11/20/2008 - Newcastle, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Newcastle United striker Michael Owen is set to make his first start since the beginning of October in Saturday's match with Chelsea.
Owen, 28, has made three substitute appearances following his return from a latest groin injury.
He scored in last weekend's 2-2 draw with Wigan Athletic, but following a week on the training ground free from international distractions, the England striker is in line to start at Stamford Bridge.
"I would say he's close to 100 percent now," said interim manager Joe Kinnear. "Michael is frustrated because he feels he is almost there, but he's getting better and better and sharper and sharper.
"He has his own private coach and he has been doing an hour's special work with him before training starts. That is the type of professional he is."
Meanwhile, Kinnear also confirmed that defender Steven Taylor will miss the trip to the capital as he remains troubled by a groin strain.
(Courtesy of sportbox.tv)
<< Rams' Jackson won't play Sunday, again
St. Louis, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - St. Louis Rams running back Steven Jackson
will not play Sunday against the Chicago Bears because of a strained right
thigh muscle.
Jackson was hurt during the October 19 game against Dallas, despit
<< Atletico's Franco expects to extend contract
Madrid, Spain (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Goalie Leo Franco is confident of agreeing a
new contract to remain with Atletico Madrid.
Franco, 31, is out of contract at the end of the current season but remains the
Rojiblancos' number one choice des
<< Liverpool's Skrtel denies Zenit rumors
Liverpool, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez and defender
Martin Skrtel have denied reports linking the Slovakia international with a
return to the club he left in January.
Reports in Russia suggested Skrtel had s
<< Roma plans to keep Vucinic, Aquilani
Rome, Italy (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - AS Roma has dismissed reports which suggested
they could lose both Mirko Vucinic and Alberto Aquilani during the January
transfer window.
Montenegro international striker Vucinic has been linked wit
Rangers ship righty Loe to Japan >>
Arlington, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Texas Rangers have sold the rights to
right-handed pitcher Kameron Loe to the Fukuoka SouthBank Hawks of Japan's
Pacific League for an undisclosed amount.
Loe, the club's 20th round pick in 2002,
Iona will no longer have football >>
New Rochelle, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Iona College has announced that it is
terminating its football program, effective immediately, on Thursday.
"It is with a heavy heart and careful deliberations that we have come to this
extremely di
Portsmouth signs goalkeeping coach to new contract >>
Portsmouth, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Portsmouth has successfully headed off
reported interest from Spurs in David Coles after agreeing a new contract with
their goalkeeping coach.
Coles, 44, had been strongly linked with a move to W
Celtic's Hartley suffers ankle injury in friendly >>
Glasgow, Scotland (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Celtic midfielder Paul Hartley fears that
he faces a spell on the sidelines after picking up an ankle knock in Scotland's
friendly international defeat to Argentina.
The former Hearts star could miss Sat
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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