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 Omaha.

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 Gary Abbott is the defending champion. Andy Hamilton of the Iowa City Press-Citizen topped the field in 2008 and USA Wrestling’s Craig Sesker prevailed in 2007.

The picks of the journalists are as follows:

Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling
125: Nickerson (Cornell) over Escobedo (Indiana)
133: Gomez (Michigan State) over Oliver (Oklahoma State)
141: Humphrey (Ohio State) over Parks (Oklahoma State)
149: Metcalf (Iowa) over Palmer (Ohio State)
157: O’Connor (Harvard) over Hall (Boise State)
165: Howe (Wisconsin) over Marable (Missouri)
174: Lewnes (Cornell) over Borschel (Iowa)
184: Smith (Boise State) over Dergo (Illinois)
197: Varner (Iowa State) over Brester (Nebraska)
Hwt.: Rey (Lehigh) over Zabriskie (Iowa State)
Top 5 teams: Iowa, Iowa State, Oklahoma State, Cornell, Ohio State.

Jason Bryant, USA Wrestling
125: Escobedo (Indiana) over Nickerson (Cornell)
133: Ness (Minnesota) over Gomez (Michigan State)
141: Humphrey (Ohio State) over Parks (Oklahoma State)
149: Metcalf (Iowa) over Ruschell (Wisconsin) 
157: O’Connor (Harvard) over Dong (Virginia Tech)
165: Howe (Wisconsin) over Vallimont (Penn State)
174: Lewnes (Cornell) over Borschel (Iowa)
184: Kilgore (Kent State) over Smith (Boise State)
197: Varner (Iowa State) over Taylor (Maryland)
Hwt.: Erekson (Iowa) over Montiero (Cal State Bakersfield)
Top 5 teams: Iowa, Penn State, Cornell, Iowa State, Wisconsin.

Matt Diano, LighthouseWrestling.com
125: Nickerson (Cornell) over Escobedo (Indiana)
133: Ness (Minnesota) over Dennis (Iowa)
141: Humphrey (Ohio State) over Marion (Iowa)
149: Metcalf (Iowa) over Ruschell (Iowa)
157: Schlatter (Minnesota) over O’Connor (Harvard)
165: Reader (Iowa State) over Marable (Missouri)
174: Borschel (Iowa) over Lewnes (Cornell)
184: Cannon (American) over Dergo (Illinois)
197: Varner (Iowa State) over Brester (Nebraska)
Hwt.: Erekson (Iowa) over Rosholt (Oklahoma State)
Top 5 teams: Iowa, Oklahoma State, Iowa State, Cornell, Minnesota.

Andy Hamilton, Iowa City Press-Citizen
125: Escobedo (Indiana) over Nickerson (Cornell)
133: Ness (Minnesota) over Dennis (Iowa)
141: Humphrey (Ohio State) over Nauman (Pittsburgh)
149: Metcalf (Iowa) over Palmer (Ohio State)
157: O’Connor (Harvard) over Pami (Cal Poly)
165: Reader (Iowa State) over King (Edinboro)
174: Borschel (Iowa) over Lewnes (Cornell)
184: Dergo (Illinois) over Keddy (Iowa)
197: Varner (Iowa State) over Brester (Nebraska)
Hwt.: Erekson (Iowa) over Rosholt (Oklahoma State)
Top 5 teams: Iowa, Iowa State, Minnesota, Oklahoma State, Cornell.

Andrew Hipps, InterMat
125: Nickerson (Cornell) over Escobedo (Indiana)
133: Ness (Minnesota) over Gomez (Michigan State)
141: Thorn (Minnesota) over Dake (Cornell)
149: Metcalf (Iowa) over Palmer (Ohio State)
157: Fittery (American) over Hall (Boise State)
165: King (Edinboro) over Reader (Iowa State)
174: Lewnes (Cornell) over Borschel (Iowa)
184: Cannon (American) over Askren (Missouri)
197: Varner (Iowa State) over Brester (Nebraska)
Hwt.: Rosholt (Oklahoma State) over Dudziak (Duke)
Top 5 teams: Iowa, Cornell, Minnesota, Iowa State, Oklahoma State.

