Who ya got?

Last week Nebraska's 2009 NCAA champion Jordan Burroughs asked a simple question of his 2000+ fans on Facebook, "Burroughs or Howe ... Who ya got?"

Most of the responses indicated Burroughs would take the match by a few points, probably a result of the question being posted to his friends. Burroughs' approach to the hype surrounding his possible matchup with Howe is admirable for its humor but is also indicative just how connected the wrestling community has become in recent years.

The Midlands finals will be broadcast on a tape delay on the Big Ten Network on Jan. 8 at 3 p.m. CT. Fans will be able to watch the entire Southern Scuffle on a free live broadcast, which could include the much-anticipated matchup between 2010 NCAA champion Kyle Dake of Cornell and 2009 NCAA champion Darrion Caldwell of North Carolina State.

The connectivity of the wrestling community and the transparency and willingness of those in traditional media roles to host event coverage has meant that fans can have more access to information with less work. Fans who were once sentenced to a season of scouring forums and waiting for text messages for match updates can finally access technology that provides unprecedented coverage of events across the country and forms of media. For the fan, it's meant more live action when you want it. For the best wrestler's it's meant they've become minor Facebook celebrities.

Of course, these dream-like scenarios are subject to the competitors making the finals of the Midlands and Southern Scuffle. These tournaments are difficult, with almost every ranked wrestler competing in either Evanston or Greensboro. It's only 50/50 that Dake, Caldwell, Howe, and Burroughs will all make the finals without suffering an injury or being upset along the way. There is even speculation that Caldwell won't show at all. (Caldwell is listed as a "game-time decision.") However, fans know that these four grapplers are the absolute most elite competitors in the sport and should they meet like expected on Thursday night the hype will be justified.

Andrew Howe (Photo/Tony Rotundo, Tech-Fall.com)

I'll leave it to the Mat.com forums and Facebook for predictions. I don't know who will win, but in my opinion, the winners will come from who answers the following questions: "Can Howe stop that double?" and "Does Caldwell suffer from 'ring rust'"?

For Howe to win and outperform expectations he'll need to defend one of the most dominating double legs in a decade of college wrestling. Howe is leaning on the talents of Donny Pritzlaff and Jared Frayer to not only push him in the room but provide him scouting report that will both slow down Air Burroughs and give him opportunities to score from controlling positions. To find those positions Howe will probably want to close the distance and look for a bad shot from Burroughs to put them in a front head lock situation -- from there Howe can score his offense.

If Howe is wary of chasing the more agile Burroughs -- and he should be -- he'll need to keep his hands low and stalk to close distance, probably wanting to find a two-on-one or something else to controls Burroughs' hands and limit the double. Do that and he could win. Don't and we have plenty of evidence on YouTube and Flowrestling of what happens to wrestlers who can't stop the Burroughs double.

Darrion Caldwell (Photo/Tony Rotundo, Tech-Fall.com)

Caldwell wrestled well in the 2009 freestyle season, but there are some lingering, if not unfair, questions about his stamina. His match against Brent Metcalf in 2009 should have left most fans aware that the he could wrestle and had the ability to keep the pedal pegged for seven full minutes (sans an injury time). The debate about his stamina has always been while he was expected to be in peak condition, but 20 months out from his last college wrestling match leaves even more questions. Folkstyle has proven to be a fickle style for anyone coming off a layoff and can get the best of even well-tuned, highly conditioned athletes.

Not only will Caldwell be facing a tough field for two full days of wrestling, but he'll be capping it off with a seven minute tussle against the agile, youthful Kyle Dake. Last year Dake showed that in spite of having to endure five months of massive weight loss, he was able to compete at an enviable pace. Kid Dynamite is coming off an injury of his own and Caldwell's convalescence might be the boost he needs to best an opponent from the hottest team in the country. However, their prime time battle will be won after an evening of tossing, lifting, rolling, scrambling and creativity. If ever a non-NCAA finals match were meant for prime time, it's this one.

This is a special week for wrestling. The community is defined by its loyalty for the sport and passion for top-notch competition. Unlike other college sports, we've navigated away from the inconsequential gossip surrounding athletes and coaches. Yes, we've indulged in some gossip-driven tales of improprieties from time to time, but we tend to focus on the competition and the competitor. We've all waited for a mid-season week like this, when the athletic drama of our sport is showcased for fans in the stands. And now, fans at home can sit back, open a laptop and enjoy the very best in college wrestling.

So ... Who ya got?

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