The fight for second place - Syracuse vs. Oregon, who ya got? (Men's teams)

Portland will be top 3.

They have Bates winning and beating Houlihan. Bates has only won a single race all season and it was her weak conference. Houlihan has beaten bates twice head to head including at regionals. These can't be taken seriously.

Western Roller wrote:

Oregon, once again will outperform the LR prognosticators, and will probably finish second. Oregon's team behind Jenkins and Cheserek is made up of guys who are more 10K type runners this year. For example, Pepiot, Winn and Melancon are likely to get stronger at the longer distance. The poster who commented otherwise isn't very much aware of the people running for Oregon this year.

Uhhh...what? "Once again outperform the LRC prognosticators"?

2013 finish - 5th

2013 LRC Poll picked 4th (http://www.letsrun.com/news/2013/11/2013-lrc-ncaa-cross-country-mens-fan-polls-oklahoma-state-win-kennedy-kithuka-heavy-heavy-favorite/)

UNDERPERFORMED

2012 finish - 20th

2012 LRC Poll picked 12th (http://www.letsrun.com/news/2012/11/men-ncaa-cross-poll-1116/)

UNDERPERFORMED

2011 finish - DNQ

Lots of preseason hype with Verzbicas coming in, Puskedra, Stinson, Elkaim, recent US 12k champ Shrader, etc.

UNDERPERFORMED

Western Roller wrote:

Oregon, once again will outperform the LR prognosticators, and will probably finish second. Oregon's team behind Jenkins and Cheserek is made up of guys who are more 10K type runners this year. For example, Pepiot, Winn and Melancon are likely to get stronger at the longer distance. The poster who commented otherwise isn't very much aware of the people running for Oregon this year.

Pepiot and Leingang (who I assume you meant instead of Winn) have been total non-factors in XC this season, especially considering the potential Leingang showed last year. I don't think either of them would be in Syracuse's top 3.

Wisconsin with an upset win. Colorado has an off day and the Badgers deliver payback for 2004.

1. CU

2. Syracuse

3. Nova

4. Oregon

5. OSU

6. Iona

Cuse over Oregon. I think people are forgetting that Syracuse is a cross country school first, with everyone focussing on longer distances.

As much as it pains me to say this as a(n old version of the) Big East fan, I think Cuse is primed for a big one on Saturday. Second seems secure. I'm having nightmares of them winning the whole thing. Weather is going to be spotty so a few buffs go down and all of sudden....

Every five years there is a shocker at NCAAs.

2004 Wisco loses.

2009 Barringer implodes.

2014 ??? Colorado, Michigan State and/or Cheserek watch out.

I think one of those three loses. Which one? I have no idea.

Leingang? wrote:

Pepiot and Leingang (who I assume you meant instead of Winn) have been total non-factors in XC this season, especially considering the potential Leingang showed last year. I don't think either of them would be in Syracuse's top 3.

Pepiot was 18th at the West Regional. He's been inconsistent and a non-factor in some races, but I wouldn't say a guy that was their #4 and top 20 in the regional has been a total non-factor.

The men's preview is now up:

http://www.letsrun.com/news/20...st-repeat/

Everyone is assuming CU dmoinated. But might history repeat itself? Remember 10 years ago Wisco got a little greedy, redshirted Matt Withrow and didn't win.

What do you think?

With Colorado more or less a lock for the top of the podium, I think the biggest story of the teams race on the men's side is Syracuse vs. Oregon. The 1,2 punch of Cheserek and Jenkins is formidable but can Syracuse take them down with their (arguably) superior team depth?

Editor's note:

LRC Men's team preview is now up:

LetsRun.com wrote:

The men's preview is now up:

http://www.letsrun.com/news/20...st-repeat/

Everyone is assuming CU dmoinated. But might history repeat itself? Remember 10 years ago Wisco got a little greedy, redshirted Matt Withrow and didn't win.

What do you think?

Nice analysis in the preview. All reasonable.

Catch your breath wrote:

NAU is the "sleeper" (since there ranked 10th). I see them taking 2nd maybe even an upset?

Go home McElroy. You're drunk.

Withrow was not in particularly good shape in the fall. It took to the winter when he sudden got much better. Not sure, but maybe he was injured a bit in the summer.

LetsRun.com wrote:

The men's preview is now up:

http://www.letsrun.com/news/20...st-repeat/

Everyone is assuming CU dmoinated. But might history repeat itself? Remember 10 years ago Wisco got a little greedy, redshirted Matt Withrow and didn't win.

What do you think?

Cu

Cuse

Ok st

Portland

Oregon

Wisconsin

Iona

Stanford

Nau

I've got the Pilots...2nd or 9th

Oregon will get second.

Remember in a big race like this depth is nice, but front runners are actually more important.

Example

team A

1, 3, 47, 51, 88 (190 points)

vs.

team B

24, 27, 34, 46, 60 (191 points)

so even though team B's 5 beat team A's 5 their 4 beat team A's 3 and their 3 man beat team A's 3 man they still lose.

Up front talent is worth a lot in a race with this many runners.

There is no such thing as a "lock."