Mike Finn, WIN Magazine
125: Nickerson (Cornell) over Robles (Arizona State)
133: Ness (Minnesota) over Dennis (Iowa)
141: Humphrey (Ohio State) over Nauman (Pitt)
149: Metcalf (Iowa) over Palmer (Ohio State)
157: Sanderson (Penn State) over Hall (Boise State)
165: Howe (Wisconsin) over Marable (Missouri)
174: Borschel (Iowa) over Lewnes (Cornell)
184: Cannon (American) over Dergo (Illinois)
197: Varner (Iowa State) over Brester (Nebraska)
Hwt.: Erekson (Iowa) over Rosholt (Oklahoma State)
Top 5 teams: Iowa, Cornell, Iowa State, Oklahoma State, Minnesota.

Eddie Goldman, No Holds Barred
125: Escobedo (Indiana) over Nickerson (Cornell)
133: Ness (Minnesota) over Gomez (Michigan State)
141: Parks (Oklahoma State) over Humphrey (Ohio State)
149: Palmer (Ohio State) over Metcalf (Iowa)
157: O’Connor (Harvard) over Schlatter (Minnesota)
165: Reader (Iowa State) over Marable (Missouri)
174: Lewnes (Cornell) over Borschel (Iowa)
184: Smith (Boise State) over Dergo (Illinois)
197: Varner (Iowa State) over Brester (Nebraska)
Hwt.: Zabriskie (Iowa State) over Rosholt (Oklahoma State)
Top 5 teams: Iowa, Iowa State, Cornell, Ohio State, Oklahoma State

Tony Greathouse, Michigan Grappler.com
125 - Nickerson (Cornell) over Escobedo (Indiana)
133 - Gomez (Michigan State) over Ness (Minnesota)
141 - Humphrey (Ohio State) over Marion (Iowa)
149 - Metcalf (Iowa) over Palmer (Ohio State)
157 - Hall (Boise State) over Sanderson (Penn State)
165 - Howe (Wisconsin) over King (Edinboro)
174 - Borschel (Iowa) over Lewnes (Cornell)
184 - Smith (Boise State) over Askren (Missouri)
197 - Varner (Iowa State) over Taylor (Maryland)
285 - Zabriskie (Iowa State) over Trice (Central Michigan)
Top 5 teams: Iowa, Ohio State, Cornell, Minnesota, Central Michigan

Jay Hammond, Wrestling Historian/Author
125: Escobedo (Indiana) over McDonough (Iowa)
133: Ness (Minnesota) over Gomez (Michigan State)
141: Humphrey (Ohio State) over Novachkov (Cal Poly)
149: Metcalf (Iowa) over Palmer (Ohio State)
157: O’Connor (Harvard) over Hall (Boise State)
165: Marable (Missouri) over Howe (Wisconsin)
174: Lewnes (Cornell) over Borschel (Iowa)
184: Kilgore (Kent State) over Cannon (American)
197: Varner (Iowa State) over Taylor (Maryland)
Hwt.: Dudziak (Duke) over Rosholt (Oklahoma State)
Top 5 teams: Iowa, Cornell, Iowa State, Oklahoma State, Ohio State.

John Johnson, Amateur Wrestling News
125: Escobedo (Indiana) over McDonough (Iowa)
133: Ness (Minnesota) over Gomez (Michigan State)
141: Humphrey (Ohio State) over Thorn (Minnesota)
149: Metcalf (Iowa) over Palmer (Ohio State)
157: O’Connor (Harvard) over Hall (Boise State)
165: Howe (Wisconsin) over King (Edinboro)
174: Borschel (Iowa) over Lewnes (Cornell)
184: Smith (Boise State) over Kilgore (Kent State)
197: Varner (Iowa State) over Brester (Nebraska)
Hwt.: Dudziak (Duke) over Rosholt (Oklahoma State)
Top 5 teams: Iowa, Minnesota, Oklahoma State, Iowa State, Cornell.

Matt Krumrie, wrestlingguidecamp.com/The Guillotine
125: Escobedo (Indiana) over Nickerson (Cornell)
133: Ness (Minnesota) over Gomez (Michigan State)
141: Parks (Oklahoma State) over Dake (Cornell)
149: Metcalf (Iowa) over Palmer (Ohio State)
157: Schlatter (Minnesota) over O’Connor (Harvard)
165: Marable (Missouri) over Howe (Wisconsin)
174: Lewnes (Cornell) over Borschel (Iowa)
184: Smith (Boise State) over Dergo (Illinois)
197: Varner (Iowa State) over Brester (Nebraska)
Hwt.: Rosholt (Oklahoma State) over Zabriskie (Iowa State)
Top 5 teams: Iowa, Minnesota, Oklahoma State, Cornell, Iowa State.

