Davez summed it up perfectly on what pot is about, and as for predicting winners i don't think we do that but it is a good planning tool.
Yes i did say you could double your bank in 8 sessions if you had a pot of 10% this was just an example of what can be done with a particular amount, pot is just one of the tools of good money managment and with out that you can never hope to beat the game.