WHO: #12 Michigan Wolverines (5-3, 3-2 Big Ten)
WHEN: 7:30 PM CT (Friday, February 2, 2024)
WHERE: Crisler Center (Ann Arbor, MI)
TV: BTN
RADIO: AM 800 KXIC (Steven Grace, Mark Ironside) | YouTube
MOBILE: foxsports.com/mobile
ONLINE: foxsports.com/live
FOLLOW: @IowaAwesome | @Hawks_Wrestling | @IowaonBTN
#2 Iowa wrestling is set for its third consecutive road dual meet, but the competition in this dual should be much fiercer than what's been available in recent weeks. After facing overmatched opponents in their last three duals, Iowa finally has a dual against an opponent with plenty of firepower of its own.
#12 Michigan is 5-3 on the season and 3-2 in Big Ten action. The Wolverines were stunned by South Dakota State in non-conference competition in December, albeit with some key wrestlers not in action. Michigan opened up Big Ten play with two wins before losing 27-9 to #1 Penn State and suffering a narrow 20-19 defeat to #7 Ohio State last week.
All things considered, the Wolverines are probably a bit better than its 5-3 record. As noted, this Michigan team absolutely has the firepower to make this dual meet a significant challenge for Iowa. Here's a weight-by-weight breakdown:
Michigan should field a lineup with ranked wrestlers at nine of 10 weights (same as Iowa) and with wrestlers ranked in the Top 10 in up to six weights (one better than Iowa, who has five wrestlers ranked in the Top 10 at their respective weights). Two of Michigan's wrestlers ranked outside the Top 10 -- #12 Michael DeAugustino at 125 and #12 Will Lewan at 157 -- are very dangerous opponents as well and very capable of upsetting their higher-ranked opponents.
On paper, Iowa is probably a strong favorite at just two weights -- 141 and 197. The Hawkeyes are probably slight favorites at three other weights -- 125, 157, and 165. Michigan looks like pretty strong favorites at three weights -- 133, 197, and 285 -- and decent favorites at 149 and 174 as well.
This Michigan team is also loaded with transfers -- Iowa fans should be familiar with several of these wrestlers in different singlets. Michael DeAugustino and Lucas Davison came from Northwestern. Austin Gomez transferred from Wisconsin and Michigan also added Shane Griffith from Stanford.
PREDICTION
This dual could easily be a split with each team taking five matches; indeed, given that each team is likely favored in five of the ten weights, that would be the most likely outcome if everything goes to chalk. Given how tight this dual appears to be, any bonus points for either side could be critical and 1-2 upsets could swing the entire dual in one side's favor.
On an individual matchup level, there are several intriguing tests for Iowa wrestlers as well -- how does #11 Caleb Rathjen compare to #6 Austin Gomez at 149? #8 Patrick Kennedy got a big win at 174 last week -- can he add another big win over #3 Shane Griffith this week? How close to #6 Lucas Davison's level are #28 Bradley Hill or Ben Kueter?
As far as predictions go, Iowa's been wrestling very well the last few weeks, which makes it easier to side with them. The matchups are difficult and this should be a very tight dual, but I'll go with Iowa earning a narrow 16-15 win thanks to a major decision win at one of the weights (141 or 197 look like the best bets).
Iowa 16, Michigan 15
