No. 6 Ohio State vs. No. 3 Michigan wrestling preview, predictions
Ohio State travels to Ann Arbor to take on Michigan in one of the biggest wrestling matches of the season.
The sixth-ranked Buckeyes have ranked wrestlers in all 10 weight classes. Michigan could be the underdog in their own house based on the matchups.
If the Wolverines are to pull out the win, they’ll need to pick some ranked foes off during the dual.
It’s not out of the realm of possibility, but the Buckeyes might have the edge in the end. Below is a preview of the matches, plus picks, between Ohio State and Michigan.
Ohio State vs. Michigan Matchups, Predictions
125: No. 10 Malik Heinselman (OSU) vs. No. 20 Jack Medley (Michigan): Heinselman by decision. 3-0 Ohio State
133: No. 9 Jesse Mendez (OSU) vs. No. 12 Dylan Ragusin (Michigan): Mendez by decision. 6-0 Ohio State
141: No. 18 Dylan D’Emilio (OSU) vs. No. 23 Cole Mattin (Michigan): D’Emilio by decision. 9-0 Ohio State
149: No. 3 Sammy Sasso (OSU) vs. No. 21 Chance Lamer (Michigan): Sasso by major decision. 13-0 Ohio State
157: No. 23 Paddy Gallagher (OSU) vs. No. 10 Will Lewan (Michigan): Lewan by decision. 13-3 Ohio State
165: No. 9 Carson Kharchla (OSU) vs. No. 6 Cameron Amine (Michigan): Amine by decision. 13-6 Ohio State
174: No. 8 Ethan Smith (OSU) vs. Max Maylor (Michigan): Smith by major decision. 17-6 Ohio State
184: No. 5 Kaleb Romero (OSU) vs. No. 8 Matt Finesilver (Michigan): Finesilver by decision. 17-9 Ohio State
197: No. 21 Gavin Hoffman (OSU) vs. Brendin Yatooma (Michigan): Hoffman by decision. 20-9 Ohio State
No. 16 Tate Orndorff (OSU) vs. No. 1 Mason Parris (Michigan): Parris by fall. 20-15 Ohio State
Ohio State wins 20-15
Ohio State has the edge in the first three bouts but an upset in one of them is not out of the realm of possibility. In fact, it might be needed based on the predicted final score.
One bout going the other way would give Michigan the win.
But, we’ll give the edge to the Buckeyes in the first three while Sasso takes care of business in a big way at 149 pounds. Lamer is in the projected lineup but he did not wrestle last weekend against Penn State and Rutgers.
Michigan gets on the board with back-to-back wins at 157 and 165 but Smith is a big challenge for Maylor at 174. Down 17-6, the Wolverines will be in a big hole.
We’re picking the upset for Finesilver over Romero in what should be a great tilt. However, Hoffman locks up the dual at 197 pounds.
Heavyweight will be one to watch for Parris, the top-ranked wrestler in the weight class. Parris pinned Orndorff before and with the way he’s wrestling, we’ll pick it again.
Michigan will make it close, but Ohio State will do enough early on to coast in the back end.
Ohio State and Michigan square off on the mat Friday at 6:00 p.m. ET on Big Ten Network.