Pekka a Rinne-stone Cowboy in Nashville

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02/07/2012 - Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Those not convinced that the Nashville Predators are in it to win long term need to look no further than the massive contract that general manager David Poile dished out to goaltender Pekka Rinne back in November.

Like the protagonist in Glen Campbell's iconic '70s hit, Rinne has paid his dues and was rewarded with a seven-year, $49 million deal that just so happens to be the largest the club has ever dished out. It also comes after a breakout 2010-11 campaign for the 29-year-old in which he notched career bests in wins (33), goals-against average (2.12) and save percentage (.930) to net a Vezina Trophy nomination.

Rinne has done nothing this year to make Poile regret his decision to invest heavily in the Finn. Heading into action on Tuesday, Rinne was in the midst of a franchise-record 11-game win streak and has gone 14-1-0 with a 1.72 GAA since Dec. 28. He is just the fifth goaltender since 1998-99 to have a personal win streak of 11 games, a list that includes a Hall of Famer in Patrick Roy, a future Hall of Famer in Martin Brodeur, and a Stanley Cup champion in Marc-Andre Fleury.

But it's not just numbers with Rinne. Head coach Barry Trotz said after his netminder basically stole a 3-1 win over the Blues on Saturday that it is the timing and composure of Rinne that makes him one of the game's best.

"He's stopping the puck and making the big save when the game's on the line, and he's been doing that when momentum's coming at us. When you talk about special people in this league, he's one of them," said Trotz.

Case in point came in the third period with the Preds up by just a goal. After getting a little help from the post to deny the Blues' Kris Russell, and left seemingly out of position, Rinne dove to his left and made an incredible stop on the defenseman's second attempt just seconds later.

Russell probably should have been staring at a sure-fire goal, but instead just became the latest star on Rinne's highlight reel.

"He just kind of had an open net ... and I was able to get it with my glove. That was a big save at the time. You know, sometimes you just work your hardest and you get lucky," said Rinne, who made 19 saves in the third frame to give Nashville a league-best 14-3-0 mark since Dec. 28.

Luck has nothing to do with it according to Trotz.

"There's not too many goaltenders in this league who would make that save and that's why I keep saying he's the best one and he proved it tonight."

Added Trotz, "Not only is he incredibly athletic ... but his ability just to will himself, he's so competitive. Even in practice, he doesn't want to get scored on. He's always wired and never quits on the play, quits on the puck and he can contort with his athletic ability to do some incredible things."

Rinne's impact on the club isn't just felt on the ice either. The fact that he is scheduled to be in the Music City for the rest of this decade should make Nashville a desirable place to play, especially for a defenseman. That is something pending free agent Ryan Suter should keep in mind as he decides his Preds future.

Fresh off an All-Star appearance, Suter has said he won't discuss his contract status until after the season, though he clarified that doesn't necessarily mean he wants to become a free agent. Still, Poile must now gauge if he will be able to keep Suter in the mix and hold onto his star defender, or deal the 27- year-old before the trade deadline.

Some advice for Poile: Hold on to Suter as well as fellow defenseman and future restricted free agent, captain Shea Weber. With Rinne in top form, the Predators are poised to make their deepest postseason run since coming into the league in 1998-99. Suter is a big part of that as well and is worth the risk of losing this offseason.

Nashville's brief history is littered with the club trading away some of its biggest stars -- the names Scott Hartnell, Kimmo Timonen, Tomas Vokoun and Dan Hamhuis come to mind -- but the Preds should keep Suter and Weber off that list.

With Rinne between the pipes, why mess with a good thing?

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NCAA Football Betting

Many fans thought it was the best side in the nation by the end of last season. This year, the polls have built on Georgia's momentum and granted it the No. 1 preseason ranking, followed by Ohio State and USC. (The Associated Press has the Buckeyes at No. 2; USA Today took the Trojans.)

"To have people believing we have one of the best teams in the nation going into this thing, it's exciting for us," Bulldogs coach Mark Richt told the AP. "I don't think anything is guaranteed, but we certainly have put ourselves in position where at least the college football world thinks we're pretty good."

Georgia Bulldogs - 9.5 wins

There's no question they're good, but the Bulldogs have one of the toughest 12-game schedules in the nation, mostly because they play in the powerhouse Southeastern Conference. Away games at No. 15 Arizona State, No. 7 LSU and No. 10 Auburn loom large, with contests between the hedges versus No. 24 Alabama and No. 18 Tennessee as well as the World's Largest Cocktail Party in Jacksonville versus No.5 Florida.

Ohio State Buckeyes - 10 wins

Like the Bulldogs, the Buckeyes also have a number of tough road contests in 2008. After two scrimmages dressed up as real games versus Youngstown State and Ohio, it's off to face USC. Other tough away games include No.13 Wisconsin in October and No. 20 Illinois in November. Granted, it should be pretty easy sledding at the Horseshoe. In fact, the only ranked team that travels to Columbus is No. 22 Penn State, in October.

USC Trojans - 10.5 wins

A similarly light schedule awaits the Trojans of Southern California, which is why the oddsmakers' total is one win more and the over is currently commanding -150 odds. Pete Carroll's troops only play three ranked teams in 2008, and all of those games are at home. After what should be an easy trip to Virginia to start things off on Aug. 30, the Trojans get two weeks to prepare for Ohio State in Los Angeles. Their two other ranked opponents, No. 21 Oregon and No. 15 Arizona State, visit in consecutive weeks to start the month of October. After that, the competition eases up. Of course, this is the same highly-touted school that lost to Stanford in 2007 and Oregon State in 2006. And don't discount the fact that USC plays its biggest rivals, Notre Dame and UCLA, back-to-back to close out the regular season. On paper, the Trojans are far superior, but motivation will be high for the Irish and Bruins, especially if their historic foes are in national-title contention.

Odds to Win the Heisman Trophy

Tim Tebow, Florida - 7/2
He won it last year, so it's no surprise he's the favorite to do it again, making him just the second player to go back-to-back. Ohio State's Archie Griffin turned the trick in 1974 and 1975, and Tebow's coach, Urban Meyer, is pretty sure his star quarterback can match the Buckeyes legend.

"There has never been anyone quite like him," Meyer told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "I am very lucky to be his coach."

Chris Wells, Ohio State - 5/1

The man they call "Beanie" was a star recruit out of high school, so it's not like nobody knew who the star tailback was before he rushed for 576 yards as a freshman in 2006 and 1,609 as a sophomore. But perhaps his finest moment came last year versus Michigan when he rumbled for 222 yards and two touchdowns in the Buckeyes' 14-3 victory over the hated Wolverines.

Knowshon Moreno, Georgia - 8/1

If the Bulldogs are to live up to expectations, they'll need a huge effort from their sophomore running back. This might be the last year of college ball for Moreno, who rushed for 1,334 yards and for 14 touchdowns as a freshman, while adding 253 receiving yards on 20 receptions, so expect big things for the man from Belford, N.J.

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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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