Coach Bob Pickett's varsity wrestlers will be slight paper favorites against Columbia this afternoon when they return to the I.A.B. mats after more than two weeks of exam period inactivity. Pickett called the Lions "about the same kind of team," and would predict only a close match.

But Columbia makes the trip north with losses to Brown, Rutgers, and Army, plus wins over Hofstra, 17 to 11, and Brooklyn College, 28 to 10, while the Crimson has lost only to powerful Cornell, generally rated toughest in the Ivy League, and has wins against Amherst and M.I.T.

Weight Problems

The paper margin may fade somewhat, however, if weight-making again causes trouble. Bob Gilmor, back to his 167-lb. spot, had to do some serious reducing before he could face Dick Johnson of Columbia. For varsity captain Phil Burnaman, also, the road to the mat led through the rubber sweat-suit. Burnaman will face Dale Scot at 157 pounds.

Heavyweight Ted Morrison seems likely to maintain his undefeated status against the Lions' Ivan Samsonoff, whom he has beaten before. Dick Hook will face Columbia's strongest wrestler, Captain Harry Scott, and Casper Cronk will go at 177, John Winthrop at 130, Phil Andrews at 137, and Tatsuo Arima at 123.