Bill Miller, LighthouseWrestling.com
125: Nickerson (Cornell) over Escobedo (Indiana)
133: Ness (Minnesota) over Dennis (Iowa)
141: Dake (Cornell) over Thorn (Minnesota)
149: Metcalf (Iowa) over Palmer (Ohio State)
157: O’Connor (Harvard) over Hall (Boise State)
165: King (Edinboro) over Howe (Wisconsin)
174: Lewnes (Cornell) over Borschel (Iowa)
184: Keddy (Iowa) over Askren (Missouri)
197: Varner (Iowa State) over Taylor (Maryland)
Hwt.: Dudziak (Duke) over Rey (Lehigh)
Top 5 teams: Cornell, Iowa, Iowa State, Minnesota, Ohio State.

Jamie Moffatt: Wrestling Author
125: Nickerson (Cornell) over Robles (Arizona State)
133: Ness (Minnesota) over Gomez (Michigan State) 
141: Humphrey (Ohio State) over Novachkov (Cal Poly)
149: Metcalf (Iowa) over Palmer (Ohio State)
157: O’Connor (Harvard) over Schlatter (Minnesota)
165: Howe (Wisconsin) over Morningstar (Iowa)
174: Lewnes (Cornell) over Borschel (Iowa)
184: Kilgore (Kent State) over Cannon (American)
197: Taylor (Maryland) over Varner (Iowa State)
Hwt.: Rosholt (Oklahoma State) over Dudziak (Duke)
Top 5 teams: Iowa, Cornell, Iowa State, Minnesota, Oklahoma State.

Roger Moore, Stillwater (Okla.) radio/NCAA.com
125: Escobedo (Indiana) over Nickerson (Cornell)
133: Gomez (Michigan State) over Ness (Minnesota)
141: Humphrey (Ohio State) over Nauman (Pittsburgh)
149: Metcalf (Iowa) over Palmer (Ohio State)
157: O’Connor (Harvard) over Hall (Boise State)
165: Howe (Wisconsin) over Marable (Missouri)
174: Borschel (Iowa) over Dwyer (Nebraska)
184: Cannon (American) over Askren (Missouri)
197: Varner (Iowa State) over Taylor (Maryland)
Hwt.: Dudziak (Duke) over Rosholt (Oklahoma State)
Top 5 teams: Iowa, Iowa State, Ohio State, Cornell, Oklahoma State.

Jim Nelson, Waterloo (Iowa) Courier
125: Escobedo (Indiana) over McDonough (Iowa)
133: Ness (Minnesota) over Dennis (Iowa)
141: Humphrey (Ohio State) over Thorn (Minnesota)
149: Metcalf (Iowa) over Palmer (Ohio State)
157: O’Connor (Harvard) over Schlatter (Minnesota)
165: King (Edinboro) over Howe (Wisconsin)
174: Borschel (Iowa) over Lewnes (Cornell)
184: Smith (Boise State) over Dergo (Illinois)
197: Varner (Iowa State) over Brester (Nebraska)
Hwt.: Erekson (Iowa) over Rosholt (Oklahoma State)
Top 5 teams: Iowa, Ohio State, Iowa State, Cornell, Oklahoma State.

Willie Saylor/Eric Betterman, TheOpenMat
125: Escobedo (Indiana) over Nickerson (Cornell)
133: Ness (Minnesota) over Dennis (Iowa)
141: Humphrey (Ohio State) over Parks (Oklahoma State)
149: Metcalf (Iowa) over Palmer (Ohio State)
157: O’Connor (Harvard) over Hall (Boise State)
165: Howe (Wisconsin) over King (Edinboro)
174: Lewnes (Cornell) over Borschel (Iowa)
184: Kilgore (Kent State) over Cannon (American)
197: Varner (Iowa State) over Brester (Nebraska)
Hwt.: Dudziak (Duke) over Rey (Lehigh)
Top 5 teams: Iowa, Cornell, Minnesota, Oklahoma State, Iowa State.

