Reuters U.S. Sports Schedule at 2:15 PM ET on Friday, Dec 9

Dec 9 (Reuters) - Reuters U.S. sports schedule at 2:15 PM ET on Friday: - - - - For any coverage questions, please contact us.general-news@thomsonreuters.com - - - - NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE NFL expands to four London games in 2017 The NFL announced Friday it is committed to playing four regular-season games in London in 2017. (FBN-NEWS-LONDON-2017, moved, The Sports Xchange, 400 words) Carr's stinker helps sink Raiders KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- For most of the 2016 season, Oakland quarterback Derek Carr did little wrong. The Raiders were riding a six-game winning streak and were on top the AFC West standings entering their Thursday night faceoff with the Kansas City Chiefs. (FBN-RAIDERS-NEWS-CARR, moved, The Sports Xchange, by Bob Gretz, 513 words) Texans DE Clowney could return versus Colts Houston Texans defensive end Jadeveon Clowney returned to practice on Thursday after failing to travel with the team to Green Bay last week to face the Packers. (FBN-TEXANS-NEWS-CLOWNEY, moved, The Sports Xchange, 343 words) Falcons WR Jones (toe) ailing Atlanta Falcons electric wide receiver Julio Jones was unable to practice on Thursday, although coach Dan Quinn is optimistic that he'll have the All-Pro on the field Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams. (FBN-FALCONS-NEWS-JONES, moved, The Sports Xchange, 350 words) Previewing Week 14 Game advances for all Week 14 games, including key NFC games between the Cowboys and Giants and Green Bay hosting Seattle. (FBN-COWBOYS-GIANTS-PREVIEW/SEAHAWKS-PACKERS-PREVIEW/TITANS-BRON COS-PREVIEW) moved, The Sports Xchange, 800 words per game, all Week 14 games) - GAMESCOUT: Keys to all Week 14 games - Cowboys aim to clinch NFC East at New York - Buccaneers meet Saints for first time this season - Red-hot Lions look to avenge early-season loss to Bears - Falcons visit LA in critical NFC matchup - Redskins look for repeat of finishing kick NFL notebook News and notes from around the NFL. (FBN-NOTEBOOK, expect by 8 p.m., The Sports Xchange, 400 words) - - - - SOCCER Star power evident as Sounders, Toronto FC meet in MLS Cup TORONTO - Toronto pits its big three against a string of superstars from Seattle in the MLS Cup. (SCR-SEATTLE-TORONTO-PREVIEW, moved, The Sports Xchange, by Larry Millson, 600 words) - - - - COLLEGE BASKETBALL THE SPORTS XCHANGE covers all Top 25 college basketball games and recaps every Power 5 and Big East game. FRIDAY schedule: Longwood at Creighton 7:30 p.m. RECAP: Hartford at Boston College 7:00 p.m. Wake Forest UNC Greensboro 7:00 p.m. Georgia Southern at Minnesota 9:00 p.m. - - - - COLLEGE FOOTBALL GIMINO: Louisville's Jackson should hold Heisman Louisville sophomore quarterback Lamar Jackson won the Maxwell Award on Thursday night as college football's player of the year. (FBC-COLUMN-JACKSON, moved, The Sports Xchange, by Anthony Gimino, 500 words) Houston stays in-house, promotes Applewhite to head coach No Lane Kiffin for the Cougars. Houston promoted Major Applewhite to head coach to replaced new Texas coach Tom Herman. (FBC-HOUSTON-NEWS-APPLEWHITE, moved, The Sports Xchange, 523 words) Strong, USF in talks Former Texas head coach Charlie Strong is reportedly a candidate to replace Willie Taggart at South Florida. (FBC-SOUTHFLORIDA-NEWS-STRONG, expect by 4 p.m., The Sports Xchange, 350 words) Jackson, Watson split top college football awards Louisville sophomore quarterback Lamar Jackson won the Maxwell Award on Thursday night as college football's player of the year. (FBC-NEWS-AWARDS, moved, The Sports Xchange, 390 words) College football notebook News and notes from around the nation. (FBC-NOTEBOOK, expect by 7 p.m., The Sports Xchange, 400 words) - - - - MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL CF Fowler jumps from Cubs to Cardinals The St. Louis Cardinals signed former Chicago Cubs center fielder Dexter Fowler to a five-year deal. General manager John Mozeliak said at the introductory press conference Friday that Fowler helps the Cardinals take a step toward becoming more athletic, a stated organizational goal. (BBO-CARDINALS-FOWLER, moved, The Sports Xchange, 539 words) MLB notebook News and notes from around the league. (BBO-NOTEBOOK, expect by 7 p.m., The Sports Xchange, 400 words) - - - - NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION Thomas out again as Celtics host Raptors BOSTON -- the Raptors, who won at home Thursday night, and their potent backcourt combo of DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry have to face two games in two nights, they won't have to face Celtics star Isaiah Thomas. (BKN-RAPTORS-CELTICS-PREVIEW, moved, The Sports Xchange, 650 words) THE SPORTS XCHANGE staffs all NHL games. THURSDAY schedule: Orlando at Charlotte 7:00 p.m. Miami at Cleveland 7:30 p.m. Toronto at Boston 7:30 p.m. Detroit at Minnesota 8:00 p.m. Houston at Oklahoma City 8:00 p.m. Atlanta at Milwaukee 8:00 p.m. Indiana at Dallas 8:30 p.m. Phoenix at L.A. Lakers 10:30 p.m. New York at Sacramento 10:30 p.m. - - - - NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE THE SPORTS XCHANGE staffs all NHL games. FRIDAY schedule: Washington at Buffalo 7:00 p.m. St. Louis at New Jersey 7:30 p.m. Columbus at Detroit 7:30 p.m. Edmonton at Minnesota 8:00 p.m. N.Y. Rangers at Chicago 8:30 p.m. San Jose at Anaheim 10:00 p.m. NHL roundup Capsule summaries of all games on the schedule Friday. (HKN-ROUNDUP, expect multiple versions beginning ASAP after 8 p.m. games end, The Sports Xchange, 375 words) NHL notebook News and notes from around the league. (HKN-NOTEBOOK, expect by 8 p.m., The Sports Xchange, 400 words) - - - - AUTO RACING Earnhardt shifts gears from concussion tests to cockpit Dale Earnhardt Jr. left Wednesday's test session at Darlington Raceway feeling strong and more confident than ever. Just as important, he left Darlington with a clean bill of health and clearance to return to competition at NASCAR's highest level. (CAR-SPRINT-NEWS-EARNHARDT, moved, The Sports Xchange special from Reid Spencer, NASCAR Wire Service, 573 words) - - - - DOPING Over 1,000 Russian athletes benefited from doping conspiracy LONDON - More than 1,000 Russian athletes competing in summer, winter and paralympic sport were involved in or benefited from an institutional conspiracy to conceal positive doping tests. (SPORT-DOPING/WADA, (PIX, TV), moved, by Mitch Phillips, 600 words) - - - -