Sato signs with Rahal Letterman Lanigan for 2012 season
Autoracing Betting Lines
02/03/2012 - Indianapolis, IN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing revealed on Friday that Japanese driver Takuma Sato has joined the team for the 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series season. Sato will drive the team's No.15 Honda entry.
RLL is running a full IndyCar schedule this season for the first time since 2008. The team has run a partial IndyCar schedule the past three seasons, focusing its efforts more on American Le Mans Series competition. Ryan Hunter- Reay drove for RLL in '08, scoring one victory and finishing eighth in points. The racing organization ceased its IndyCar operations at the end of that season due to lack of sponsorship.
"RLL is extremely pleased to welcome Takuma to our IndyCar Series team for 2012, and we anticipate having a very strong season together," team co-owner Bobby Rahal said in a statement. "While we were determined to have an experienced driver for this season, we also needed someone that knew how to get to the front, and Takuma has shown that he can do that, and we expect to have a great opportunity to win races this year. He has made great strides through the last two seasons in IndyCar, and I have no doubt that we can produce a strong effort with him leading the team."
Television icon and racing aficionado David Letterman and businessman Mike Lanigan also co-own the team.
Sato drove for KV Racing Technology during his first two IndyCar seasons from 2010-11. Last season, he claimed his first pole in the series, which came at Iowa. He also won the pole at Edmonton. Sato recorded three top-five results and seven top-10s on his way to a 13th-place finish in points.
Prior to his IndyCar career, Sato competed in Formula One from 2002-08. He drove for Jordan, British American Racing and Super Aguri during his tenure in F1.
"I'm very proud, motivated and excited to be chosen by Bobby to join his big project," Sato said. "This team I feel has got huge potential. Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing has got a great history and record of winning, so my motivation is ever so high, and I am extremely thrilled to start the new season. With a new car for everybody, I am confident that we'll be up to speed very quickly."
RLL said in its new release it is currently preparing Sato's car for next month's IndyCar open test at Sebring International Raceway in Sebring, Florida. The team also noted its planning to enter a second car this season and intends to have ready for preseason testing as well.
Moscow, Russia (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 2012 Fed Cup quarterfinal between host Russia and Spain will commence Saturday with a singles match between Australian Open runner-up Maria Sharapova and Spaniard Silvia Soler-Espinosa. "I'm
<< Lowly Blue Jackets visit Ducks
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Columbus Blue Jackets' disappointing season may have
hit a new low point on Wednesday. They hope the return of sniper Jeff Carter
can help turn things around this evening in the finale of a six-game road trip
against the
<< Sixers try to solve Heat in Philly
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Philadelphia 76ers may not possess the star power that
Miami Heat bring to the court, but they have been every bit as good as their
much-hyped counterparts in the early going this season.
Tonight, the Sixers eye a fift
<< Rested Blues aim to snap Kings' win streak
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The well-rested St. Louis Blues will try to avoid just
their second three-game losing streak under Ken Hitchcock when they host the
Los Angeles Kings tonight at Scottrade Center.
All in all, the Blues posted a terrific 8-1
<< Thunder, Grizzlies collide in OKC
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Thunder make a quick stop back in Oklahoma City
searching for their sixth straight win tonight in the Sooner State when they
play host to the Memphis Grizzlies.
OKC, which has an NBA-best 17-4 record, is in t
Arcadia, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Three of the eight three-year-olds entered in Saturday's $200,000 Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita Park are trained by a pair of Hall of Fame conditioners with Kentucky Derby aspirations. The 1 1/16-mi
Pens extend Vitale's contract >>
Pittsburgh, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Pittsburgh Penguins have re-signed
forward Joe Vitale to a two-year contract extension.
The deal, which keeps Vitale in Pittsburgh through the 2013-14 season, is
worth an average value of $550
Terry stripped of England captaincy >>
London, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Chelsea and England defender John Terry was
stripped of the England captaincy on Friday amid allegations that he racially
abused QPR defender Anton Ferdinand.
Terry was originally named captain of the
Alpha looms large in Withers >>
Ozone Park, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Local stakes winner Alpha has been made the
even-money favorite in a field of seven for Saturday's $200,000 Withers Stakes
at Aqueduct. After a year's absence the Withers returns as a prep event for
three-y
Abidal inks new Barca deal >>
Barcelona, Spain (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Barcelona defender Eric Abidal put pen to
paper on a new contract with the club on Friday, signing a deal that keeps him
at the Nou Camp through at least next season.
It was announced last month that the
COLLEGE FOOTBALL BETTING
NCAA Football BettingMany 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.
Stay with us here as we take you through the best in NFL action on a consistent basis, with advice columns as well as handicapping selections. If you're looking for college football betting, that's in our NCAA section, which you can reach by clicking here. And if you're looking for a different kind of football, such as the Canadian Football League, which we'll deal with occasionally, or the Arena Football League, which we really like, you can find it in our Miscellaneous section by clicking
Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting lines .
To visit this sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your football betting needs. Mysportsbook.com online sports betting