Just one match this weekend for Penn State -- the final of their five home matches this season. Michigan State brings a team to Rec Hall that will be a minor step up from the teams they faced last weekend, which isn't saying much. There are a few good wrestlers this weekend, but in the end it should be a solid win for Penn State to close out their small home schedule unbeaten.
125: #13 Brad Pataky vs Brenan Lyon
Pataky's been wrestling really well the past few weekend. I expect this bout to be very similar to the one Pataky had last friday. It might take him a little longer than 3 minutes but I see him picking up the tech in this bout.
Pataky by tech fall
133 Bryan Pearsall vs #4 Franklin Gomez
Pearsall showed signs of life last weekend but that was against guys no where near the caliber of Gomez. Franklin will win this one easily.
Gomez by tech fall
141 Adam Lynch vs Dan Osterman
This should be a pretty good bout between guys with similar records. This is a big bout for both guys as far as Big Ten seeding goes. I'll take Lynch in a close one.
Lynch by dec
149 #4 Frank Molinaro vs #12 David Cheza
The depth the Big Ten has at this weight is just incredible. This should be one of the better bouts of the night I think the way Molinaro is wrestling he probably has the edge. I can't really see another major like last weekend however.
Molinaro by dec
157 #7 Cyler Sanderson vs Anthony Jones
As deep as the big ten is at 49, it's insanely weak at 57. There's a good chance the Big Ten might only get 3 guys a trip to NCAAs from this weight. Sanderson should have no problems with Jones much like the guys he had last weekend. It's tough to say he's gonna get another pin but I'll go with a lopsided maj decision in his final rec hall bout.
Sanderson by maj dec
165 #7 Dan Vallimont vs Kyle Bounds
Dan is going for his 100th win tonight in his final rec hall bout. And it should be a good one as Bounds comes in with a solid 25 - 12 record. Vallimont has been a little uneven of late but I think wrestling at Rec hall for the final time he'll be pumped for this one. He's had a good run at Penn State so it will be nice to see him close it out with win #100.
Vallimont by dec
174 Justin Ortega vs Ian Hinton
Ortega's struggles will likely continue this week as he looks for his first win in the big ten. He looked a little better last week and was 5 seconds away from picking up a win. But I still think Hinton has the edge here and wins it pulling away late.
Hinton by dec
184 #10 David Erwin vs Curran Jacobs
Erwin is the last of three seniors wreslting in their final rec hall dual meet. If Erwin can win out he'll likely lock up the two seed at a pretty talented weight class. An impressive finish for a guy who was beat out for the starting spot by a redshirt freshman back in November. He's looked better and better as the season has gone on, and that progression will likely continue against Jacobs.
Erwin by dec
197 Dave Crowell vs Tyler Dickenson
Steadman is out with a minor injury so Crowell will get the start this week. It's pretty incredible how well Penn State has done in the Big Ten this season when you consider they're still looking for their first big ten win in 3 weight classes with two matches left in the season. Granted the Big Ten team wise is down a little this year but it just goes to show how much some of the guys at other weights have improved. As for this match Crowell in my opinion has looked better than Steadman for the most part, but again that isn't saying much. Dickenson comes in just one win over 500 if Penn State is going to get a win at this weight now would be the time to do but I just don' t see that happening.
Dickenson by dec
Hwt #11 Cameron Wade vs Alan O'Donnell
Wade has been wrestling well the past few weeks and O'Donnell has never been anything great. I think Wade takes this one easily.
Wade by dec
Final Score Penn State 24 Michigan St 11
I've been a little too conservative with my picks the past few weeks and hopefully that will be the case again this week. Next week Penn State takes a big step up against Minnesota. That will be a big match for Penn State to finish out the dual meet season. And it should provide a good look to see how much Penn State has really improved in recent weeks and how much has been a product of some really weak competition.
Also this match will air on the Big Ten Network on tape delay at 11 pm tonight.