McCreery to win (even though McCreery gallantly handed Alaina an advantage by allowing her to choose her preferred performance slot).

What’s more, oddmakers at the online betting site bodog have tapped McCreery as a favorite, giving him 1/5 odds to win, while Alaina’s a 3/1 longshot.

But as always, the fate of the contestants is in the hands of ‘American Idol’ voters, who this season have proven highly unpredictable.

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Who do you think, barring any major performance mess-ups, will take the Season 10 ‘American Idol’ crown? And who will you be voting for? Weigh in! ‘American Idol’ results: Haley Reinhart eliminated

American Idol’ recap: The final three vie for the glory

‘American Idol’ Top 3 greeted as hometown heroes

Full Show Tracker coverage of ‘American Idol’

— Amy Reiter

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