Razorback Backers Have Failed to Gain an Edge

THE COLLEGES

Arkansas, which is fleeing the Southwest Conference in search of weaker competition, is 2-5 overall. But the Razorbacks rank even lower in the Bettors’ Bottom Ten. In six of their seven games, they have failed to cover the point spread.

The Bettors’ BT, listed this week in place of the customary, incoherent Bottom Ten, is a useful standard because it illustrates which teams are playing below expectations--No. 7 Clemson, No. 8 Colorado, and No. 16 USC, for instance. (Colorado’s record is doubly deceiving since the school defeated Missouri on its infamous fifth-down touchdown run.)

No. 18 Auburn pulled off one of the big surprises of the season Saturday by blocking an extra point attempt to escape with a 17-16 win over Mississippi State. Doesn’t Auburn usually go for the tie?

USA Today released an early list of Disappointments of the Year, which include Arkansas, Stanford (“college football’s Buster Douglas”) and UCLA. USA Today noted that Bruin coach Terry Donahue “has a string of seven consecutive bowl victories, and has found the perfect way to keep it intact.” RANKINGS

Team, Vs. Spread*, Actual Last Loss Next Loss 1. Georgia (1-7, 4-4) 24-26, Kentucky Florida 2.Tulsa(1-7,2-7) D.NMSt.,35-10 Colo St 3. Ark. (1-6, 2-5) 28-62, Houston Rice 4. W. Va. (1-6, 3-4) 14-27, BC Penn St 5. Fla. St. (1-5, 5-2) Def. LSU, 42-3 S. Car. 6. UCLA (2-6, 4-4) D. Ore St, 26-17 Oregon 7. Clemson (3-6, 7-2) D. Wk For, 24-6 N Caro 8. Colo. (3-6, 7-1-1) Def. Okla, 32-23 Nebrska 9. Tulane (3-6, 3-6) Def. Cincy, 49-7 Syracuse 10. LSU (2-5, 4-3) 3-42, Fla. St. Miss

11. Wisconsin (2-5, 1-6); 12. SMU (2-5, 1-6); 13. Arizona State (2-4, 2-5); 14. San Diego State (2-4, 2-4); 15. Purdue (2-4, 1-6); 16. USC (3-5, 6-2); 17. Oklahoma (3-5, 5-3); 18. Auburn (3-4) (6-0-1) ; 19. Idle; 20. Buster Douglas (0-1). *Some games either had no consensus spread or no spread at all. TROJANS HOARSE?: After UCLA’s recent surprising 38-31 loss to California, two callers to the “Bruin Talk” show on KMPC questioned whether Donahue should be fired. “Bruin Talk” host John Riebenstorf then revealed that he recognized their voices and that, in fact, they were USC fans posing as UCLA supporters. Devious Trojans! QUOTEBOOK: Arizona State coach Larry Marmie, asked if he knew the school was within one loss of tying its 61-year-old record for consecutive defeats (6): “I wasn’t aware of that. It’s not something you look forward to with a great deal of pride. I don’t walk around thinking, ‘My goodness, we’re going to set a record for most losses.’ ” THE PROS

The Rams’ offense and defense had a bye.

Speaking of outfits masquerading as football teams, AP’s Dave Goldberg noted that whereas “parity” was once the byword of the NFL, now the word “has to be parody. Seventeen of the 28 NFL teams are under .500.”

Meanwhile, a couple of remarkable streaks continued. For the fifth consecutive year, a starting Indianapolis quarterback--Jack Trudeau--was knocked out for the season by injuries. Trudeau was last sidelined for the season in 1988, so he can at least rest assured that his turn won’t come again until 1992. (What was that Eric Dickerson said about the Dolts’ offensive line?)

Elsewhere, for the eighth week, Steve Largent failed to catch a pass for Seattle. RANKINGS BETTORS’ BANE DIVISION

Team, Vs. Spread, Actual Last Loss Next Loss 1. Minnehaha (1-6, 1-6) 10-24, Bay (Green) Denver 2. L.A. Lambs (2-5, 2-5) 10-41, Pitt Houston 3. Olde England (2-5, 1-6) 10-27, Buffalo Phila 4. Philadelphia (2-5, 3-4) Def. Dallas, 21-20 O. England 5. Denver (2-5, 3-4) Idle Minnehaha

LEAD-FOOT DIVISION*

Lummox, Team Yrs TCB, Yds, Avg. 1. Tolliver, SD 2 12, 14, 1.17 2. Marino, Miami 8 146, -3, -.002 3. Kosar, Cle 6 114, 102, 0.89 4. DeBerg, KC 14 154, 233, 1.51

*Lifetime totals of slow-footed QBs, including years in league, times carried ball, yards gained rushing, average gain per carry. At their current rates, Tolliver will surpass 1,000 yards rushing in the year 2095, Kosar in 2038, DeBerg in 2036 and Marino in infinity.

CRUMMY GAME OF THE WEEK: Olde England (1-6) at Philadelphia (3-4). MONDAY NIGHT ABC ROUT OF THE WEEK: N.J. Giants (7-0) at Indianapolis (2-5) and (a quarterback to be named later). ONE RUMOR PUT TO REST: Atlanta linebacker Robert Lyles, on the feud between Falcon Coach Jerry Glanville and Cincinnati Coach Sam Wyche: “They’re definitely not boyfriend or girlfriend.”