Kevin Schlosser, BuckeyeWrestling.com
125: Escobedo (Indiana) over Nicholson (Old Dominion)
133: Ness (Minnesota) over Gomez (Michigan State)
141: Humphrey (Ohio State) over Nauman (Pittsburgh)
149: Palmer (Ohio State) over Metcalf (Iowa)
157: O'Connor (Harvard) over Schlatter (Minnesota)
165: Howe (Wisconsin) over Marable (Missouri)
174: Borschel (Iowa) over Lewnes (Cornell)
184: Kilgore (Kent State) over Cannon (American)
197: Varner (Iowa State) over Taylor (Maryland)
Hwt.: Rosholt (Oklahoma State) over Dudziak (Duke)
Top 5 teams: Iowa, Oklahoma State, Ohio State, Minnesota, Central Michigan.

Craig Sesker, USA Wrestling
125: Robles (Arizona State) over McDonough (Iowa)
133: Gomez (Michigan State) over Ness (Minnesota)
141: Humphrey (Ohio State) over Thorn (Minnesota)
149: Metcalf (Iowa) over Palmer (Ohio State)
157: Sanderson (Penn State) over Hall (Boise State)
165: Reader (Iowa State) over King (Edinboro)
174: Borschel (Iowa) over Lewnes (Cornell)
184: Askren (Missouri) over Smith (Boise State)
197: Brester (Nebraska) over Varner (Iowa State)
Hwt.: Erekson (Iowa) over Rosholt (Oklahoma State)
Top 5 teams: Iowa, Iowa State, Cornell, Ohio State, Oklahoma State.

Tim Tushla, WIN Magazine
125: Nickerson (Cornell) over Escobedo (Indiana)
133: Ness (Minnesota) over Dennis (Iowa)
141: Humphrey (Ohio State) over Thorn (Minnesota)
149: Metcalf (Iowa) over Ruschell (Wisconsin)
157: Schlatter (Minnesota) over Moley (Bloomsburg)
165: Howe (Wisconsin) over King (Edinboro)
174: Borschel (Iowa) over Lewnes (Cornell)
184: Cannon (American) over Kilgore (Kent State
197: Brester (Nebraska) over Varner (Iowa State)
Hwt.: Dudziak (Duke) over Rosholt (Oklahoma State)
Top 5 teams: Iowa, Minnesota, Cornell, Wisconsin, Iowa State.

Bryan Van Kley, WIN Magazine
125: Escobedo (Indiana) over Nickerson (Cornell)
133: Ness (Minnesota) over Dennis (Iowa)
141: Humphrey (Ohio State) over Thorn (Iowa)
149: Palmer (Ohio State) over Metcalf (Iowa)
157: Hall (Boise State) over O’Connor (Harvard)
165: Howe (Wisconsin) over Marable (Missouri)
174: Borschel (Iowa) over Lewnes (Cornell)
184: Dergo (Illinois) over Smith (Boise State)
197: Varner (Iowa State) over Brester (Nebraska)
Hwt.: Dudziak (Duke) over Rosholt (Oklahoma State)
Top 5 teams: Iowa, Minnesota, Iowa State, Cornell, Oklahoma State.

Andy Vogel, d3wrestle.com
125: Nickerson (Cornell) over Escobedo (Indiana)
133: Ness (Minnesota) over Gomez (Michigan State)
141: Humphrey (Ohio State) over Thorn (Minnesota)
149: Metcalf (Iowa) over Palmer (Ohio State)
157: Fittery (American) over Schlatter (Minnesota)
165: Howe (Wisconsin) over Marable (Missouri)
174: Lewnes (Cornell) over Borschel (Iowa)
184: Dergo (Illinois) over Cannon (American)
197: Varner (Iowa State) over Taylor (Maryland)
Hwt.: Rosholt (Oklahoma State) over Zabriskie (Iowa State)
Top 5 teams: Iowa, Iowa State, Cornell, Minnesota, Oklahoma State.

Karl Vogel, Lincoln (Neb.) Journal Star
125: McDonough (Iowa) over Escobedo (Indiana)
133: Ness (Minnesota) over Gomez (Michigan State)
141: Dake (Cornell) over Parks (Oklahoma State)
149: Metcalf (Iowa) over Palmer (Ohio State)
157: Hall (Boise State) over O’Connor (Harvard)
165: Howe (Wisconsin) over Marable (Missouri)
174: Lewnes (Cornell) over Borschel (Iowa)
184: Askren (Missouri) over Cannon (American)
197: Brester (Nebraska) over Varner (Iowa State)
Hwt.: Rosholt (Oklahoma State) over Dudziak (Duke)
Top 5 teams: Iowa, Ohio State, Cornell, Oklahoma State, Iowa State.