With both teams ranked in the Top 20 combining for nine nationally ranked wrestlers, the NIU and Missouri wrestling match-up has the equation to be great.

Taking place at 2:05 p.m. Sunday at the Convocation Center, the Huskies (12-6) are ranked at No. 19 while the Tigers (14-5) are holding the No. 8 spot.

“We’ve had a tough schedule,” coach Dave Grant said. “In our case, when we go out and wrestle somebody, they return the favor.”

One of the key matches for NIU is 157 pounds. The Huskies third-ranked Scott Owen is taking on the 11th-ranked Kenny Burleson. There will be a battle in the 184-pound weight class as NIU’s eighth-ranked Ben Heizer squares off against fifth-ranked Scott Barker.

Josh Wooton, who defeated Central Michigan’s top-ranked Jason Mester on Jan. 31, hits the mat against Mizzou’s 10th-ranked J.P. Reese.

“It should be a great meet,” Grant said. “They got some top individuals and it lines up so they will wrestle our top guys. I think all the matches are going to be exciting.”

The Huskies are guaranteed to have their third straight winning season for the first time since the 1981-’83 season. Grant has won as many meets in the past two seasons as he had in his first five seasons combined. He predicts everyone will do well against Missouri.

“I don’t expect anymore out of one guy than another,” Grant said. “We need for everyone to be ready. So what if we win those three matches [141, 157 and 184], if everyone else loses, we lose the dual meet. We need everyone on the team to come to the table.”