The Morning Line: Greensboro Day 2

By: Slade Long
October 14, 2018

The collective bull power in Greensboro is below average. Only five bulls scored 43 or more points last night, but very few were just duds. While that’s light for a PBR Premier series events, there’s nothing wrong with it. There are a lot of quality bulls here, but not many that will strike fear into riders of this caliber. The pen is typical of the last couple of events leading up to the World Finals, and we usually see a rider surge right before finals each year because of it.

At the top of the standings, the riders trying to catch Pacheco are just keeping pace, and that will probably continue through today. Pacheco has the ideal bull in round two. On the bubble, the race is more heated. A number of riders here is Greensboro are engaged in an all-out assault on the top 35.

Round 2:

Chase Outlaw on 738 Wild Skies:

Outlaw was third last night, and he’s got a very interesting matchup here. Wild Skies is an unpredictable bull who packs a serious punch, but doesn’t always use it to its full potential. When he gets on track and sticks to a rhythm he’s good enough to produce an 88 to 90-point ride especially with Outlaw aboard. He can sometimes try too hard, get out of time with himself, and cancel his power and points potential while becoming miserable to ride. If this bull has a good day, Outlaw could win the round on him. If not, look for a buckoff and a low to average bull score.

Cody Teel on 86 Calm Intentions:

Teel converted in a good draw last night, and he has another nice one here. Calm Intentions has just two outs on record, but he was ridden both times. Cooper Davis was 86.25 points on him in Fairfax a few weeks ago.

Keyshawn Whitehorse on 23 Shownuff:

This is a big matchup because Shownuff may be the strongest bull out tonight. He is the strongest on paper by a wide margin. Whitehorse had the bad luck of coming down at the 7.99 second mark, but he has a chance to make up for it today. Shownuff has given up three big rides of 88 points or more this season, and although he likes to go to the left, he’s been pretty good to right handed riders.

JB Mauney on 353 Whiskey Throttle:

Don’t count Mauney out of the Finals yet. He may be on the bubble, but he could be about to bounce off it in an upwards direction. This bull isn’t well known, but he likes to go to the left and he can be a little wild and western. That’s a near perfect fit for Mauney.

Dener Barbosa on 3 Bone Tomahawk

Barbosa made the whistle last night, and he needs another. We don’t know what to expect out of this bull because he doesn’t have any history. What we do know about him is that he belongs to JB Mauney, and for that reason alone he should be interesting to watch.

 

Cody Nance on 123 Slinger:

This draw gives Nance a great opportunity to finish the weekend strong. Slinger has been ridden four times in seven Premier level outs, including his last two appearances in Fairfax and Atlantic City.

Joao Ricardo Vieira on 200 Cyclone:

Vieira may have come down last night, but he has a decent chance of making something happen with this draw. Cyclone is one of the more rider-friendly bulls out in this round, especially for lefties. Vieira is historically great on bulls that go into his hand.

Kaique Pacheco on 3463 Corn Star:

After every other rider in the top ten stayed on last night, Pacheco matched them, and that lowers their chances of gaining serious ground on him in the standings. It won’t be any different tonight. Corn Star is a quality bull, but he’s one of the nicest bulls in the round, and he’s the best possible fit for Pacheco as well. This is almost a guaranteed second ride for Pacheco and probably a mid-80’s score. If Pacheco comes down here it would shock everyone behind the chutes.

Cannon Cravens on 408 Rebel Call:

This is a kid who will no doubt be a regular on tour soon. He won the first round, and an event win here could get him to the World Finals. He’s facing an unridden bull in Rebel Call, who is 10-0 in his career. This bull can cover some ground and my spin both ways, but even with all that he’s not as difficult to ride as the bull Cravens won on last night.

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