Here is my guess in a Grote sense
1.Bairu-Im putting my money on him. I just think he has the best credentials, plus the guy has been resting most of the season due to the team depth.
2.Boit-Only way he isnt finishing second is if he falls.
3.Kiplagat-Sadly but I think it will be another non-American rounding out the top 3. From the Kip tribe,I dont know I just think he is that good from what I saw him do this season.
4.Schoolmester-I think he is the most under rated guy this year, a low 30 at elevation, in the wind, and it had to have been hilly if at elevation. Will finish 4th. b/c he can run in the cold.
5.Solinsky-This guy is my hero and I think he has the kick to make the dif. anyways he isnt going to lose to that nerd-schooler, damn nerd schoolers
6.Kosgei-Has a sick kick plus good endurance but will be outkciked by Chris.
7.Kurt-Will finish 7th. with the luck of the Irish and b/c he is that good if he runs his best.
8.Harbert Okuti-The guy finished 12th. at the jr. worlds xc, last time I checked out the guys that raced Ritz. finished third and the Africans that finished behind to 12th. are all running 26s and low 27s in the 10 or doing the marathon good; makes sense to me if I am to pick a dark horse its this guy.
9.McDougal-Being dominate in races that most runners arent running all out dosent mean he is going to win, I think he has ran him self to much when he should have been resting more in other words I think he has already ran his fastest times this year, all down hill the rest of the year.
10.Nelson-I just like this guy plus he is also another guy who is really fast, wouldnt doubt if he didnt do this well though but I cant see him finishing higher than 25.
Other guys close to the top ten(in no particular order:
Lemoncello, Eagon, Forrest,Withrow(next year in the top three), Keating(if he pulls an upset there is no doubt in my mind that he is guilty), Van Ort, Symth, Tim Moore, Debole, Hower.
Teams:
1. Wiconsin-Kicking ass, 2.Arkansaw(almost equally as talented but not as use to the weather)3.Notre Dame-Five All Americans, maybe 4. 4.Colorado-Secured and close to the Irish.5.Stanfurd-They have talent, if the gaylord went south next year after coming of the injury and aqua treadmills; just a nightmare enough said.6.Iona-To Kenyan to finish any lower, top three will pick up the slack for the fifth; why isnt Sean Connoly running? 7.Georgetown-Dalpiaz is there fifth guy he broke 9mins. in the two mile like four years ago, couple of All Americans:Debole and Hower, three and four should be right below 50 I hope
8.UTEP-Another Kenyan team. 9.Virgina-They always finish thier 1-5 like only 15 seconds apart, way underrated b/c of lack of star power but should have their top five somewhere bet. 30 and 40 on a side note I would pick W&M but no sign of the Count.10.Florida State-This is probably flat out wrong but Lemoncello is going to be up there and the rest of the team is good but probably not good enough