Commodores meet Razorbacks in SEC showdown

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01/31/2012 - Fayetteville, AR (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 25th-ranked Vanderbilt Commodores hope to continue their rise in the SEC Standings when they travel to Fayetteville to take on the Arkansas Razorbacks.

Vanderbilt has won 10 of its last 11 games and is tied with Florida for second place in the conference standings. The Commodores continued their impressive run on Saturday by defeating 20-win Middle Tennessee, 84-77.

Arkansas has enjoyed a successful season as well and is winners of 10 of its last 13. The Razorbacks are coming off a loss to Alabama though, 72-66, on Saturday, marking their fifth road defeat in five tries.

This bout represents the 26th all-time meeting between these two teams, with Arkansas holding a 16-9 lead. The Commodores had won two straight in the series before the Razorbacks won on January 29, 2011, by a final of 89-78 in Nashville.

Vanderbilt ranks just below national powerhouses Florida and Kentucky in the SEC scoring rankings, netting 74.7 ppg. The Commodores hot shooting continued against Middle Tennessee, as they drained 50 percent of their field goal attempts in the win. John Jenkins continued his solid season, making good on 10-of-18 field goal attempts for 26 points. The junior leads the SEC in scoring with 20 ppg, and he leads the nation in three-pointers made with 78. Festus Ezeli had a season-high 21 points, up from his average of just 8.5 ppg. Jeffery Taylor is a competent scorer in his own right, ranking second in the conference with 17.3 ppg and fourth in field goal percentage at .536. Lance Goulbourne falls just short of the double-digit scorers' club with 9.9 ppg and he grabs a team-leading 7.2 rpg as well. Though its offense has been able to mask its deficiencies of late, Vandy's defense can be a liability, ranking ninth in the conference and the squad gave up 57.4 percent shooting to Middle Tennessee on Saturday.

Arkansas has a similar makeup to Vanderbilt, averaging just a half point less per game on offense (74.2) but the Hogs possess an even worse defense, ranking last in the SEC (66.1 ppg). A poor defensive effort proved to be the difference in a close game with Alabama over the weekend, as the Crimson Tide shot 50 percent from the field and they also went to the foul line 25 times. Rickey Scott had one of his best games in the loss for the Razorbacks, logging 18 points, five rebounds and four assists. Scott (10.1 ppg) is one of three Hogs that average double figures in points, joining B.J. Young (14.4 ppg) and Mardracus Wade (10.8 ppg). Young and Wade have both proved to be threats from beyond the arc, making at least 1.5 three-pointers per game apiece with Wade ranking first in long-range efficiency at 47.7 percent. Arkansas is a poor rebounding team, ranking next-to-last in the SEC in rebounding margin (minus-2.5) and the team is without a player averaging five rebounds per game.

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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.
"There's no issue with Jay and Brian, except Brian and Jay are both excited about being teammates for our club this year," coach Lovie Smith said. "No more than that. We can't spend a whole lot of time on something that isn't true. I have talked to the players. Whenever something comes out, you have to address it, but it's a non-issue."
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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