The Cliff Keen Las Vegas Team Race
The Cliff Keen Las Vegas Team Race
Utilizing the preseeds to take a look at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational team race.
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Who will win the 2019 Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational? If you were using past results as a guide (which you can find here for 2018, 2017, and 2016), you'd pick Ohio State, as they won the last three Vegas Invites. But that streak may come to an end, as the Buckeyes will be facing their toughest competition since 2014, when they finished fifth behind Missouri, Cornell, Minnesota, and Oklahoma.
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For one thing, Ohio State will be without two starters. Quinn Kinner and Elijah Cleary will not be competing in Las Vegas.
? Buckeyes to compete in the 2019 Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational (Dec. 6-7). #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/PPsYiQArdn
— Ohio State Wrestling (@wrestlingbucks) December 3, 2019
But even if they were, the Buckeyes would not be the favorites based on the preseeds, which predict that the Nebraska Cornhuskers will take home the championship trophy.
| PLACE | SCHOOL | POINTS |
| 1 | Nebraska | 95 |
| 2 | Arizona State | 91 |
| 3 | NC State | 87.5 |
| 4 | Ohio State | 80.5 |
| 5 | Iowa State | 68.5 |
| 6 | Purdue | 68 |
| 6 | Northern Iowa | 68 |
| 8 | Oklahoma | 45 |
| 9 | Virginia | 42 |
| 10 | Minnesota | 37.5 |
| 10 | Michigan | 37.5 |
| 12 | Utah Valley | 36.5 |
| 13 | Cornell | 34.5 |
| 14 | Wyoming | 34 |
| 15 | Northwestern | 23.5 |
| 16 | Virginia Tech | 19 |
| 16 | North Dakota State | 19 |
| 18 | South Dakota State | 17.5 |
| 19 | Clarion | 12.5 |
| 19 | Binghamton | 12.5 |
| 21 | Harvard | 11 |
| 22 | Cal Poly | 10 |
| 23 | Northern Colorado | 8 |
| 24 | CSU Bakersfield | 7.5 |
| 25 | Kent State | 6.5 |
| 26 | Hofstra | 5.5 |
| 26 | Edinboro | 5.5 |
| 28 | Fresno State | 4 |
Another notable wrestler who was originally registered for the event but will, unfortunately, miss the competition is Virginia Tech's three-time All-American David McFadden.
For a closer look at the top contending teams, we can focus on the seven highest hypothetical pressed-based point scorers and break things down by weight class. You can find that breakdown in the table below.
Nebraska may be the slight favorite but the Sun Devils are nipping at their heels. The Wolfpack and the aforementioned Buckeyes may have something to say about who wins the title by Saturday night. Additionally, Iowa State, Purdue, and UNI all have the firepower to make a run at the prize. It will only take a few things breaking one way or another for them to stay in the hunt.
You can stay riveted to the team race by logging on to FloArena. Enjoy wrestling friends!