2018 US Open Wrestling Championships

2018 U.S. Open Betting Guide

2018 U.S. Open Betting Guide

Willie breaks down his best picks for US Open betting odds.

Apr 24, 2018 by Willie Saylor
2018 U.S. Open Betting Guide

Las Vegas is synonymous with throwing a little money down. But while USA Wrestling has held the U.S. Open in Sin City for decades, this is the first time in a long time (ever?) that wrestling aficionados could place wagers on their favorite sport.

As part of an expanded world team selection process that includes the new Final X series, much is at stake this weekend. Champions at five weights will sit in Final X's best-of-three finals. At the other five weights, the champs from the U.S. Open will move to the finals of the Challenge Tournament finals. In all weights, the top seven place finishers at the U.S. Open will qualify for the Challenge Tournament bracket.

Watch the 2018 U.S. Open LIVE on FloWrestling

BetDSI has released money lines for champion picks at the U.S. Open, the first event in what the online sportsbook says will be consistent wrestling offerings.

(Note: We do not encourage illegal gambling. Check the laws in your jurisdiction.)

Below I'll break down my best bets and values per weight according to the current odds.

57kg 

Current Odds

Tony Ramos  -140
Darian Cruz  $900
Frank Perelli  $800
Daton Fix $130
The Field  $2,000

My pick to win, and the smart play, is Tony Ramos at a modest price. Fact: his draw isn't a walk in the park. Fact: he wrestles a lot of close matches. But as a two-time world team member, Ramos is by far the most credentialed on the senior level.

While everyone loves Daton Fix (myself included), he'll have tough outs in Daniel Deshazer and Frank Perrelli (who beat Darian Cruz right after Cruz won NCAAs last year). With his multiple world medals, Daton is part of the future of USAW. But how soon will he get there? The price just isn't high enough for me to take him in his first major senior competition. 

The Play: Tony Ramos (-$140)


61kg

Current Odds

Seth Gross  $350
Cody Brewer  $350
Jon Morrison  $300
Tyler Graff  $250
Joe Colon  $200
The Field  $600

Along with 125kg, this is the best weight in Vegas; any number of guys have a chance to win and most of them let the fur fly.

Tyler Graff is the most consistent. Jon Morrison is the recent hot hand with wins over Seth Gross and Graff to win Farrell. Joe Colon is the odds-on favorite of posting back-to-back 14-3 wins over Ramos and Nahshon Garrett to win Schultz.

Overall, it's a shake 'em up situation. No one knows how this is going to play out. And there are too many legit contenders without individual money lines. You're telling me I get last year's 57kg runner-up in Garrett and Brandon Wright, who was both runner-up at the Open and at World Team Trials at this very weight, along with Alan Waters, Cory Clark, and Nico Megaludis as part of The Field. Sign me up.

The Play: The Field (+$600)


65kg

Current Odds

Logan Stieber  -850
Anthony Ashnault  $1,000
Jaydin Eierman  $700
Joey McKenna  $450
Evan Henderson  $600
The Field  $1,500

Logan Stieber's ledger both domestically and internationally makes him a daunting favorite to pick against. I feel he's accurately priced. Although he's shown some vulnerability (against Kendric Maple at the Trials and at this year's Yarygin), I still think he's fine and will be better the farther he's removed from making 61kg. Don't let the price scare you off. The guy is fresh off a win over Haji Aliev, the reigning world champion at 61kg.

That being said, I think Joey McKenna is the value here. A multiple-time junior world team member, he's the savviest freestyler in the field this side of Stieber. McKenna is great in both top and bottom par terre and great situationally and positionally. He'll have to get through Evan Henderson, who won Farrell, but I expect McKenna to get the job done. And at his price, I like him with at least an outside shot in a one-match final. 

The Play: Joey McKenna (+$450)


70kg

Current Odds

Matt Kolodzik  $550
Frank Molinaro  -700
Jason Chamberlain  $425
Alec Pantaleo  $600
The Field  $900

Frank Molinaro is a giant favorite. Even up a weight, the surprise Olympian from 2016 who reached a medal match in Rio should be the biggest and strongest of the group—and certainly the most experienced.

I think the odds are set perfectly here, making it tough to pull the trigger on an underdog. I like Matt Kolodzik's recent performance at NCAAs and also his freestyle skill set. But I think he'll be a bit undersized.

At +900, give The Field a look. You'll get Dylan Ness, who beat Alec Pantaleo at trials last year; Chase Pami, who was third at Trials; Hayden Hidlay; Hunter Stieber; and junior world silver medalist from last summer Ryan Deakin.

At the end of the day though, I'm going with Gorilla Hulk, even at his price tag.

