First & foremost, Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you have a rewarding holiday & safe travels if you plan on going anywhere.
Tonight we have a rematch of the National Duals 7th place confrontation between the #11 Illinois Fighting Illini & the #14 Missouri Tigers. The Illini won 26-18, but I'm thinking a much different outcome in Boone County.
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| #20 Spencer Moore Vs U.R. Mack Mauger 125 |
The last these two met, it was a well wrestled, smooth & controlled 4-0 win for the Orange & Blue. I'd expect a similar outcome this time around, although Mauger in front of his crowd is likely to put up more of a fight.
ILLINOIS: 3
MISSOURI: 0
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| #1 Lucas Byrd Vs U.R. Kade Moore 133 |
The 2025 133 lbs NCAA DI champion has been on a mission as of late & I don't see that being any different tonight. Kade Moore has been known to show up in the past, but thus far he's lost 17-4 & been pinned in a 1:13 by the champ. I see nothing less than a major here, if not a tech or a pin.
ILLINOIS: 7
MISSOURI: 0
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| #16 Danny Pucino Vs #13 Zeke Seltzer 141 |
Rankings slightly favor the Tigers in what I would call a tossup at 141 lbs. We have a two-time NCAA DI qualifier, taking on a guy who has served as a very valuable reserve the past two seasons. Seeing that this dual takes place in Columbia, going to give the edge to the Mizzou Gold & the Tiger Paw Black.
ILLINOIS: 7
MISSOURI: 3
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| U.R. Mike Gioffre Vs #14 Josh Edmond 149 |
Rankings & results sometimes find themselves in agreement, and at other times they find themselves at odds. This looks to be an example of the latter. A lot of parity within this sport, but rankings suggest a Tiger making an easy meal out of an Illini. Results suggest we could have a match on our hands. These two haven't met yet, but comparing common opponents of Tom Crook & Jaden Abas, I'm not seeing bonus here.
ILLINOIS: 7
MISSOURI: 6
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| #8 Kannon Webster Vs U.R. J Conway 157 |
J Conway is a tough wrestler & I'm not taking anything away from his ability or his potential, but Kannon Webster is simply on a different level right now. The antonym of The Joker has been on a terror as of late, picking up some very impressive wins including an 11-2 major decision over Iowa's Jordan Williams. Bonus? I think so.
ILLINOIS: 11
MISSOURI: 7
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| #10 Braeden Scoles Vs U.R. Maxx Mayfield 165 |
I've grown accustomed as of late to use Theopenmat.com's rankings, because I respect the fact that they put as much into their DII, DIII, NAIA, NJCAA & Women's rankings as they do their DI rankings. The problem is though, they only rank up to 20th. I bring this up because if they did rank to 33 or even to 25, I'm pretty sure Maxx Mayfield's name would have a # to it. I seriously doubt this one is going to be a blow out for the Illini. In fact, I wouldn't rule out an upset. The last these two met, it was a nosehair 2-1 victory for Scoles. This season full of upsets already, I'll take that risk and call for one.
ILLINOIS: 11
MISSOURI: 10
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| U.R. Colin Kelly Vs #12 Cameron Steed 174 |
If indeed Missouri is able to pull off the upset at 165 lbs, I think it gives them momentum going into 174 lbs. While they can use all of the bonus they can get in this dual, I think a major is where it lies.
ILLINOIS: 11
MISSOURI: 14
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| #20 Chris Moore Vs #2 Aedon Sinclair 184 |
For much different reasons, I've been impressed with both of these guys as of late. Chris Moore in and out of the lineup the past couple of seasons, stepping it up & early on in the season earning a ranking. Aedon Sinclair showing us that the race for the 184 lbs NCAA DI title has more cars than we may have initially thought. I know I'm not the only one who ended last season thinking that Max McEnelly may not ever suffer a loss again. Here it is not even December yet & Sinclair has already handed him that loss. Moore isn't teasing an upset here, but giving him another respectable match like the 7-2 match they had last time? I see no reason to think not.
ILLINOIS: 11
MISSOURI: 17
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| U.R. Cade Lautt Vs #15 Evan Bates 197 |
Here's an interesting one. We have a former North Carolina Tar Heel, now an Illinois Fighting Illini taking on a former Northwestern Wildcat, now a Missouri Tiger. It just amazes me how years ago, when I first started covering wrestling, you hardly ever saw transfers. They were a rare, once in a while thing. Nowadays, it's just the opposite. If a guy spends his entire career in one place, that's the shocker. As do rankings, I'm predicting a win here for the Tigers.
ILLINOIS: 11
MISSOURI: 20
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| #12 Luke Luffman Vs U.R. Jarrett Stoner HWT |
If Missouri is indeed able to pull off the upset at 165, get bonus at 174, keep other matches to a decision & avoid an upset at 141, I think that would leave the Illini out of reach going into the final match of the evening. Even if Luke Luffman were able to secure a fall, which I do think he's more than capable of here.
ILLINOIS: 17
MISSOURI: 20
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Missouri avenging their National duals loss & upsetting the #11 Fighting Illini? Yes, this isn't an unrealistic pipedream. It'll take wrestling very well, but being on home mats in front of a home crowd will make a difference. 141 & 165 are the two most important matches of the night & while it may not look like it on paper, don't be surprised if 149 doesn't play a big factor as well.
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