Razor burn
Arkansas a dangerous ’dog versus favored Longhorns
LAS VEGAS — Steve Sarkisian’s coaching debut at Texas was a big hit. He picked a starting quarterback who passed the eye test and, despite warnings that his team was on upset alert, Sarkisian never had to sweat.
Sharp money showed last week against the Longhorns, who closed as single-digit home favorites while facing a Louisiana-Lafayette team that returned 20 starters. Texas appeared fully focused and put a 20-point beating on the Ragin’ Cajuns.
Are the Longhorns legit or could the rave reviews be an overreaction? The betting public is riding the bandwagon this week and piling on Texas laying a touchdown at Arkansas. Hudson Card, who passed for 224 yards and two touchdowns in his first career start, will find his first road start to be more challenging.
In 2020, coach Sam Pittman’s first season, the Razorbacks upset Mississippi and Mississippi State and played SEC heavyweights Auburn, LSU and Texas A&M to the wire. Arkansas opened Pittman’s second season by pulling off an unlikely cover of a 20.5-point spread, outscoring Rice 21-0 in the fourth quarter of a 38-17 win.
Pittman’s offensive emphasis is a physical ground attack. The Razorbacks rushed for 245 yards against the Owls, with Trelon Smith going for 102 and dual-threat quarterback
KJ Jefferson running for 89 yards and passing for
128. The Hogs are dangerous ’dogs, so Texas remains on upset alert.
The pick: Arkansas +7. Toledo (+17) over NOTRE DAME: It was no surprise that the Fighting Irish were forced to fight for a narrow win at Florida State. The offense was in midseason form, with Wisconsin transfer Jack Coan passing for 366 yards and four touchdowns, but the Notre Dame defense allowed 442 total yards, including 264 on the ground.
The Rockets return 21 starters this season and will be one of the top teams in the MidAmerican Conference. Led by quarterback Carter Bradley and running back Bryant Koback, Toledo has enough talent to hang tough and stay within two touchdowns.
CONNECTICUT (+34.5) over Purdue: Randy Edsall is out at UConn after two disastrous losses, and the coaching change could provide an emotional boost for the Huskies. The more significant angle to this play is the opponent — the Boilermakers will be looking ahead to next week’s game at Notre Dame and it makes sense for coach Jeff Brohm to pull most of his starters when the score gets out of reach.
Even ugly dogs deserve attention. The Huskies are the definition of ugly dogs.
Unlv-ARIZONA STATE (Over 54): The Sun Devils are 34-point favorites who should be able to score at will behind talented quarterback Jayden Daniels. In a 35-33, double-overtime loss to Eastern Washington, the Rebels found some offensive firepower in Charles Williams and strong-armed quarterback Doug Brumfield.
LAST WEEK: 3-1. Florida State (W), Clemson (L), UCLA (W), Nevada (W). 2021 SEASON: 3-1.
Matt Youmans is senior editor of VSiN.com.
The Grand Slam is there for the taking Sunday at Flushing Meadows.
Novak Djokovic moved into the U.S. Open final with another of his vintage, historic, five-set victories Friday night at Arthur Ashe Stadium, beating the 6-foot-6, red-hot German server Alexander Zverev — 4-6, 6-2, 6-4, 4-6, 6-2.
After winning the sensational 3½-hour semifinal battle, Djokovic is three triumphant sets from all-time greatness.
One more win, and he will have swept all four majors this year to give him the first men’s Grand Slam in 52 years, since Rod Laver copped all four in 1969. With one more victory, Djokovic will also win his 21st major championship, breaking his tie with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
Laver who had flown in from Carlsbad, Calif., was sitting in the President’s Box on Friday to see if his 1969 milestone will be matched.
“There’s only one match left — all in, let’s do it,’’ Djokovic said on the court. “I’m going to treat the next match like it’s the last match of my career.’’
There was a long embrace between Djokovic and Zverev at the net when it was over.
“Best atmosphere of the tournament so far — these are the moments we live for,’’ the 34-yearold Djokovic said on the court after moving to 27-0 in the 2021 majors.
“It’s a great win,’’ Djokovic said later. “I’m proud of the fight that I delivered. I probably could have played better in some moments. I have to be satisfied with delivering the best tennis I possibly could in the most important set, the fifth set.’’
As is his wont here, Djokovic dropped the first set, but won the next two. But before Djokovic could celebrate against the guy who beat him in the Tokyo Olympics, Zverev courageously forced a fifth set. Djokovic, the stamina king, had more left in the tank and ran up a 5-0 lead.
“I think mentally he’s the best player to ever play the game,’’ Zverev said. “Mentally in the most important moments I would rather play against anybody else but him.’’
Zverev won historic 53-shot rally in the third set, but it may have taken a lot out of the 24year-old German’s legs.
“We didn’t give each other anything, so that naturally happens,’’ Zverev said. “It was a set point, as well. Physically, I felt fine. Me and him, we’re probably two of the three best players in the world right now just on form. There is always going to be back and forth.”
In the fifth set, it was only a matter of time after Djokovic broke Zverev in the second game to go up 2-0. Djokovic ended a spectacularly long point by drawing in Zverev with a drop shot. Zverev dug it out, but the Serbian angled a passing-shot crosscourt winner to break Zverev. Djokovic gyrated to the crowd and his wife, Jelena, mouthed, “Oh, my God.’’
“The fifth set, the beginning, I played not great,’’ Zverev said.
Both players had great crowd support — Zverev, who had Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler sitting in his box, probably had a slight edge. Zverev said Butler is “a very good friend.’’
The roar at Ashe Stadium became deafening when Djokovic trailed 1-0 in sets, and when the German captured the fourth set.
But early in the match, after Djokovic held at love to start, his fans chanted his nickname “Nole.”