PSU vs. VT Match Prediction

[psuflyguy]

Here you go, one man's far-too-eager-for-the-season-to-start prediction for Sunday's match. Just my gut on all these, nothing scientific, so be gentle in rebuttal!

125

The best match of the evening, right out of the gate. Nico beat Dance comfortably at in the Consy Finals at the NCAA’s two years ago. He’s been resting, chomping at the bit and getting stronger in the off season. Dance is dangerous, and I think he’ll be about halfway up the NCAA podium in March, but I think Mega sends the strong signal in this match that he’s back and ready for his title.
PSU 3 - VT 0



133

I don’t have any feel for the VT wrestler, but based on the rankings and Conaway’s normal scrappiness, I think he gets it done.
PSU 6 - VT 0


141

I hate that in his redshirt Junior season, I still don’t know what to think of Gulibon. He could lay an egg, go passive and not get things done. I’m hoping we see the Jimmy G. we’re waiting for and he gets the major.
PSU 10 - VT 0


149

Retherford is two years older, 8 pounds heavier and has a year’s worth of pent up aggression ready to go in this one. If he doesn’t tear off the head of one of his opponents in the first two matches and then go looking for the kid’s mother, I’ll be surprised. I’m calling for the ZPain tech, but a pin wouldn’t surprise me.
PSU 15 - VT 0


157

This is match 1A for me. On paper, this one goes to Brascetta, but this match is Nolf’s chance to say “Hello world!” I’m being a homer and picking the upset. I almost called for Nolf by major, but I won’t go too crazy.
PSU 18 - VT 0


165

Sanderson said he might split the first two matches between Hammond and Rasheed. Whichever one takes the mat here will be looking to impress the coaches. I think we get the win.
PSU 21 - VT 0


174

Speaking of a PSU kid looking to make a statement, Nickal gets his chance in this one. I thought I should be somewhat realistic, so I’m giving Epperly the edge. I wouldn’t be surprised if Nickal gets the win. Heck, I wouldn’t be shocked if he flashes some funk and sticks Epperly. But the rational part of me says Epperly wins a 7-5 type match.
PSU 21 - VT 3


184

Mighty Mouse looks to start this season as strongly as he finished the last. He wins this one by regular decision.
PSU 24 - VT 3


197

McIntosh needs to get big team points in this one, and I think he will. I don’t know much about Haught, so out of respect to his ranking, I’ll say Smackintosh by major. But I’d love to see Morgan open it up and put this kid on his back.
PSU 28 - VT 3


285

Hi, I’m Jan Johnson. I play football for Penn State. Wait, now I wrestle for them. I’ve been out of wrestling for almost a year, been back practicing for just a couple weeks, and I get the number two heavyweight in the nation. Let me tell you how many lights there are on the ceiling of Cassell Coliseum.
PSU 28 - VT 9


Worst case scenario where all the ugly possible happens, PSU loses the match 14-23.

 

[Tom McAndrew]

Interesting. CP, on FRL on Monday (near the end of the broadcast, which you can access at THIS LINK) indicated that he thought it could get ugly for VT, and he predicted they'd only win 3 matches. (Going from memory, I think it was 65, 74, and 285.)

 

[RoarLions1]

This match is at their place, and anyone that attended last years match at Rec Hall knows the fight that every wrestler from VT brought. They will bring it even more in Blacksburg. We may win, but I expect a dogfight. Key for me is getting off on the right foot at 125, 133, 141, assuming the match starts at 125.

 

[1stplacehawk]

125- Picking Nico but Dance will be in the match until the very end PSU 3-0
133- Norstrem has a decent motor and doesn't take many shots, which means this will likely be another close match but Conway has more offense PSU 6-0
141- Chishko is no pushover and Jimmy is at a higher weight. I'll take Jimmy but expect it to be close PSU 9-0
149- I've never been a huge fan of Mastriani even though he has had a couple nice wins. Zain will dominate him PSU 13-0
157- Match of the night. Brascetta is a two time AA and Nolf is outstanding. I'll take Nolf but it will be close PSU 16-0
165- McFadden already has a nice win and has been wrestling well. I'm picking him regardless of who PSU sends out. PSU 16-3
174- Epperly is just solid at pretty much everything. He's the favorite over Bo PSU 16-6
184- This is a potential upset. Zavatsky went 15-1 during his redshirt year and will be in the rankings before long. Cutch in a close one PSU 19-6
197- Haught is a good athlete but this won't be close PSU 23-6
285- Walz has been extremely impressive in the early going. I can't imagine a freshman that has been away from the mat is going to be too much trouble for him (regardless of how talented Jan might be) PSU 23-12

I have the score at 23-12 but wouldn't be surprised if Va Tech found a way to gut out another match and keep the final score closer. More often than not I think PSU wins comfortably. 149, 197 and 285 are the only matches that are a formality, IMO

 

[Grass]

I'm hearing the match is on ESPN3, but I'm not seeing it on their upcoming schedule for Sunday. Anybody have any solid info? Thanks in advance.

 

[tgar]

Johnson is not going to get pinned. Is this match being televised anywhere?

 

[davidtaylorgangordie]

Zavatsky may have been 15-1 during his redshirt year but look at who that 1 loss was against... Cutch beat him 8-0 last year. It may not be a major this time around but I'll take Cutch by 4

125 Nico dec.
133 Conaway dec.
141 Gulibon dec.
149 Retherford mdec.
157 Nolf dec. comfortably by 4
165 McFadden dec
174 Nickal dec.
184 Cutch dec
197 Mac mdec
285 Walz mdec

 

[Onceafish]

Interesting. CP, on FRL on Monday (near the end of the broadcast, which you can access at THIS LINK) indicated that he thought it could get ugly for VT, and he predicted they'd only win 3 matches. (Going from memory, I think it was 65, 74, and 285.)

I think he predicted a lot of close matches, most of them won by Penn State

 

[Nitt Fan]

Johnson is not going to get pinned. Is this match being televised anywhere?

ESPN3 and FLO