LSU hosts Auburn in pivotal SEC contest

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02/21/2009 - Baton Rouge, LA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 23rd-ranked LSU Tigers are set to host SEC foe Auburn, which enters this contest riding a four-game win streak.

The recent success has lifted Auburn to 17-9 overall and 6-5 in conference. Auburn knocked off Georgia on the road Wednesday in a 71-59 final and can even its record in true road games at 4-4 with a win over LSU this evening.

Don't expect a victory to come easily, however, as LSU is the best team in the SEC. LSU is 22-4 overall and improved to a stellar 10-1 in league play on Wednesday with a come-from-behind 72-69 victory over Arkansas. The team erased an 18-point deficit in that tilt and has now won 10 SEC games in a row.

LSU owns a 79-58 series advantage over Auburn, and the clubs split a pair of meetings last year.

There are three double-digit scorers in the lineup for Auburn, and DeWayne Reed leads the way with 13.1 ppg despite his lackluster 39.6 percent shooting from the floor. He is dishing out 4.0 apg as well and tops the roster with 51 steals. Korvotney Barber provides 12.6 ppg and 9.5 rpg while shooting 54.3 percent from the field, and Tay Waller rounds out the trio with 12.4 ppg. Auburn is scoring 71.9 ppg while limiting opponents to 64.0 ppg on 40.2 percent shooting, although the scoring differential isn't quite as impressive in SEC games alone. Against Georgia on Wednesday, Waller scored 20 points, while Barber added 11 points and a staggering total of 18 rebounds. The Tigers earned a 51-34 advantage on the boards, helping to overshadow their 14-of-29 effort from the foul line. They played tremendous defense as well, holding the Bulldogs to 30.5 percent field goal efficiency.

Marcus Thornton and Tasmin Mitchell have been the two best players for LSU all season, so it came as no surprise that both came through with big performances against Arkansas on Wednesday. Thornton led all scorers with 28 points, and his seven steals were key to the victory. As for Mitchell, he posted 20 points and 13 rebounds. Center Chris Johnson doesn't get much attention, but his double-double of 12 points and 12 rebounds deserves praise. The Tigers shot 53.1 percent from the floor in the second half to fight back and win the game. Thornton carried an average of 20.0 ppg into the clash with Arkansas, and he figures to get some consideration for SEC Player of the Year honors, although Kentucky's Jodie Meeks is the favorite in the eyes of most fans and analysts.

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Problem with Bears?

Chicago, IL - New Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and star linebacker Brian Urlacher shot down reports of a rift, saying they're simply not true.

"There's nothing between us," Cutler said Thursday, when he reported to training camp. "I just want to put that to rest. There never has been anything between us."

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Urlacher added: "I never said what I was quoted as saying and that's it. I have a lot of respect for Jay. I think Jay knows that."
Former Bears receiver Bobby Wade caused a stir when he told Minneapolis radio station KFAN-AM that Urlacher used a profanity while questioning Cutler's manhood during a conversation in Las Vegas last weekend. Wade, who now plays for the Vikings, said Urlacher used a profane version of the word "wimp" during the interview that had to be edited out.
go radio station WSCR-AM also reported that Urlacher had to be restrained from confronting Cutler during organized team activities.
"I wouldn't go face-to-face with Brian, anyway," Cutler said. "No, that's never happened. I've hung out with Brian away from the facility numerous times and we've always gotten along."
Urlacher, noting he was limited by a groin injury, denied the reports in an interview with the Chicago Tribune and did it again when he reported to camp.
"I didn't practice this summer, so I don't know how I would fight the guy if I didn't practice," Urlacher said. "We have no problems. I'm excited about football starting. I'm excited to have him as our quarterback."
Why would Wade say that?
"I don't know," Urlacher said. "Maybe he's jealous because we have a good quarterback now."
Cutler said the first he heard of any friction was when he got a call from Urlacher to clear the air. Urlacher, however, said he had already taken several calls from teammates wondering if the reports were true when Cutler phoned.
"He called me and I said, What's up (expletive), what are you doing?'" a grinning Urlacher said, uttering the same word he allegedly used with Wade. "It's so dumb to me that this even got to this point, but it did and then here we are."
better place after going 9-7 and missing the playoffs for the second straight year. They have a franchise quarterback for the first time in decades after acquiring Cutler in an offseason trade with Denver. But there are questions about his attitude following a fallout with Broncos management and new coach Josh McDaniels.
His critics include former Bears coach Mike Ditka and former Indianapolis and Tampa Bay coach Tony Dungy, one of Smith's mentors. Smith, however, said Cutler has been a model teammate so far while denying any animosity with Urlacher.
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In some ways, Cutler is getting a second chance in Chicago, an opportunity to repair his reputation.
Smith said another quarterback - Michael Vick - deserves one, although he doesn't see it happening with the Bears, who lack an experienced backup. The former Atlanta Falcons star, who served a 23-month sentence for running a dogfighting ring, said Thursday he is getting close to signing with a pro football team.
"A second chance, like everyone in society who has paid their debt to society," Smith said. "He deserves a second chance. As far as we're concerned, we like this team that we have right now."
Particularly the new quarterback.
"Me and Brian have been on a good relationship since I've been here, and I expect it to continue that way," Cutler said.

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