The American freestylers are lining up for a big weekend, but their success, much like the city hosting the event, will be rooted in luck.
57 kilos: Tony Ramos
Gold: 20 percent
Medal: 50 percent
One of the most improved wrestlers on the American roster, Tony Ramos will be the wrestler most likely to be re-energized by the local crowd. A longtime fan-favorite, Ramos will need to ensure that he stays out of four-point scrambles that cost him a run in Tashkent last year, and be more active on the mat.
He has the tools to make a solid run at the World Championships, but like everything else, the draw will predict his fate. He's probably still a distant second to the likes of Viktor Lebedev and Hassan Rahimi, but with improved match management he's likely to make the medal round.
Top wrestlers: Vladimir Khinchegashvili (Georgia), Hassan Rahimi (Mongolia), Viktor Lebedev (Russia)
61 kilos: Reece Humphrey
Gold: 5 percent
Medal: 30 percent
Reece Humphrey is without question the most gifted athlete in the world at 61 kilos, but standing in the way of his gold medal is a field that includes the impossible to beat Aleksander Bogomoev. The Russian star has had to fend off the likes of Djamal Otarsultanov just about every week, a sharpening tool that makes him razor wire on the mat.
Humphrey will also have to wrestle past some previous mental hiccups including a pair of meltdowns at the World Championships and the World Cup.
Top wrestlers: Aleksander Bogomoev (Russia), Volodya Frangulyan (Armenia), Beka Lomtadze (Georgia)
65 kilos: Brent Metcalf
Gold: 40 percent
Medal: 75 percent
The only reason that Tony Ramos isn't the most improved wrestler on the American roster is that Brent Metcalf has reached the next level in his approach and execution within freestyle. Once too rigid to adapt to Russian and Iranian trickery, the Yarygin runner-up has managed scrambles with more efficacy in 2015.
To make the gold-medal round will be very difficult for Metcalf who has to make his way through a bracket loaded with top talent from around the globe, including Olympic gold medalist Togrul Asgarov. That might be too tall an order, but with the home crowd at his back he might be the wrestler that the much celebrated opponents don't wish to see. In summation, he is the bad draw.
Top wrestlers: Soslan Romanov (Russia), Franklin Gomez (Puerto Rico), Togrul Asgarov (Azerbaijan)
70 kilos: James Green
Gold: 30 percent
Medal: 50 percent
At a weight class that many of the top wrestlers around the world have left in order to prepare for the Olympic year, James Green seems poised to make noise at 70 kilos.
Green got over a mental hurdle in beating Nick Marable during their impromptu wrestle-off, and his gold at the Spanish Grand Prix included knocking off the talented Frank Chamizo of Italy.
There will be stumbling blocks along the way, but Green is a competitor who can make the medal round and earn hardware for the United States.
Top wrestlers: Hassan Yazdani (Iran), Magomedrasul Gazimagomedov (Russia), Magomedmurad Gadzhiev (Turkey), Bekzod Abdurakhmanov (Uzbekistan)
74 kilos: Jordan Burroughs
Gold: 95 percent
Medal: 95 percent
He'll have his hands full with Aniuar Geduev of Russia, but Burroughs has beaten him in the past, scouted him well for the tourney and has a style that matches up well.
Top wrestlers: Aniuar Geduev (Russia), Yabrail Hasanov (Azerbaijan), Ali Shabanov (Belarus)
86 kilos: Jake Herbert
Gold: 5 percent
Medal: 30 percent
Back in the driver's seat at 86 kilos for the first time in a few years, Jake Herbert has looked nails in his last matches. He was thrown around at the Yarygin in January, but has been preparing his body (and mind) for this tournament.
A traditional slow starter, Herbert will need to attack early and often and use his superior conditioning to wear down opponents. There is a great opportunity for Herbert to medal if he stays healthy, active and in shape.
However, Abdulrashid Sadualev will ultimately stand between Jake and gold.
Top wrestlers: Abdul Rashid Sadulaev (Russia), Ibragim Aldatov (Ukraine), Reineris Salas Perez (Cuba),
97 kilos: Kyle Snyder
Gold: 10 percent
Medal: 25 percent
After beating Olympic champion Jake Varner to make his first World team, it's believable that Kyle Snyder is capable of beating some of the world's best. He's dynamic in his attacks and after a successful opening performance at the World Cup, he may be able to translate youth and talent into heavy medals.
The same cast of characters that have ruled 97 kilos for the past few years will certainly pose a challenge, but none are insurmountable. Gadsov of Russia and Olympic champion Sharif Sharifov seem to be the early leaders to take gold, but if you leave Snyder out of consideration (even the remote kind) you'd be fooling yourself.
Top wrestlers: Abdusalam Gadisov (Russia), Sharif Sharifov (Azerbaijan)
125 kilos: Zack Rey
Gold: 5 percent
Medal: 15 percent
Taha Akghul has locked down 125 kilos for two years and there is no indication that the European Games champion will loosen his grip in 2015. Bilyal Mkahov, a three time World champion, will be looking to gather another medal in freestyle after a bronze in Greco-Roman.
Rey looked great at the Pan American Championships but he'll need the next level if he's to get by the international competition lining up for gold in Vegas.
Top wrestlers: Taha Akgul (Turkey), Parviz Hadi (Iran), Bilyal Makhov (Russia)
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