The Play: Frank Molinaro (-$700)


74kg

Current Odds

Isaiah Martinez  -200
Nazar Kulchytskyy  $160
Dan Vallimont  $700
The Field  $1,200

Entries are a thin with Jordan Burroughs sitting, Kyle Dake and Alex Dieringer up, and Mark Hall up and sitting out.

I don't mind taking IMAR; -200 is solid value for a path that simply goes through Dan Vallimont in the semis and Nazar Kulchytskyy in the final.

But my pick would be the plus money with Nazar. He's rested and freestyle-ready. We're talking about a guy that's pushed two-time world medalist James Green on multiple occasions. Nazar was the runner-up (albeit at 70kg) at both the 2017 U.S. Open and 2017 Trials to Green.

The Play: Nazar Kulchytskyy (+$160)


79kg

Current Odds

Alex Dieringer  $500
Kyle Dake  -800
Nate Jackson  $1,500
The Field  $1,000

How big's your bankroll? 

I think the value is there with Ringer at +$500. Ostensibly healthier at up at 79, he's wrestling better than he's ever had. And he's stayed in contact losing 3-0 at the Open and 2-1 at Trials, with Dake even down at 74kg last year.

If you have the money, play Dake. He won't be tested early, making it essentially a one-match tourney for him.

But if you want value, Ringer's where it's at.

The Play: Alex Dieringer (+$500)


86kg

Current Odds

Pat Downey  $900
David Taylor  -1,100
Richard Perry  $650
The Field  $1,500

Pretty simple here—you gotta have a bankroll to play David Taylor or stay away. As good as his illustrious career has been, he's fully grown into 86kg and getting better. 

In their last meetings, Taylor teched Richard Perry (at the Open) and Pat Downey (at Trials) 10-0.

Taylor will win though he's too rich for my bank account. But if you got it like that...

The Play: David Taylor (-$1100) 


92kg

Current Odds

J'den Cox  -575
Riley Lefever  $1,000
Hayden Zillmer  $500
Deron Winn  $850
The Field  $1,500

Like 86, 92kg features a big favorite. Unlike 86, 92kg features guys that can push the top seed.

J'den Cox is the boss, taking bronze at both 2016 Rio and 2017 Paris. 

But Hayden Zillmer made the national team last year up at 97 losing only to Kyven Gadson. 

Deron Winn has had fantastic U.S. Open performances in the past with wins over Pat Downey, Cayle Byers, Tanner Hall, Cam Simaz, Robert Hamlin, Zahid Valencia, Micah Burak, Chris Pendleton, and yes, even J'den (albeit years ago).

Winn, at a perfect weight for him, has excellent value as a long shot.

That being said—can you see a world in which J'den doesn't win this?

The Play:  J'den Cox (-$575)


97kg

Current Odds

Kyven Gadson  -650
Ty Walz  $520
Nathan Burak  $650
Blaize Cabell  $1,500
The Field  $2,500

In America, Kyven Gadson only loses to (and one time beat) Kyle Snyder. Gadson is the winner of last year's U.S. Open and the Trials Challenge tournament.

In their last two matches, Gadson beat Nathan Burak 11-1 and 4-0.

Ty Walz is coming off a title at Farrell, which I assume gave him the #2 seed over Burak, who beat him at the Open in consi semis last year.

I think Walz and Burak could pose a threat, but this is very similar to 92kg. Unless you're feeling frisky (don't ever feel frisky), take Kyven.

The Play: Kyven Gadson (-$650)


125kg

Current Odds

Dom Bradley  -170
Gable Steveson  $800
Zach Rey  $900
Jake Varner  $500
Adam Coon  $380
The Field  $1,000

It's not often that we're all jazzed up about heavyweight at the Open, but we sure are this year.

Like Daton Fix at 57kg, America looks forward to seeing the senior debut of Gable Steveson, who just might be the best high school prospect of all time after winning two Cadet world titles and then a Junior world title (while still Cadet-eligible).

An interesting dynamic here is how similar Gable is in style to Dom Bradley. Both have amazing footwork which helps them in both their attacks, counters, and controlling center.

The most obvious question is how will the 17-year-old Steveson stand in there with the size and strength of grown men. A lot of people must believe he can, as the line has already dropped from +$1,000 to $800.

An already great field got even better with the inclusion of 2012 Olympic champion Jake Varner.

Bradley, the favorite and top seed, has been fantastic, winning Schultz this year. The only American he's lost to in the last calendar year has been world bronze medalist Nick Gwiazdowski.

He's my pick to win with a road of the Steveson-Adam Coon and then Varner or Zach Rey.

My top dog (CP), however, is in love with Coon though. So let's call it both.

The Play: Willie - Dom Bradley (-$170)

The Play: CP - Adam Coon (+$380)