CKLV Betting Guide
CKLV Betting Guide
Betting odds for division I wrestling including Cliff Keen Invitational.
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The Week 5 odds are up on BetDSI (click on "FUTURES") and we have the first big tournament of the year. In fact, by quality and quantity of ranked wrestlers, it's probably the deepest field of the year outside of NCAA's.
These are the numbers of ranked individuals. There are 115 wrestlers scheduled to compete, which represents about 60% of all ranked wrestlers in the country.
Top 5 | Top 10 | Top 20 | |
125 | 2 | 6 | 12 |
133 | 3 | 5 | 14 |
141 | 3 | 6 | 12 |
149 | 3 | 7 | 12 |
157 | 3 | 7 | 12 |
165 | 1 | 4 | 12 |
174 | 3 | 5 | 12 |
184 | 4 | 7 | 13 |
197 | 2 | 5 | 11 |
285 | 1 | 3 | 9 |
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Odds At 125
125 | #2 | Sebastian Rivera | Northwestern | -180 |
125 | #3 | Ronnie Bresser | Oregon St. | 140 |
125 | #8 | Sean Russell | Minnesota | 650 |
125 | #9 | Zeke Moisey | Nebraska | 750 |
125 | The Field | 1800 |
Notes: Sebastian has the last wins over Russell (Midlands) and Bresser (NCAA's). Russell beat Moisey in their dual last year in OT.
Who You Get With the Field: #6-Hayes (UVA); #10-Piotrowski (ILL); #13-Schroeder (PUR); #14-Montoya (NCO); #15-Townsell (STAN); #19-Schwarm (UNI); #20-Verner (WYO)
Willie's Play: I like both Rivera and Bresser. The rest of the field has been wildly inconsistent. Give me Bresser for the + money value.
Odds At 133
133 | #3 | Stevan Micic | Michigan | -110 |
133 | #2 | Nick Suriano | Rutgers | 110 |
133 | #5 | Luke Pletcher | Ohio St. | 350 |
133 | #7 | Ethan Lizak | Minnesota | 800 |
133 | The Field | 2000 |
Notes: Micic (133) and Suriano (125) were both runners-up last year at NCAA's. Lizak (at 125) and Pletcher (133) were both 4th at the big dance.
Who You Get With the Field: #10-Erneste (MIZZ); #11-Duncan (ILL); #12-Myers (VT); #13-Bridges (WYO); #14-Terao (AU); #15-Sykora (NDSU); #16-Valdiviez (NW); #17-Phillippi (PITT); #18-Nickell (CSUB); #20-Sjomeling (NEB)
Willie's Play: What no one knows is what a Micic-Suriano match looks like. I'm going with Micic because of the path. While I think Suriano could beat Micic, he'll have to go through Pletcher to do so. Suriano may be better than both. But it's two tough outs instead of one.
Odds At 141
141 | #2 | Joey McKenna | Ohio St. | -200 |
141 | #3 | Jaydin Eierman | Missouri | 140 |
141 | #7 | Mikey Carr | Illinois | 600 |
141 | #15 | Dom Demas | Oklahoma | 1200 |
141 | The Field | 1800 |
Notes: Eierman beat McKenna in 2017 NCAA's but McKenna got revenge in the 3rd place bout this year. He also beat him at the finals of the US Open a month later.
Who You Get With the Field: #5-McKee (MINN); #8-Findlay (UVU); #10-Red (NEB); #11-Alber (UNI); #16-Gil (NAVY); #17-Limmex (PUR); #19-Storr (MICH); #20-Thomas (NW)
Willie's Play: I don't like laying 2:1 to win with McKenna, but that's the only play you can take with confidence. Yes Eierman is as scary a challenger as anyone. Yes Eierman has already beaten McKenna. But if you watch their last three head-to-heads, tell me what changes. And even though there are twelve ranked wrestlers in the weight, I don't see any other realistic threats to Joey.
Odds At 149
149 | #2 | Micah Jordan | Ohio St. | -170 |
149 | #3 | Anthony Ashnault | Rutgers | 135 |
149 | #4 | Grant Leeth | Missouri | 600 |
149 | #10 | Austin O'Connor | N. Carolina | 900 |
149 | The Field | 1500 |
Notes: With seven of the Top 10 and three of the Top 5, this is a bona fide mini-NCAA. Like several of the weights, there is intrigue with guys moving from last year. Jordan down, Ashnault up. Additionally, now Austin O'Connor begins his official campaign.
Who You Get With the Field: #6-Thomsen (UNI); #8-Zacherl (CLAR); #9-Finesilver (DUKE); #13-Thorn (MINN); #15-Heil (CAMP); #17-Blees (VT); #18-Rohlfing (CSUB); #20-Prince (Navy)
Willie's Play: I think when most people see the values they'll like Ashnault at + money and his first real chance to prove where he belongs at the weight. And it's a fine play. But if you're feeling bold and want to go for a payday, consider Leeth. Of his five losses last year, only two were by more than a takedown - by three to Boo Lewallen and by four to Sorenson at NCAA's. For the value, I'll take him in a one-takedown bout against Ashnault or Mickey.
Odds At 157
157 | #3 | Alec Pantaleo | Michigan | -140 |
157 | #4 | Tyler Berger | Nebraska | 140 |
157 | #6 | Ryan Deakin | Northwestern | 350 |
157 | #5 | Ke-Shawn Hayes | Ohio St. | 1000 |
157 | The Field | 1800 |
Notes: Panteleo and Berger lead the way. Berger finished higher (3rd) than Pantaleo (5th) at NCAA's but they didn't hit. Pantaleo won their last head-to-head (9-3) in their dual. Ke-Shawn and Deakin both move up from 149.
