Indoors QF #1 Emory @ #8 GAC, Gambler’s Edition

This is going to be the least interesting QF. Hi, it’s ASouth and NewCentral here, by the way. Because we are v committed to blogging, we are previewing the Emory vs. GAC QF despite the fact that we both think this is going to be a blowout. GAC has fallen back to “that team that hosts Indoors” status (bulletin board that sh*t) and they are up against the defending national champions from last year. While Emory lost a slew of seniors, there is no way that Emory won’t be in title contention this year. So, you have that at least. Let’s not waste time. We want to get as many previews out as possible before the Women’s side gets any out. To make this more interesting, NewCentral and I are going to combine on giving you Over/Unders for each of these matchups, with odds. Feel free to bet on these with your friends. Unlike Vegas, we won’t take your money for setting the odds either, so it’s a +100 for all of you. Lucky you!

Random PSA: Why is the Emory Men’s Tennis site so damn slow?

newCentral: That’s what happens when you got that many trophies!

No. 1 Emory vs No. 8 GAC

#1 Doubles: Hayden Cassone/Antonio Mora (EU, 11.96/11.82 UTR) vs. Nick Aney/Yassine Derbani (GAC, 11.79/11.80 UTR)

Over/Under: GAC 5.5 games, -110

AS: Here’s where I think Emory gets hurt the most from their departures from last year. Doubles. Cassone and Mora were basically the #2 team for the Eagles last year and they definitely had success. But, #1 doubles is a whole different game. Playing against the Gusties on their home courts where they will absolutely come out firing is something different at #1 doubles too. If GAC is to get a point, they will get it in doubles, in my opinion. We don’t have much data on these two teams this year, so we’ll just have to see how this goes. AS says UNDER. 

newCentral: While Cassone & Mora were more or less Emory’s two last year, Derbani & Aney fulfilled the same role for the Gusties. In this battle of former twos, you have to favor the Eagles but I think that the home and indoor boost should keep it closer. 5.5 games is tough, because it assumes that Emory will win by a single break and I believe that GAC is going to win the toss and serve first. I think that both teams will find it hard to break their opponents with both serving combinations bringing big pace and neither have any problems pulling the trigger early and often. Emory def. GAC 8-5, UNDER

#2 Doubles: Hassan Kenawi/Andrew Esses (EU, 11.62/11.47 UTR) vs. Daniel Fouchier/Michael O’Neill (GAC, 11.28/11.20 UTR)

Over/Under: GAC 6.5 games, -110

AS: As I mentioned in the #1 doubles blurb, the top 2 spots are where GAC needs to get some momentum. Kenawi and Esses are an inexperienced team, but probably the more talented team. GAC has proven that talent isn’t everything at Indoors more times than I can count. Fouchier and O’Neill have some experience, one would think. GAC can win this one if they play with fire and fundamentals. Good thing is, GAC does that a lot. AS says OVER, with a win for GAC.

newCentral: ASouth recapped this succinctly – the match will turn on how disciplined GAC can be in the face of Emory’s talent. I think that this match will feature three different runs with GAC taking an early break lead before a slog of tough holds in the middle section before Emory suddenly clamps down on Gustavus with a quick break and hold to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. Emory def. GAC 9-7, OVER

#3 Doubles: Rex Serituk/Will Wanner (EU, 10.39/11.71 UTR) vs. Alex Budde/Xavier Sanga (GAC, 9.76/11.10 UTR)

Over/Under: GAC 3.5 games, -110

AS: Will we finally see Rex Serituk in meaningful DIII action!?!?? This seems to be the year that the senior has been waiting for. Crazy that he is a senior. After being an ITA phenom over the years, young Rex (now old) looks to finally be in both the doubles and singles lineup. What does that mean for his performance? Is there a reason why he hasn’t played all these years? The world will now know. Teaming him with an experienced doubles player in Wanner is the right move and this should be a fairly easy one for the Eagles assuming no one implodes. AS says UNDER. 

newCentral: Hmmm my immediate take is that this will be the first match off court ending in a Gentlemens 8-1 or 8-2 in favor of Emory. However, Sanga and Budde may be able to serve their way through “Old Rex” and Dubs Spec. Wanner over a couple games, but I can’t see this duo breaking the Eagles. Can Sanga and Budde get four holds? I think so plus we can never underestimate the indoors home boost that GAC gets, especially at National Indoors. Emory def. GAC 8-4, OVER.

