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    InterMat Staff Predictions: Jeff Vanderwerf

    125: No. 1 Anthony Robles (Arizona State) over No. 3 Brandon Precin (Northwestern)
    This is top-heavy weight class, with any of the top three seeds capable of taking home the championship. I'll take Robles who has to be a feel-good story by any standard.

    133: No. 2 Andrew Hochstrasser (Boise State) over No. 4 Tyler Graff (Wisconsin)
    Hochstrasser, who is one of those wrestles who seems to have been around forever, wins this tough weight class over Graff, who takes out Oliver in the semis.

    141: No. 2 Mike Thorn (Minnesota) over No. 4 Jimmy Kennedy (Illinois)
    This has to be the toughest weight class in the tournament, with no fewer than six realistic winners. While Russell has been No. 1 most of the year, his close matches catch up with him against Kennedy, who seems to be in his 10th year at Illinois.

    149: No. 1 Darrion Caldwell (North Carolina State) over No. 6 Jason Chamberlain (Boise State)
    Some have said that Caldwell has lost a step due to his shortened season. Even with a supposed step lost he is the class of this field, while Chamberlain sneaks in as a relative surprise finalist.

    157: No. 3 David Taylor (Penn State) over No. 4 Bubba Jenkins (Arizona State)
    Young David Taylor is the new "Next Cael," with wrestling fans around the country drooling at his gaudy stats. He will prove them right at the Big Dance, outlasting the game Jenkins in the finals.

    165: No. 1 Jordan Burroughs (Nebraska) over No. 2 Andrew Howe (Wisconsin)
    This is another top-heavy weight class, with Burroughs and Howe in a class by themselves. The only real challenge should be on Burroughs' side, where he will have to go through Colt Sponseller to reach the finals. Howe's health will be the biggest question on his end.

    174: No. 3 Mack Lewnes (Cornell) over No. 1 Jon Reader (Iowa State)
    Seasoned veteran Lewnes will have to overcome the dangerous Ed Ruth on his side of the bracket, while Reader should "waltz" into the finals (waltzing being relative in the NCAA tournament).

    184: No. 4 Travis Rutt (Wisconsin) over No. 3 Steve Bosak (Cornell)
    While 141 might be the toughest weight in the tournament, 184 appears to be the most wide-open. The big x-factor here is the health of Kirk Smith who, when 100%, would be the odds-on favorite. But reports on his health haven't been positive, and Smith wouldn't seem to be a big factor.

    197: No. 1 Cam Simaz (Cornell) over No. 3 Trevor Brandvold (Wisconsin)
    The most intriguing match of this weight might be the potential semifinal with Brandvold and Clayton Foster locking horns. Simaz has the dangerous Dustin Kilgore and Luke Lofthouse on his half, but should persevere.

    285: No. 5 Dom Bradley (Missouri) over No. 3 Ryan Flores (American)
    There isn't a true standout in the big boys division this year, although some of the top heavies have had good seasons. Bradley closes out the show with a hard-fought victory over Flores.

    Top Five Teams:
    1. Cornell
    2. Penn State
    3. Minnesota
    4. Iowa
    5. Wisconsin

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