Who You Get With the Field: #7-Monday (UNC); #8-Bleise (MINN); #10-Rahmani (PITT); #11-Fox (STAN); #13-Thomas (OKLA); #17-Willits (ORST); #18-Parriott (PUR); #20-Van Brill (RUT)
Willie's Play: I love this weight for wagering. In my opinion, and unlike most other weights, there are several very interesting and feasible options. Of course Pantaleo, at a modest -140 isn't bad. I like either Berger or Deakin. They should have no problem reaching each other in the semi's. Pantaleo will get the quarterfinal winner between Hayes and (I'm pretty sure) Monday, who should be the 5-seed. A lot of good options.
Odds At 165
165 | #5 | Logan Massa | Michigan | -150 |
165 | #7 | Bryce Steiert | N. Iowa | 200 |
165 | #10 | Isaiah White | Nebraska | 250 |
165 | #16 | Mekhi Lewis | Virginia Tech | 1000 |
165 | The Field | 1800 |
Notes: Here's the thing about betting...someone has to win the weight. A year ago, Massa would be a much heavier favorite in this field that doesn't feature a single 2017 All American. Massa went 1-2 at NCAA's, White lost in the blood round. Massa beat White in the dual 3-1 in SV.
Steiert redshirted and reached Southern Scuffle finals (where he lost to Vincenzo Joseph). Lewis was 4th in that bracket and had a tremendous freestyle season, but he just lost to Cooper Flynn.
Who You Get With the Field: #9-Ashworth (WYO); #11-Fogarty (NDSU); #13-Romero (UVU); #14-Gunther (ILL); #15-Flynn (MIZZ); #17-Jerrell (DREX); #18-Wentzel (PITT); #19-Viruet (Brown)
Willie's Play: The weight is filled with inconsistency. Wager at your own risk. Gun to my head I go with Steiert.
Odds At 174
174 | #3 | Myles Amine | Michigan | -165 |
174 | #4 | Daniel Lewis | Missouri | 185 |
174 | #5 | David McFadden | Virginia Tech | 300 |
174 | #9 | Taylor Lujan | N. Iowa | 900 |
174 | The Field | 2500 |
Notes: In my opinion, this is the most intriguing top group in the tournament - which is saying something considering all the potential #2's vs. #3's at the other weights. Amine beat Lewis in SV in the 3rd place bout at NCAA's. Lujan's losses were to Mark Hall and Jacobe Smith. McFadden, of course, is the wild card here as he comes up in weight where he was 5th at 165.
Who You Get With the Field: #10-Christensen (WISC); #11-Labriola (NEB); #12-Campbell (tOSU); #13-Sebastian (NW); #15-Lydy (PUR); #16-Womack (COR); #18-Finesilver (DUKE); #20-Bastian (UVU)
Willie's Play: The intrigue is in the parity. At NCAA's Amine-Lewis was 4-2 OT. Not a great deal of separation. If you're confident Amine beats Lujan than that's the safe play. At least he has a shot. If you wanna go for the money, McFadden could very well jump a level as he moves up to 174, and he'll pay you 3:1.
Odds At 184
184 | #1 | Myles Martin | Ohio St. | -400 |
184 | #2 | Emery Parker | Illinois | 300 |
184 | #3 | Taylor Venz | Nebraska | 550 |
184 | #4 | Zack Zavatsky | Virignia Tech | 700 |
184 | The Field | 2500 |
Notes: The Top 4. Seven of the Top 10. Thirteen of the Top 20. This will undoubtedly be the closest thing to the NCAA's until the NCAA's itself. Parker once famously beat Myles - at NCAA's in 2017. They did not meet at all last season, when Parker was 2-1 vs. Venz, including a win in the 3rd place bout at NCAA's. Myles beat ZZ Top 8-4 in NCAA semi's.
Part of the Field bet, Chip Ness had wins over Venz, Parker, and Dean.
Who You Get With the Field: #8-Dean (COR); #9-Ness (UNC); #10-Foster (UNI); #11-Gravina (RUT); #13-Bonnacorsi (PITT); #16-DePrez (BING); #17-Marriott (MIZZ); #18-Webster (MINN); #19-LaFragola (Brown)
Willie's Play: Myles won a title as a true Freshman. Last year he lost to just one person: Bo Nickal. And yet, it seems as if he's still jumping levels. I'm not laying $400 to win $100 (or $40/$10). Which means I'm not playing anything at this weight.
Odds At 197
197 | #3 | Kollin Moore | Ohio St. | -225 |
197 | #4 | Jacob Holschlag | N. Iowa | 175 |
197 | #8 | Nathan Traxler | Stanford | 500 |
197 | #10 | Christian Brunner | Purdue | 900 |
197 | The Field | 2500 |
Notes: Kollin Moore entered last season as the man to beat at 197. And he looked that way deep into the year, winning his first 18 matches - undefeated into February when he lost to then-back-up Cassar. He finished 9-4 the rest of the way finishing 4th at NCAA's.
Quietly, Holschlag lost in the first round of NCAA's but battled all the way back to place 5th.
Who You Get With the Field: #9-Louiseau (DREX); #12-Greigo (ORST); #15-Woodley (OKLA); #16-Striggow (MICH); #17-Sleigh (VT); #18-Schultz (NEB); #20-Chakonis (NW)
Willie's Play: This one is pretty easy. Moore is the lead dog. And he looked GREAT at U23's. So if you want to lay the money on the favorite, don't let me dissuade you. But he's reportedly struggled with weight at times and this will be his first weigh in (and it's a two-dayer) at 197 this season. For the value, I'm tempted to take Holschlag.
No odds are listed for 285 or for the team race.