The Southern Scuffle is down to the finals and we got some really good ones that you are not going to want to miss! Be sure to tune in at 7pm EST on Flo.
125 Pounds-
#1 Killian Cardinale vs #2 Patrick McKee
Cardinale somewhat dominated his semifinal bout against Gutierrez of Chattanooga as expected while McKee barely made it out against Iowa’s Drake Ayala. Ayala was very impressive but unable to get it done in the end and lost 6-5. McKee is seemingly looking like the favorite here and that is what we will stick with.
Projection: Patrick McKee
133 Pounds-
#1 Rayvon Foley vs Aaron Nagao
Foley has looked fantastic this tournament and knocked off Iowa’s Cullen Schriever in the semifinals 10-5 looking great. Nagao was able to get to the finals with a 5-2 win over Russell of Appalachian State in the semis. Foley has just looked to dominant this tournament to pick against him.
Projection: Rayvon Foley
141 Pounds-
#4 Allan Hart vs #3 Real Woods
Both of the top seeds go down with Clay Carlson and Andrew Alirez and they will be meeting for third place which will be a good match to check out. As for this honestly it is a toss up both Hart and Woods have looked amazing in their semifinals upsets but Woods is going to have to be the favorite.
Projection: Real Woods
149 Pounds-
#1 Josh Finesilver vs #2 Josh Edmond
Nothing crazy in this bracket compared to any of the other ones. This is the final that we expected and both of these guys got here pretty much untouched. Edmond is going to be the favorite to win a close one here.
Projection: Josh Edmond
157 Pounds-
#4 Chase Saldate vs #2 Jared Franek
This is kind of just Chase Saldate’s match to lose here. Franek is very good and looked solid in his win over Jacques of Mizzou in the semifinals. Saldate won with a late takedown over Brock Mauller in the semifinals where he looked very good.
Projection: Chase Saldate
165 Pounds-
#1 Keegan O’Toole vs #3 Peyton Hall
This was the projected final after the news came out about Shane Griffith. Do not see any real way that O’Toole is not the winner here but Hall looked fantastic and could very well keep it close if he can wrestl good.
Projection: Keegan O’Toole
174 Pounds-
#4 Peyton Mocco vs #2 Cade DeVos
Both of these guys looked very good. Peyton Mocco got a huge pin in the semis against Finesilver of Duke and that sent him to the finals. DeVos looked solid throughout in his win over Swafford of Iowa and this should be a good match.
Projection: Peyton Mocco
184 Pounds-
#1 Jonathan Loew vs #6 Kyle Cochran
Maryland may have something special for them in Kyle Cochran. He just kocked off All American Hunter Bolen to make the finals where he will take on Loew. Loew also just had an “upset” win over Bolen at the collegiate duals.
Projection: Kyle Cochran
197 Pounds-
#1 Rocky Elam vs #2 Michael Beard
Nothing out of the expected here with both of the All Americans meeting in the finals of the Scuffle. Should be an interesting match and it will come down to who can execute on their gameplan better.
Projection: Michael Beard
285 Pounds-
#1 Wyatt Hendrickson vs #2 Lewis Fernandes
First looking at this bracket it seemed as if it would be a brawl for the top 2 spots. Now it is pretty obvious with both of these guys sealing their ticket to the finals with a major. It will come down to whether Hendrickson can finish his shots and get out of Fernandes’ leg ride.
Projection: Wyatt Hendrickson
