The Nebraska Cornhuskers will host the Iowa Hawkeyes in an incredible dual this Friday night. The dual will begin at 9:00 pm (ET) and will be broadcast live on the Big Ten Network. Before the action goes down, check out the article below for a full preview with predictions for what should be an outstanding dual!

Iowa vs Nebraska Probable Lineups

125: #7 Dean Peterson, Iowa vs Alan Koehler/Kael Lauridsen, Nebraska

133: #11 Drake Ayala, Iowa vs #8 Jacob Van Dee, Nebraska

141: #13 Nasir Bailey, Iowa vs #3 Brock Hardy/Jake Hockaday, Nebraska

149: #10 Ryder Block, Iowa vs #12 Chance Lamer/Nikade Zinkin, Nebraska

157: #11 Jordan Williams, Iowa vs #5 Antrell Taylor, Nebraska

165: #3 Michael Caliendo, Iowa vs #7 LJ Araujo, Nebraska

174: #3 Patrick Kennedy, Iowa vs #6 Christopher Minto, Nebraska

184: #2 Angelo Ferrari/Gabe Arnold, Iowa vs #7 Silas Allred, Nebraska

197: Harvey Ludington/Brody Sampson, Iowa vs #11 Camden McDanel, Nebraska

285: #12 Ben Kueter, Iowa vs #4 AJ Ferrari, Nebraska

125: #7 Dean Peterson, Iowa vs Alan Koehler/Kael Lauridsen, Nebraska

Peterson will be the considerable favorite in this match and the Hawkeyes might need him to pick up bonus points. It’s important to note that Peterson only has one win on the season by bonus - a 20-4 tech fall over Cooper Flynn. Also, both Koehler and Lauridsen have only lost by bonus one time each - Koehler was pinned by Troy Spratley, and Lauridsen was majored by Spratley. Every point will matter in this dual and the battle for bonus points will be an interesting storyline to watch in this match.

Prediction: Peterson by major decision

Team score prediction: Iowa 4, Nebraska 0

133: #11 Drake Ayala, Iowa vs #8 Jacob Van Dee, Nebraska

Ayala and Van Dee have wrestled only once in their college careers - Ayala won that match last year, 4-2. Ayala is off to a rough start this season with a 4-5 record and is riding a 3-match losing streak. On the other side of things, Van Dee is riding a 10-match winning streak after dropping his third match of the season. This feels like a toss-up, but also a great opportunity for Ayala to get things back on track. Because of that, Ayala is my pick to win in a close, one-takedown match.

Prediction: Ayala by decision

Team score prediction: Iowa 7, Nebraska 0

141: #13 Nasir Bailey, Iowa vs #3 Brock Hardy/Jake Hockaday, Nebraska

The matchup at 141 pounds is especially interesting considering Jake Hockaday is the only wrestler listed in the probables for the Cornhuskers. Still, we can’t always trust the probable lineups, and with the magnitude of this dual, I think we’ll see Brock Hardy on Friday night. 

If Hardy is in the lineup, he’s the favorite over Bailey and is capable of pushing for bonus points. If it’s Hockaday, Bailey should be expected to win, but Hockaday is good enough to keep it to a regular decision. Hockaday, a true freshman, wrestled his first match of the season last weekend and suffered a 7-2 loss to Minnesota’s Vance VomBaur. 

Prediction: Hardy by decision

Team score prediction: Iowa 7, Nebraska 3

149: #10 Ryder Block, Iowa vs #12 Chance Lamer/Nikade Zinkin, Nebraska

Similar to 141, Nebraska only has its backup listed in the probable lineups - Nikade Zinkin. Zinkin is a true freshman and still has one more date available to wrestle attached before his redshirt is burned. Zinkin is tough, but his recent losses to Drew Roberts and Easton Broxterman suggest he would be a pretty big underdog against Ryder Block. 

The potential matchup between Block and Lamer is close to a toss-up based on results from this season. Lamer is currently 12-1 on the year with his lone loss coming against Casey Swiderski (7-2). Block is currently 6-3 but has wrestled a much more challenging schedule with losses to Shayne Van Ness, Joe Zargo, and Ethan Stiles. Despite those losses, Block has significant victories over Casey Swiderski, Josh Edmond, and Paniro Johnson. Because of those wins and the questions surrounding Lamer, I’m picking Block to come out on top in a close match. 

Prediction: Block by decision

Team score prediction: Iowa 10, Nebraska 3

157: #11 Jordan Williams, Iowa vs #5 Antrell Taylor, Nebraska

After losses at the National Duals Invitational to #1 Brandon Cannon and #12 Logan Rozynski, Antrell Taylor has responded with 7 straight wins. Included in that streak are ranked wins over Landon Robideau, Laird Root, Stoney Buell, and Charlie Millard. Williams has had an up-and-down season with ranked wins over Luke Mechler, J Conway, and Travis Teage but losses to PJ Duke, Vince Zerban, and Kannon Webster. While Williams wrestled well against PJ Duke, nothing suggests he’ll win against Taylor.

