Daton Fix shoots a double leg on Zach Sanders at the World Team Trials (Photo/Mark Beshey, The Guillotine)The online sportsbook BetDSI.com posted betting odds on Saturday's Final X in Lincoln, Neb. Let's examine the best bets based on the betting odds.
Note: Betting odds are subject to change.
Easy money
Jordan Burroughs vs. Isaiah Martinez (74 kilograms), 2 matches: -375
Isaiah Martinez was dominant at both the U.S. Open and World Team Trials. He is a strong, powerful wrestler who seems built for freestyle. However, facing the five-time world-level champ Burroughs is a major step up in class. Burroughs has been on a tear since his disappointment at the Rio Olympics in 2016. He won a world title last year in Paris, and this year has been impressive. He was perfect 4-0 at the World Cup in Iowa City, and recently defeated 70-kilogam world champion Frank Chamizo of Italy at Beat the Streets. Martinez might be the future at 74 kilograms, but his time won't likely come until after 2020. For now, it's Burroughs' weight class both domestically and internationally, and it would be shocking to see Martinez take a match from Burroughs. The betting line opened at -350 and the public quickly drove the line up 25 cents. While -375 is a steep number, there is still some value there. Bet it before it hits -400 or higher.
Kyle Snyder vs. Kyven Gadson (97 kilograms), 2 matches: -500
I hate laying this number (-500), and I can't blame you if you choose to pass, but it's the safest bet on the board this weekend. While Gadson does own a couple wins over Snyder in NCAA wrestling, those matches, which took place three-plus years ago in a different style of wrestling, mean little to nothing at this point. Snyder is one of the world's best freestyle wrestlers across all weight classes. Snyder not only crushed Gadson twice at last year's World Team Trials (10-0 and 13-2), but the two wrestlers are now on different levels. Snyder defeated Olympic champion and multiple-time world champion Abdulrashid Sadulaev of Russia at last year's World Championships. This year he won the Ivan Yarygin Grand Prix and was undefeated at the Freestyle World Cup. Meanwhile, Gadson suffered a loss at the U.S. Open to Austin Schafer, which he avenged last month at the World Team Trials in Rochester, Minn.
Value plays
James Green vs. Jason Chamberlain (70 kilograms), Under 7.5 in Match 1: -115
Green and Chamberlain are both strong defensively, which should make for low-scoring matches. The two have not only competed against each other multiple times, but trained together for three years in Lincoln. Familiarity often times leads to low-scoring, defensive matches. Chamberlain scored a combined seven points in three matches against Frank Molinaro in the finals of the World Team Trials last month. He only surrendered a takedown in one of the three matches. Green is coming off a tight 2-1 victory over Cuba's Franklin Castillo at Beat the Streets in New York. Molinaro scored a four-point move on Chamberlain at Final X and Green could do the same and open up the scoring, but I don't see it as a likely scenario. I expect the first match to be low-scoring, tactical match. The value is on the Under 7.5.
Becka Leathers vs. Jacarra Winchester (55 kilograms), 2 matches: -250
Leathers made a splash on the world stage last year with a bronze-medal finish at the World Championships in Paris. The 21-year-old Oklahoma native recently won her second straight gold medal at the Pan American Championships. Winchester, a past University world bronze medalist, broke through to win her first U.S. Open title in April after runner-up finishes in 2015 and 2017. While Winchester is wrestling her best right now, Leathers will be too much. It's hard to envision it going more than two matches. The two have met twice in the last three years, splitting those matches. Winchester won their match in 2015 when Leathers was in high school. Last year the two wrestlers met at the Dave Schultz Memorial, with Leathers winning that match 10-2, scoring all of her points off takedowns. Leathers not only superior on her feet, but also in par terre.
Daton Fix over Thomas Gilman (57 kilograms): +110
On paper, it's easy to see why Gilman is the betting favorite against Fix. The 24-year-old Hawkeye three-time All-American is a returning world silver medalist facing a 20-year-old who has yet to wrestle an official college match. In addition, Gilman will likely have the home crowd support having grown up just over 60 miles away in Council Bluffs, Iowa, and competing scholastically in Nebraska. Gilman earned an automatic berth in Final X, while Fix had to battle through the U.S. Open and World Team Trials. Gilman is a big, physical 57-kilogram wrestler who hand fights well and has a strong single leg that he shoots to both sides. So why I do I see value on Fix? Because he's bad matchup stylistically for Gilman. Fix, a Junior world champ, is dynamic and score with many different techniques. Fix showed extraordinary defense on his feet against Tony Ramos in the finals of the World Team Trials. Ramos was able to get to his leg multiple times, but Fix was able to kick out. This could be a problem for Gilman. I like Fix to win as a plus-money dog.
Recommended Comments
There are no comments to display.
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now