Ohio State took the Cliff Keen crown last year. With three champs, the Buckeyes out-pointed runner-up Michigan by 15.5 points. Who will be top dawg of the 2018 tournament? We will investigate. 

Watch Cliff Keen Las Vegas Live on Flo

Nov. 30 - Dec. 1 | 12:00 PM ET

To project the final team scores, we will look to the preseeds. I'll post them at the bottom of this article so as not to dominate your screen with a giant table. 

Since each weight will have 40+ competitors, we'll have full NCAA style brackets with eight placers. Preseeds get us most of the way there as far as projecting team points, but 24 wrestlers will score at least half a point for advancement, so we need to project a few more placers on our own. 

Don't worry too much about who we placed in those spots between 25th place and the last preseed. It was done in haste (we have deadlines!) and this is all for entertainment purposes only.  

And now, here are the projected team point totals (advancement and placement points only, no bonus points were factored in). 

Ohio State will start the 2018 CKLV as favorites to repeat as champions, which would be their third in a row, as they edged out Wisconsin by five points in 2016. Missouri, who returns to the CKLV after a two year absence, won in 2015.

Below we'll go weight by weight to see what the pivotal matchups will be with regards to the team race.  

125 Pounds

Michigan needs Drew Mattin to wrestle like he did last year, when he knocked off two All-Americans and placed fourth. If he ends up with the eighth seed, he'll have a very difficult quarterfinal bout with the electric Ronnie Bresser. 

Nebraska will have a lot riding on Zeke Moisey. Injuries may be Moisey's biggest obstacle, but if he's healthy, and preseeds hold, he'll have a winnable quarterfinal match against Virginia's Louie Hayes. 

133 Pounds

It appears Stevan Micic is still nursing a leg injury he picked up wrestling overseas this summer. His health, and points, will be critical for Michigan's team race. 

If Micic doesn't wrestle, it's a big opportunity for Ohio State's Luke Pletcher, who will then be favored to make the finals, where Rutgers' Nick Suriano will likely be waiting.

141 Pounds

Joey McKenna secured the #1 seed, which would be big points for Ohio State. McKenna missed last year's CKLV due to his participation in the 2017 U23 World Championships. Oklahoma's Dom Demas is a dark horse who might be able to upset McKenna in the quarterfinals. Demas is a home run threat from neutral, and a landmine for anyone in the bracket. 

149 Pounds

This is Missouri's chance to make up some ground, as Grant Leeth is in a battle royale with Rutgers' Anthony Ashnault and Ohio State's Micah Jordan for an individual title. 

157 Pounds

This may be one of Ohio State's most vulnerable weight, as Ke-Shawn Hayes will be manning the division for the Buckeyes. Though he is extremely talented, Hayes is also new to 157-pounds. He will have a tough test with the funky Taleb Rahmani of Pittsburgh in the quarters and then a war with two-time All-American Tyler Beger of Nebraska in the semis with critical team points on the line. 

165 Pounds

Logan Massa suffered an injury at last year's CKLV that appeared to linger all season long. He's looked healthy and in rare form so far this season, which is great news for Michigan. This is also a weight where Michigan can pick up big points on Ohio State, as Massa has the top seed and Ohio State will likely go unseeded. 

174 Pounds

Like the previous weight class, Michigan can gain serious ground on their rival at 174. Two-time All-American Myles Amine will be the #1 seed and once again, the Buckeyes will not be favored to finish on the podium. Amine will also benefit from the fact that Virginia Tech's David McFadden will probably not be competing in Vegas, despite being registered and receiving a preseed. 

Amine will still have a tough go in the semis, most likely against Mikey Labriola of Nebraska. It would be a huge team point benefit for the Huskers if the redshirt freshman can pull off the upset. 

184 Pounds

There are six All-Americans in this weight class as well as some serious up and coming young talent, so whoever makes the podium will have earned those team points. Ohio State's Myles Martin headlines the division, and the tournament, as the only national champ registered. Nebraska will be counting on Taylor Venz to do some damage in this loaded bracket, as will Virginia Tech with Zack Zavatsky. 

Venz vs Zavatsky could be a huge semifinal match, but that assumes they both get there, which is no sure thing, as landmines abound at 184. 

197 Pounds

Kollin Moore is heavily favored to win this division, which could cement the team title for the Buckeyes. With Northern Iowa's Jacob Holschlag likely not competing, Moore is the only All-American in the group, which means the next seven places are wide open with team points up for grabs. 

Though only seeded 6th and 7th respectively, Virginia Tech's Tom Sleigh and Michigan Jaackson Triggow could make deep runs in this tournament. 

285 Pounds

Minnesota is counting on, and will likely get, first place and bonus points from their true freshman phenom Gable Steveson. Ohio State, Michigan, and Nebraska are all expected to be absent from the podium, so perhaps Missouri's young Zach Elam can make some noise and pick up some points for the Tigers form the nine seed. 

And now below, please find the table of preseeds along with their corresponding rank.