Google is Set [money.cnn.com]To Report Q3 Results

Google is set to report third-quarter earnings after the market closes Thursday, and investors aren't exactly placing bets on a big blowout. Despite a huge jump in September Internet searches related to the election and the widening credit crisis, the boost in traffic may not necessarily mean it's all good for Google.

It's been a tough year for the Net giant. Its shares have fallen by half since January as advertising spending cools amid a dismal economic climate. And while Google (GOOG, Fortune 500) has solidified its position as the dominant search site, its business is unavoidably pulled down by the outgoing tide in consumer and advertiser spending.

Anyone with a prediction?