Prediction: Taylor by decision

Team score prediction: Iowa 10, Nebraska 6

165: #3 Michael Caliendo, Iowa vs #7 LJ Araujo, Nebraska

Redshirt freshman LJ Araujo has been a solid addition to the Huskers' lineup this year and has recorded ranked wins over Andrew Sparks, Bryce Hepner, Maxx Mayfield, Max Brignola, Gunner Filipowicz, Evan Maag, and Dylan Evans. As good as Araujo’s been, he’s still an underdog against Caliendo. The Hawkeye has been incredibly consistent over the past 3 years, and I expect his offense to be too much for Araujo to handle. Still, I think Araujo is good enough to hold this to a regular decision. 

Prediction: Caliendo by decision

Team score prediction: Iowa 13, Nebraska 6

174: #3 Patrick Kennedy, Iowa vs #6 Christopher Minto, Nebraska

Kennedy and Minto have never wrestled in their college careers, but both are returning All-Americans - Kennedy placed 4th last year at 174 while Minto placed 4th at 165. Minto has been solid in his move up to 174 with ranked victories over Ethan Riddle, Brody Baumann, Jared Simma, Beau Mantanona, Danny Wask, and Myles Takats. Minto’s only losses came against Carson Kharchla and Alex Facundo at the National Duals Invitational. Kennedy has also been solid this year, with his only loss coming against MJ Gaitan, but ranked wins over Luca Augustine, Carson Kharchla, Alex Facundo, Colin Kelly, and Cam Steed. Even with the loss to Gaitan, Kennedy is about as consistent as they come at 174 pounds, and I’m picking him to win a close decision over Minto.

Prediction: Kennedy by decision

Team score prediction: Iowa 16, Nebraska 6

184: #2 Angelo Ferrari/Gabe Arnold, Iowa vs #7 Silas Allred, Nebraska

The big storyline at 184 pounds is whether or not we’ll see Angelo Ferrari take the mat for the Hawkeyes. Ferrari looked like he suffered a minor injury in overtime against Rocco Welsh last weekend and wasn’t listed in the probables for this dual. If Ferrari is in, he’s the favorite over Allred. However, if it’s Gabe Arnold, it’s a toss-up. Allred and Arnold split matches last season, with Allred winning in the dual and Arnold winning at Big Tens. With the way Allred has wrestled lately, he’s a slight favorite in my opinion over Arnold. 

Prediction: Allred by decision

Team score prediction: Iowa 16, Nebraska 9

197: Harvey Ludington/Brody Sampson, Iowa vs #11 Camden McDanel, Nebraska

The matchup at 197 pounds might be the least interesting in terms of matchups, but it might hold the most meaning for the outcome of the dual. Depending on where the dual starts and how it plays out will likely determine who will take the mat for the Hawkeyes. If the dual is still up in the air, I expect we’ll see Harvey Ludington wrestle at 197 pounds for Iowa. He’s a true freshman but has only wrestled 3 dates attached. That means Ludington could still wrestle this dual and keep his redshirt intact.

Regardless of who takes the mat for the Hawks, All-American McDanel is the favorite. If it’s Brody Sampson, I’d expect bonus points for McDanel. However, I think we’ll see Ludington on Friday night. Ludington has yet to lose by bonus points in his college career, and I think he’s good enough to keep it to a regular decision against McDanel. 

Prediction: McDanel by decision

Team score prediction: Iowa 16, Nebraska 12

285: #12 Ben Kueter, Iowa vs #4 AJ Ferrari, Nebraska

Heavyweight will feature another big-time matchup against two wrestlers who haven’t faced one another in their college careers. Both Ferrari and Kueter have struggled to generate much offense this year, and I don’t expect to see anything other than a low-scoring battle in this one. 

Kueter is fresh off a loss to Cole Mirasola, where he struggled to generate any offense and gave up a takedown the only time he got in on Mirasola’s legs. Ferrari’s only loss of the year was against Nick Feldman at the National Duals Invitational (5-4). Despite that loss, Ferrari has ranked wins on the year over Taye Ghadiali, Koy Hopke, Konner Doucet, and Brady Colbert. Because Ferrari has consistently been able to win the close ones, and because Kueter’s lack of offense, I’m picking Ferrari to come out on top against Kueter. 

Prediction: Ferrari by decision

Final Team score prediction: Iowa 16, Nebraska 15

How Can The Cornhuskers Take Out The Hawkeyes?

Even though I have Iowa winning this dual by one point, there is a clear path to victory for Nebraska. First, if Koehler/Lauridsen avoids giving up bonus points, the dual is tied. Beyond that, I wouldn’t be shocked if Nebraska won at 133, 149, or 174. I have them losing those matches in my predictions, and all it will take is one of those matches to swing the dual for Nebraska. Regardless of how the dual plays out, it should feature incredible wrestling from start to finish!