Saban becoming big multimedia presence

NCAA Football Betting Lines

08/26/2010 -

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) -Nick Saban is all about efficiency, even when it comes to capitalizing on the positive publicity from a national championship season.

Instead of hunkering down and writing a book like he did at LSU, the Alabama coach allowed cameras into his professional inner sanctum for a one-hour behind-the-scenes ESPN special filmed early in fall camp. Now, a documentary on the 2009 season is set to appear in theaters near you - well, if you live in certain cities in a four-state area.

For Saban, it's free publicity with minimal time siphoned from the other parts of his job. Like coaching and generally running a team.

That's what he was doing Tuesday evening during the Birmingham premier of the documentary ``Nick Saban: Gamechanger,'' though his family and athletic director Mal Moore attended.

``I haven't seen it, so I can't tell you what it's about,'' Saban said. ``It was a whole lot easier to do than write a book.''

That's what he did after LSU won a national title in 2004, mixing in some of biographical material with leadership principles in ``How Good Do You Want to be?''

``Gamechanger'' was produced by Flashlight Media Group of Memphis, Tenn. The company said it is set to air in nearly 30 theaters starting Friday in Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Tennessee.

Producers Trey Reynolds and Grant Guffin, who had done a DVD set of Alabama football's greatest moments, approached Saban's Memphis-based agent, Jimmy Sexton, about the project just before last season. They started shooting after the season, traveling with Saban to film an ESPN commercial with Texas coach Mack Brown in California and to his home state of West Virginia.

``He's portrayed as somebody who is almost robotic in his drive and his commitment toward football,'' Guffin said. ``I had the perception before we had the opportunity to observe him and get to know him that he was football 24-7, 365 days a year.

``He's a guy who has learned how to keep things in balance. He's a guy who clearly knows how to have a good time and who enjoys time with his family and enjoys time with his friends. He's got a really sharp wit. We had the opportunity to hear some stories from friends of his of things that they have done in the past. He certainly has a mischievous streak as good as the next guy. He's much more three-dimensional to me after being around him and getting to know people who know him.''

It's just the latest example of Saban's multimedia presence. He was on the cover of Forbes magazine two years ago as the ``most powerful man in sports.'' He appeared as himself in the movie ``The Blind Side.''

Now, there's the ESPN special and documentary back to back.

Alabama tailback Mark Ingram was a big presence on the TV program, even doing handstand pushups after one of the crew members challenged him to a pushup contest of the regular variety.

``I haven't seen that much of it,'' Ingram said, ``so I need to catch somebody who Tivo-ed it.''

He said he didn't know anything about the documentary.

Might it be Saban's choice for the Friday night team movie before the opener next Saturday against San Jose State?

``That's always coach's decision,'' Ingram said, ``but I doubt he'll pick that.''Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.

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MySportsbook.com Favors Fighting Irish to win College Football betting odds

According to odds makers at MySportsbook.com, on January 8, the Fighting Irish faithful may be toasting their 14th national title in Arizona – Notre Dame’s first national championship in close to 20 years.

Although MySportsbook.com has listed Notre Dame as the 5-1 favorite to win thecollege football College Football betting, fans in Columbus do not need to cancel their tickets to Glendale just yet.  The Ohio State Buckeyes, listed right behind the Irish at 7-1, are also heavy favorites to win college football’s most coveted prize, while West Virginia, USC and the 2007 National Champion Texas Longhorns - all listed at 8-1 – are strong contenders as well.

MySportsbook.com has also posted gambling odds on the conference championships for the ACC, Big 12 and SEC.  In the ACC – it could be anyone’s title, particularly for the two schools from the Sunshine State.  Florida State and Miami, both listed at 2-1, are favored to win the ACC Championship Game odds, with the ‘Noles hoping to finish in the nation’s top 10 for the first time in five years, and the ‘Canes looking to avenge their 10-7 loss against FSU in last year’s ACC Championship betting.

Moving west to the Big 12, MySportsbook.com has betting lines listing Texas as 7-5 favorites to repeat as conference champions, even though the Longhorns lost their national championship-winning quarterback Vince Young to the NFL.  In the south, the Auburn Tigers – led by Heisman-hopeful senior running back Kenny Irons – have been given the best odds to win the SEC Championship odds at 5-2.

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ODDS TO WIN THE BCS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

Notre Dame
Ohio State
West Virginia
Texas
USC
Florida
California
Auburn
Oklahoma
Iowa
Louisville
Florida State
Michigan
Miami (FL)
LSU
Penn State
Virginia Tech
Nebraska
Tennessee
Georgia
Arizona State
Oregon
Clemson
Texas A&M
Texas Tech
Alabama
Arkansas
Boston College
Michigan State
Maryland
South Carolina
Colorado
Purdue
Georgia Tech
TCU
UCLA
Arizona
Pittsburgh
Iowa State
Wisconsin
North Carolina State
Virginia
North Carolina
Fresno State
Hawaii
Northwestern
BYU
Oregon State
UNLV
Field (Any Other Team)
5-1
7-1
8-1
8-1
8-1
12-1
15-1
15-1
18-1
20-1
20-1
20-1
20-1
20-1
25-1
40-1
40-1
50-1
60-1
60-1
60-1
70-1
70-1
100-1
100-1
100-1
100-1
100-1
150-1
200-1
200-1
200-1
200-1
200-1
250-1
250-1
300-1
300-1
300-1
300-1
300-1
300-1
400-1
500-1
500-1
500-1
500-1
1000-1
1000-1
40-1



ODDS TO WIN ACC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

Miami (FL)
Florida State
Virginia Tech
Clemson
Georgia Tech
Boston College
Maryland
Virginia
North Carolina State
North Carolina
Wake Forest
Duke
2-1
2-1
3-1
7-1
15-1
15-1
15-1
30-1
30-1
30-1
50-1
500-1



ODDS TO WIN BIG 12 CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

Texas
Oklahoma
Nebraska
Texas Tech
Colorado
Iowa State
Texas A&M
Kansas State
Missouri
Kansas
Baylor
Oklahoma State
7-5
9-5
9-2
12-1
14-1
15-1
15-1
30-1
30-1
35-1
100-1
100-1



ODDS TO WIN SEC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

Auburn
Florida
LSU
Georgia
Tennessee
Arkansas
Alabama
Mississippi
South Carolina
Mississippi State
Kentucky
Vanderbilt
5-2
11-4
4-1
6-1
7-1
7-1
9-1
20-1
28-1
75-1
100-1
300-1

For complete NCAA football odds please visit Mysportsbook.com.