ST. LOUIS - A number of the nation's top wrestling journalists are weighing in with their predictions on this year's NCAA Championships, set for Thursday through Saturday in St. Louis. They are picking the results of the finals in each weight class, in addition to which teams they think will finish in the top five. USA Wrestling's Craig Sesker is the defending champion, so that should give everyone hope with this year's picks. The winner will be announced following the tournament. The picks of the journalists are as follows: Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling 125: Escobedo (Indiana) over Donahoe (Nebraska) 133: Scott (Oklahoma State) over Gomez (Michigan State) 141: Mendes (Cal Poly) over Russell (Michigan) 149: Metcalf (Iowa) over Schlatter (Minnesota) 157: Poeta (Illinois) over Gillespie (Edinboro) 165: Tannenbaum (Michigan) over Perry (Iowa) 174: Gavin (Pitt) over Browne (Nebraska) 184: Varner (Iowa State) over Pucillo (Ohio State) 197: Glenn (American) over Tamillow (Northwestern) Hwt.: Bergman (Ohio State) over Fox (Northwestern) Top 5 teams: Iowa, Minnesota, Michigan, Nebraska, Iowa State Gary Blockus, Allentown (Pa.) Morning Call 125: Ness (Minnesota) over Gardner (Stanford) 133: Scott (Oklahoma State) over Gomez (Michigan State) 141: Mendes (Cal Poly) over Griffin (Hofstra) 149: O'Connor (Harvard) over Metcalf (Iowa) 157: Gillespie (Edinboro) over Vallimont (Penn State) 165: Perry (Iowa) over Tannenbaum (Michigan) 174: Gavin (Pitt) over Browne (Nebraska) 184: Varner (Iowa State) over Pucillo (Ohio State) 197: Glenn (American) over Davis (Penn State) Hwt.: Fox (Northwestern) over Prendergast (Navy) Top 5 teams: Minnesota, Iowa, Iowa State, Michigan, Nebraska Jason Bryant, InterMat 125: Ness (Minnesota) over Escobedo (Indiana) 133: Scott (Oklahoma State) over Slaton (Iowa) 141: Morgan (Oklahoma State) over Griffin (Hofstra) 149: Metcalf (Iowa) over Schlatter (Minnesota) 157: Poeta (Illinois) over Gillespie (Edinboro) 165: Perry (Iowa) over Tannenbaum (Michigan) 174: Gavin (Pitt) over Luke (Michigan) 184: Varner (Iowa State) over Pucillo (Ohio State) 197: Glenn (American) over Davis (Penn State) Hwt.: Fox (Northwestern) over Bergman (Ohio State) Top 5 teams: Iowa, Minnesota, Iowa State, Oklahoma State, Ohio State Mike Finn, WIN Magazine 125: Donahoe (Nebraska) over Falck (Iowa) 133: Scott (Oklahoma State) over Slaton (Iowa) 141: Griffin (Hofstra) over Morgan (Oklahoma State) 149: Metcalf (Iowa) over Schlatter (Minnesota) 157: Poeta (Illinois) over Gillespie (Edinboro) 165: Perry (Iowa) over Tannenbaum (Michigan) 174: Luke (Michigan) over Borschel (Iowa) 184: Varner (Iowa State) over Pucillo (Ohio State) 197: Askren (Missouri) over Davis (Penn State) Hwt.: Bergman (Ohio State) over Fox (Northwestern) Top 5 teams: Iowa, Michigan, Iowa State, Minnesota, Central Michigan Jon Gremmels, Quad-City Times 125: Ness (Minnesota) over Escobedo (Indiana) 133: Scott (Oklahoma State) over Slaton (Iowa) 141: Russell (Michigan) over Mendes (Cal Poly) 149: Metcalf (Iowa) over Schlatter (Minnesota) 157: Poeta (Illinois) over Gillespie (Edinboro) 165: Tannenbaum (Michigan) over Marable (Missouri) 174: Gavin (Pitt) over Luke (Michigan) 184: Varner (Iowa State) over Todd (Michigan) 197: Glenn (American) over Davis (Penn State) Hwt.: Fox (Northwestern) over Bergman (Ohio State) Top 5 teams: Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Iowa State, Oklahoma State Andy Hamilton, Iowa City Press-Citizen/ESPN.com 125: Escobedo (Indiana) over Donahoe (Nebraska) 133: Slaton (Iowa) over Ruggirello (Hofstra) 141: Morgan (Oklahoma State) over Griffin (Hofstra) 149: Metcalf (Iowa) over Schlatter (Minnesota) 157: Poeta (Illinois) over Gillespie (Edinboro) 165: Perry (Iowa) over Tannenbaum (Michigan) 174: Gavin (Pitt) over Luke (Michigan) 184: Pucillo (Ohio State) over Varner (Iowa State) 197: Glenn (American) over Davis (Penn State) Hwt.: Fox (Northwestern) over Bergman (Ohio State) Top 5 teams: Iowa, Minnesota, Iowa State, Michigan, Oklahoma State Andrew Hipps, RevWrestling 125: Ness (Minnesota) over Escobedo (Indiana) 133: Scott (Oklahoma State) over Gomez (Michigan State) 141: Morgan (Oklahoma State) over Russell (Michigan) 149: Schlatter (Minnesota) over Metcalf (Iowa) 157: Poeta (Illinois) over Gillespie (Edinboro) 165: Tannenbaum (Michigan) over Perry (Iowa) 174: Luke (Michigan) over Gavin (Pitt) 184: Varner (Iowa State) over Pucillo (Ohio State) 197: Davis (Penn State) over Askren (Missouri) Hwt.: Fox (Northwestern) over Bergman (Ohio State) Top 5 teams: Minnesota, Michigan, Iowa, Iowa State, Oklahoma State Matt Levins, Burlington (Iowa) Hawk Eye 125: Ness (Minnesota) over Escobedo (Indiana) 133: Gomez (Michigan State) over Scott (Oklahoma State) 141: Morgan (Oklahoma State) over Russell (Michigan) 149: Metcalf (Iowa) over Schlatter (Minnesota) 157: Poeta (Illinois) over Schlatter (Minnesota) 165: Tannenbaum (Michigan) over Perry (Iowa) 174: Gavin (Pitt) over Luke (Michigan) 184: Varner (Iowa State) over Todd (Michigan) 197: Davis (Penn State) over Glenn (American) Hwt.: Fox (Northwestern) over Bergman (Ohio State) Top 5 teams: Iowa, Michigan, Iowa State, Oklahoma State, Minnesota Roger Moore, Stillwater (Okla.) NewsPress 125: Gardner (Stanford) over Ness (Minnesota) 133: Scott (Oklahoma State) over Fanthorpe (Iowa State) 141: Mendes (Cal Poly) over Griffin (Hofstra) 149: Metcalf (Iowa) over Schlatter (Minnesota) 157: Gillespie (Edinboro) over Vallimont (Penn State) 165: Perry (Iowa) over Lewnes (Cornell) 174: Gavin (Pitt) over Stolpinski (Navy) 184: Pucillo (Ohio State) over Sinnott (Central Michigan) 197: Davis (Penn State) over Glenn (American) Hwt.: Fox (Northwestern) over Prendergast (Navy) Top 5 teams: Iowa State, Iowa, Oklahoma State, Minnesota, Ohio State J.R. Ogden, Cedar Rapids (Iowa) Gazette 125: Ness (Minnesota) over Falck (Iowa) 133: Gomez (Michigan State) over Scott (Oklahoma State) 141: Russell (Michigan) over Mendes (Cal Poly) 149: Metcalf (Iowa) over O'Connor (Harvard) 157: Becker (Indiana) over Vallimont (Penn State) 165: Perry (Iowa) over Tannenbaum (Michigan) 174: Luke (Michigan) over Borschel (Iowa) 184: Varner (Iowa State) over Pucillo (Ohio State) 197: Davis (Penn State) over Glenn (American) Hwt.: Fox (Northwestern) over Bergman (Ohio State) Top 5 teams: Iowa, Iowa State, Central Michigan, Minnesota, Michigan Craig Sesker, USA Wrestling 125: Ness (Minnesota) over Escobedo (Indiana) 133: Scott (Oklahoma State) over Gomez (Michigan State) 141: Morgan (Oklahoma State) over Russell (Michigan) 149: Metcalf (Iowa) over Schlatter (Minnesota) 157: Gillespie (Edinboro) over Poeta (Illinois) 165: Perry (Iowa) over Tannenbaum (Michigan) 174: Gavin (Pitt) over Browne (Nebraska) 184: Varner (Iowa State) over Todd (Michigan) 197: Askren (Missouri) over Tamillow (Northwestern) Hwt.: Fox (Northwestern) over Bergman (Ohio State) Top 5 teams: Iowa, Michigan, Iowa State, Minnesota, Oklahoma State Tim Tushla, WIN Magazine 125: Ness (Minnesota) over Escobedo (Indiana) 133: Ruggirello (Hofstra) over Fanthorpe (Iowa State) 141: Morgan (Oklahoma State) over Russell (Michigan) 149: Metcalf (Iowa) over Schlatter (Minnesota) 157: Poeta (Illinois) over Gillespie (Edinboro) 165: Dieffenbach (Oklahoma State) over Tannenbaum (Michigan) 174: Browne (Nebraska) over Gavin (Pitt) 184: Varner (Iowa State) over Todd (Michigan) 197: Davis (Penn State) over Askren (Missouri) Hwt.: Prendergast (Navy) over Fox (Northwestern) Top 5 teams: Iowa, Iowa State, Michigan, Oklahoma State, Minnesota Bryan Van Kley, WIN Magazine 125: Ness (Minnesota) over Escobedo (Indiana) 133: Scott (Oklahoma State) over Gomez (Michigan State) 141: Russell (Michigan) over Morgan (Oklahoma State) 149: Metcalf (Iowa) over Schlatter (Minnesota) 157: Poeta (Illinois) over Gillespie (Edinboro) 165: Tannenbaum (Michigan) over Perry (Iowa) 174: Gavin (Pitt) over Browne (Nebraska) 184: Varner (Iowa State) over Todd (Michigan) 197: Asken (Missouri) over Davis (Penn State) Hwt.: Fox (Northwestern) over Bergman (Ohio State) Top 5 teams: Iowa, Michigan, Iowa State, Nebraska, Minnesota Karl Vogel, Lincoln (Neb.) Journal Star 125: Escobedo (Indiana) over Donahoe (Nebraska) 133: Scott (Oklahoma State) over Gomez (Michigan State) 141: Mendes (Cal Poly) over Griffin (Hofstra) 149: Schlatter (Minnesota) over Burroughs (Nebraska) 157: Poeta (Illinois) over Gillespie (Edinboro) 165: Perry (Iowa) over Tannenbaum (Michigan) 174: Gavin (Pitt) over Browne (Nebraska) 184: Varner (Iowa State) over Pucillo (Ohio State) 197: Glenn (American) over Davis (Penn State) Hwt.: Fox (Northwestern) over Prendergast (Navy) Top 5 teams: Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota, Iowa State, Ohio State