Skating skills wise, I think Weaver & Poje are right there. Many of the judges at last year's worlds gave them the same marks as Hubbell & Donohue for that particular aspect of PCS. Power-wise, it can
really depend on the day with these two teams. If a team tightens up, there could be a real difference. If they both skate clean or both skate tight, not so much. As far as cleanliness on the footwork/edges, H&D have had the advantage late in the season the last couple years. (And we're approaching that point in the season). As far as this season goes, we haven't really seen that from them yet in international competition, and we've seen even less from W&P. I'd think confidence-wise, just based on the number of competition run-throughs and recent head-to-head results, H&D would have the advantage. But W&P have done a lot of run-throughs in their show performances, which does give athletes a different kind of comfort-level in front of an audience.
Predictability-wise, I'd just go with last year's Worlds order: H&D, W&P, Chock & Bates, Gilles & Poirier. But I think it's likely not to play out that way because going 100% clean isn't that common in dance these days. And some of these teams' results have been
really close. (W&P and C&B are still about 50/50 in @their last 12 or so competitions). I'm excited to watch. Think there is room for unpredictability, and room for performances to determine the outcome.
If I was going to
predict a particular upset, though, it would probably be Fournier-Beaudry & Sorensen over Hawayek & Baker. But who knows if that's an educated prediction when F-B&S have only been competing at home? Just know that H&B have been leaving a lot of levels on the table in international events thus far; and while I expect them to bump that up a couple levels, there's likely some room there
if another team can lay down their own. (Whether F-B&S can be that team, I don't know; but they weren't too far off H&B internationally over the last few seasons).
Note: Of course, I am currently functioning on a crazy Disney/fabulous-mint-Ghiradelli-chocolate-concoction high which may be coloring my judgment

. But, yeah, I think this competition could be fun.