#1 Singles: Hayden Cassone (EU, 11.66 UTR) vs. Yassine Derbani (GAC, 11.27 UTR)

Over/Under: GAC 6.5 games, -110

AS: Emory’s insistence on placing Cassone at the top spot instead of Mora will prove interesting here at Indoors. Cassone will certainly get his fair share of challenges, starting with Derbani at #1. I don’t think Yassine is #1 level at this point, so this could be a nice warmup match for the mercurial Eagle in a new tournament. Cassone has the talent to whip this match up in an hour and he has the ability to lose focus and make it way closer than it needs to be. AS says OVER, 6-4, 6-3 Cassone. 

newCentral: Cassone will make waves at this tournament, but I don’t think that his match with Derbani will be his masterpiece. Derbani doesn’t exactly play the style of tennis you’d choose to upset Cassone, but I believe that he’ll steal a set in this match before anyone realizes it. Cassone has all the talent and all the moxie needed to lead the Eagles from the top it just depends on which Cassone is on court longer. Emory def. GAC 6-2, 4-6, 6-1, OVER

#2 Singles: Antonio Mora (EU, 12.25 UTR) vs. Nick Aney (GAC, 11.79 UTR)

Over/Under: GAC 4.5 games, -110

AS: Possibly the best singles player and certainly the most consistent on the team, Antonio Mora will be challenging Hayden Cassone for the top spot all year round. That challenge starts here at Indoors, where I predict Mora will go 3-0 in singles and potentially be the MVP of Draftkings this year. Aney is quite a solid #2, not going to lie, but Mora is just too good to be at this spot. AS says UNDER, 6-1, 6-2 Mora.  

newCentral: Nick Aney is my favorite player and story on the GAC team right now – the “former” (because who really stops) hockey player from a family of stud athletes has all the physical tools to play at the top of doubles and singles for GAC. Unfortunately for Aney and his fans, he runs into the Emory Buzzsaw, The Indomitable Antonio Mora. Mora is the most consistently high performing Eagle and he could find himself as Mr. $10,000 next year. Aney has a puncher’s chance but Mora should be a step or three ahead all match. Emory def. GAC 6-3, 6-1, UNDER

#3 Singles: Andrew Esses (EU, 12.20 UTR) vs. Indraneel Raut (GAC, 11.20 UTR)

Over/Under: GAC 4.5 games, -110

AS: Esses had a quiet but effective year last year at the #5 singles spot. He has moved up to be #3 this year and is coming off a solid win against Point Loma or whatever team Emory played last week. Esses is going to be way too much for Raut at this spot, even with home court and the GAC boost. #3 and #4 singles are going to be where Emory romps and while the O/U is low, I still am going with my boys. AS says UNDER, 6-2, 6-2 Esses.

newCentral: Gustavus’ newest All-American will get the respect he deserves. Indraneel Raut should DESTROY the 4.5 games O/U. While I concede that Esses, like all of the Eagles, is favored I believe that Raut will keep the match closer than their UTRs would suggest. However, Emory LOST this tournament last year and nearly got upset by GAC in the first round…so we could be in store for a LOUD, RAUCOUS, and INTENSE Emory team through all three rounds and it’d begin with their 3-5 singles players. I believe in you Raut..to get more than 4.5 games but this is the Eagles show and the Gusties are just here for the ride. Emory def. GAC 7-5, 6-2, OOOOOOVER

#4 Singles: Mark Sverdlov (EU, 12.17 UTR) vs. Michael O’Neill (GAC. 11.04 UTR)

