NCAA D1 Cross Country Championships 2013Nov 20, 2013 by Isaac Wood
Flotrack NCAA XC Men's Team Predictions and Who'll be on the Podium
Flotrack NCAA XC Men's Team Predictions and Who'll be on the Podium
The men's team race will be tighter than most people think. Oklahoma State is good and is the favorite to win, but there have been very few years where there are four or five quality teams that should all be looking at at least three maybe four All-American performances at NCAAs. As much as this is difficult to predict, this is my best prediction based on actually scoring the meet as objectively possible.
Click here to view the predictions for all 31 teams.
Click here to view the predictions for the men's individual race.
Click here to view the predictions for all 31 teams.
Click here to view the predictions for the men's individual race.
#1 OK State 121
This may seem like the cliche or easy pick, but let's be real. The amount of talent on this team that has been there and done that on the biggest stage three of the past four years is scary.
It may come down to how well Craig Nowak performs in his first Big Dance. Also, Joseph Manlifasha will need to peak the way he did last season to overcome some irregular sub-par performances earlier in the year.
Who's the number one team in the country?
#2 Colorado 149
The Buffs will be looking at a very tight spread 1-5 and will be 15th at 3k,10th at 6k, and competing for the title with 1k to go. If Morgan Pearson and Ammar Moussa have big days, CU is definitely capable of knocking off Oklahoma State.
#3 BYU 166
The addition of Jared Ward instantly gives BYU three potential All-Americans. The Cougars could be the deepest team in the NCAA and their 4-7 did not even run at the Mountain Regional. If Coach Ed Eyestone can get two top 75-80 performances out of their 4-7, they will be looking at an easy podium spot.
#4 NAU 177
This may not be a popular choice, especially considering how well NAU ran at the Regional meet, but the scores are so tight that I do believe the places on the podium will come down to low sticks. Futsum Zeinasellassie and Brian Shrader are definitely All-Americans. The question comes down to Matt McElroy. If he has a top-40 day (more like top 30), he could quite possibly get his team a national trophy. That's how close the final scores will be.
Team Predictions
This may seem like the cliche or easy pick, but let's be real. The amount of talent on this team that has been there and done that on the biggest stage three of the past four years is scary.
It may come down to how well Craig Nowak performs in his first Big Dance. Also, Joseph Manlifasha will need to peak the way he did last season to overcome some irregular sub-par performances earlier in the year.
Who's the number one team in the country?
#2 Colorado 149
The Buffs will be looking at a very tight spread 1-5 and will be 15th at 3k,10th at 6k, and competing for the title with 1k to go. If Morgan Pearson and Ammar Moussa have big days, CU is definitely capable of knocking off Oklahoma State.
#3 BYU 166
The addition of Jared Ward instantly gives BYU three potential All-Americans. The Cougars could be the deepest team in the NCAA and their 4-7 did not even run at the Mountain Regional. If Coach Ed Eyestone can get two top 75-80 performances out of their 4-7, they will be looking at an easy podium spot.
#4 NAU 177
This may not be a popular choice, especially considering how well NAU ran at the Regional meet, but the scores are so tight that I do believe the places on the podium will come down to low sticks. Futsum Zeinasellassie and Brian Shrader are definitely All-Americans. The question comes down to Matt McElroy. If he has a top-40 day (more like top 30), he could quite possibly get his team a national trophy. That's how close the final scores will be.
Team Predictions
Place Team Points 1 OK State 121 2 Colorado 149 3 BYU 166 4 NAU 177 5 Oregon 233 6 Portland 257 7 Stanford 262 8 E. Kentucky 311 9 Columbia 388 10 Syracuse 395 11 Arkansas 399 12 New Mexico 407 13 Texas 411 14 Iona 427 15 Wisconsin 427 16 Tulsa 436 17 Princeton 437 18 Harvard 446 19 Indiana 476 20 NC State 497 21 Villanova 497 22 Providence 503 23 Virginia 517 24 Notre Dame 518 25 Michigan 547 26 Colorado St. 553 27 Florida 576 28 UNC 589 29 Air Force 607 30 Dartmouth 635 31 Georgia 703