07/25/2008 - Indianapolis, IN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Two-time NASCAR Cup champion Tony Stewart announced his 2009 car number and sponsors for his new team, Stewart-Haas Racing, in a press conference held Friday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Stewart will drive the No.14 Chevrolet with Office Depot and Old Spice serving as co-primary sponsors of his team in the Sprint Cup Series.
Stewart's red and black Office Depot/Old Spice Chevrolet was also unveiled, sporting the No.14, made famous by his long-time racing idol A.J. Foyt.
"Four was my first ever go-kart number that I started with," Stewart said. "Everybody knows that A.J. Foyt has always been my all-time favorite hero. And when this opportunity came about, it was about a five-minute tug-of-war between do I want my first number back or do I want A.J.'s number, and it was pretty easy to decide that I wanted the number that my all-time hero had."
Foyt could not join Stewart for the announcement at Indianapolis since he was in Edmonton, Canada for the IndyCar Series's inaugural running at the Rexall Speedway. Foyt owns a team in the series.
Stewart's future teammate at Stewart-Haas Racing will drive the No.4 Chevrolet. A driver and sponsor have yet to be announced.
Office Depot will sponsor Stewart's car in 60 percent of the races with Old Spice taking over the remaining 40 percent.
"None of us expected or even thought it would be even feasible that this could happen this fast," Stewart said. "It's a great weight lifted off our shoulders. After today, we don't worry about Office Depot and Old Spice, and worry about the second car. It allows us to shift our focus. When you run a two-car program, you have to look out for both of those cars."
Old Spice has supported Stewart's efforts in the Nationwide Series and sponsors his Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, OH. Office Depot currently sponsors Carl Edward's No.99 Sprint Cup car at Roush Fenway Racing, but is leaving the team at the end of the season.
Two weeks ago, Stewart announced his merger with Haas CNC Racing in 2009 to serve as both driver and owner. He will acquire a 50 percent share of the team.
Stewart was granted a release from the final year of his contract with Joe Gibbs Racing, a move that will take effect at the conclusion of the 2008 season. He will finish the 2008 Sprint Cup season driving the No.20 Toyota for JGR, and will compete in one more Nationwide Series race for the organization, next month at Michigan.
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Seahawks sign DE Jackson >>
Kirkland, WA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Seattle Seahawks have signed their first
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The Seattle Times reported the deal is for five years and worth a total of
$11.25 million, with $6.1 million guara
Blue Jackets sign LW York >>
Columbus, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Columbus Blue Jackets signed
left wing Mike York to a one-year contract on Friday. Per club policy,
financial terms were not disclosed.
York, 30, tallied six goals and eight assis
Report: Lions sign CB Bodden to extension >>
Detroit, MI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Detroit Lions have reportedly come to
terms on a four-year contract extension with cornerback Leigh Bodden.
The Detroit Free-Press reported Friday on the deal, which will pay Bodden up
to $27 million over
Nashville announces two signings >>
Nashville, TN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Nashville Predators signed center Rich
Peverley to a two-year contract and goaltender Pekka Rinne to a one-year
contract extension, the team announced Friday.
The first year of Peverley's contrac
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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