Over/Under: GAC 3.5 games, -110

AS: There is A LOT of hype about Sverdlov right now coming out of the Emory camp. This is a guy who took a year off and is getting back into the thick of things from a tennis standpoint. Normally, that means bad things for a freshman, but Browning has put his faith in Sverdlov at #4 singles. I trust that JB is going to be making the right decisions about his lineups. Sverdlov is going to run through O’Neill in this one, in my opinion. However, I think this line is a little too low for an unproven player at his first Indoors. AS says OVER, 6-4, 6-2 Sverdlov.

newCentral: A first year with a 12+ UTR is always a scary thing – they’re surrounded with questions: Are they the real deal? Is their UTR inflated? Why D3? And I for one am excited to see how Sverdlov handles them against a wily senior captain defending homecourt and Gustie Pride. This match has all the makings of an Emory trap match, here’s why – GAC Sr. Captain playing at Home at National Indoors against First Year making their first meaningful dual match start at National Indoors screams GAC win; however, I just can’t shake the feeling that Sverdlov is the real deal and could start his own Emory Legend this weekend. Emory def. GAC 7-6(3), 6-2, OVER

#5 Singles: Rex Serituk (EU, 10.59 UTR) vs. Daniel Fouchier (GAC, 10.97 UTR)

Over/Under: GAC 6.5 games, -110

AS: I’m so close to finishing this damn preview. I mentioned in the doubles portion but this will be Rex Serituk’s first time playing meaningful matches since he wasn’t old enough to vote. Like, real meaningful matches. I wish him the best and I think he will come out and “surprise” some folks on the singles court. Remember when D3RegNEC drafted him in the first round of the Blogger Fantasy Draft? That was rich. AS says UNDER, 7-5, 6-1 Serituk. 

newCentral: “Remember when D3RegNEC drafted him in the first round of the Blogger Fantasy Draft” That’s enough for me. There’s a reason that the most knowledgeable among us believed so fervently in Rex Serituk’s talents as a tennis player. First UTR upset of the day and it goes Emory’s way, what a cruel world. Emory def. GAC 6-3, 5-7, 6-2, OVER

#6 Singles: Hassan Kenawi (EU, 11.37 UTR) vs. Alex Budde (GAC, 10.23 UTR)

Over/Under: GAC 5.5 games, -110

AS: Emory is going to beast at the bottom of the lineup here. The only question is whether or not it will be Kenawi at #6 or one of the other depth guys that Emory has. This is the lineup from Emory’s last match (albeit against a non-DIII team they beat 8-1), so take it with a grain of salt. No matter who it is, I predict that Emory will take this one but it will be CLOSER than expected! I have seen Emory’s lower level guys come out not ready in the past against lower opponents. This might happen here. AS says OVER, 7-6 (3) 6-3 Emory.

newCentral: I’ll repeat, EMORY LOST THIS TOURNAMENT LAST YEAR blemishing their otherwise exemplary season. I don’t think that any Eagle that plays this weekend will be anything less than locked-in during National Indoors. Emory is coming with a vengeance, and I think it starts with dominating the points they should dominate. Emory def. GAC 6-2, 6-2, UNDER

Hope you all enjoyed this new format for Previews and I fully expect my non-degenerate fellow bloggers to adopt this go forward. Betting is king right now and I am just waiting on an injunction from the state of New Jersey to get my spreads on Draftkings. That would be something, wouldn’t it? Anyways, I’ve decided I’m going to keep track of my “betting record” this year with these O/Us, so that should be fun. Keep track with me and see if you can beat an “expert.” I will mainly try and keep track of this on twitter, but if you are following along, I have some excel things up my sleeves too with this. More to come – @d3atlanticsouth on the blue bird site. NewCentral, if you have anything to add, please add it below. If not, I’ll see you on the court in a few minutes. ASouth, OUT. 

Nothing substantive to add but this was fun, if you want to see any random d3 theme ideas come to life in these articles slide into our DMs. newCentral, ✌🏼

PREDICTIONS

AS: Emory def. GAC 8-1

newCentral: Emory def. GAC 9-0

NE: Emory def GAC 8-1

RegNEC: Emory def. GAC 9-0

RegAS: Emory def. GAC 9-0

DIII West: Emory def GAC 8-1