09/05/2008 - New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The USTA and captain Patrick McEnroe announced that the defending champions named world No. 8 Andy Roddick, No. 9 James Blake and the doubles team of Bob and Mike Bryan to represent the U.S. in the 2008 Davis Cup semifinals.
The U.S. will face Spain on a temporary outdoor red clay court constructed in Madrid's Plaza de Toros Las Ventas from September 19-21. It will be a best-of- five affair.
This is the 11th straight time that the U.S. has used this same lineup -- a record for the American team.
Should the United States defeat Spain, it would travel to Russia or Argentina for the Davis Cup final, to be held November 21-23. Argentina hosts Russia in the other semifinal this month.
The Spanish team should be highlighted by world No. 1 and reigning Wimbledon, four-time French Open and Olympic champion Rafael Nadal.
The United States and Spain will meet for the ninth time in their history and for the fifth time since 2000. The Americans are 5-3 against Spain, winning the last meeting in a 2007 World Group quarterfinal in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
Roddick is currently enjoying a career-best nine-match winning streak in Davis Cup and has a 29-9 record since joining the team in 2001, which places him third all-time in singles victories for the U.S. team.
Blake has a 20-9 overall record in Davis Cup (17-8 in singles, 3-1 in doubles), having represented the United States in 15 ties over the past seven years.
The twin Bryans are 14-2 in their Davis Cup doubles.
Established in 1900, Davis Cup is the world's largest annual international men's team competition, with 127 nations competing this year. The U.S. leads all nations with its 32 titles.
<< Report: Rangers' Kinsler needs season-ending surgery
Dallas, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Texas Rangers second baseman Ian Kinsler
will reportedly undergo season-ending surgery to repair a sports hernia.
The Dallas Morning News reported that Kinsler, out since August 18 with the
injury, de
<< Molik retires from tennis
St. Petersburg, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Former Top-10 player Alicia Molik has
announced her retirement from professional tennis.
The 27-year-old Aussie had her career derailed by an inner ear infection in
the spring of 2005. The probl
<< D'Backs, Dodgers start critical set at Chavez Ravine
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The top two teams in the National League West begin a
crucial three-game September showdown tonight in Los Angeles, where the
Dodgers put their winning streak on the line against the first-place Arizona
Diamondbacks.
Los
<< Torrid Astros head to Colorado for key series
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Houston Astros have had to put together a pair of
lengthy winning streaks to stay in the National League wild-card race, while
the Colorado Rockies are still in the hunt due to a weak NL West.
The Astros and
Orioles to bring back Trembley in 2009 >>
Baltimore, MD (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Dave Trembley will manage the Orioles for at
least one more season, and maybe more.
The Baltimore Orioles have exercised their option on Trembley for the 2009
season and added a club option for 2010, the
Brewers sign veteran Lamb >>
Milwaukee, WI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Milwaukee Brewers signed veteran
infielder Mike Lamb on Friday.
Lamb, who will not be eligible to play if the Brewers reach the postseason,
batted .233 with a home run and 32 RBI in 81 g
Rumford, McIlroy share European Masters lead >>
Crans Montana, Switzerland (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Defending champion Brett Rumford
of Australia fired a four-under 67 on Friday to tie Rory McIlroy for the lead
midway through the European Masters.
McIlroy, the 19-year-old former amateur star f
QB Issues Loom In Niners-Cards Battle >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - When the San Francisco 49ers and Arizona Cardinals opened
the 2007 season against each other by the bay, both teams had their respective
quarterbacks of the future under center. Yet, those two former first-round
picks will bo
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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