NASCAR Picks - Budweiser Shoot-Out Race Match-Ups

Although the Budweiser Shoot-Out is listed as an exhibition on the NASCAR wagering schedule, the truth is that every single driver in NASCAR wants to win it.

Heck, every driver in NASCAR wants to win period which is why NASCAR is easily one of the most competitive sports in the United States right now. Which drivers will come up big and which drivers will fail?

It depends on how you look at it. Let’s first take a look at match-up betting in the sportsbook for the Budweiser Shoot-Out.

Sports betting fans should be able to find a suitable online wager among these four betting interests.

Budweiser Shoot-Out Match-Up Betting

1. Carl Edwards -140 vs. Matt Kenseth Ev - - Edwards is the better driver. Okay, I shouldn’t write that because Kenseth can do well at times but Edwards will start out hot, like he does every year, while Kenseth will struggle to make the Chase. Edwards is actually a good bet in this match-up. His crew will want to set the tone for the season early.

Pick: Carl Edwards at -140

2. Jeff Gordon -155 vs. Kurt Busch +115 - - I’m partial to Gordon this season because he had a terrible 2008. He should bounce back in a big way, but Kurt Busch could get the upper hand in this race. Busch is primed for an upset and winning the Budweiser Shoot-Out would be a huge upset. I like Busch to beat Gordon in match-up betting.

Pick: Kurt Busch at +115

3. Dale Earnhardt Jr. -130 vs. Denny Hamlin -110 - - Hamlin is the second best driver on the Joe Gibbs Racing Team but he should be good enough to beat the third best driver at Hendrick Motorsports. Jr. just doesn’t have the stones to compete in NASCAR. Yes, I just wrote that. Okay, so he’s the most popular driver but Hamlin should beat him easily in this match-up.

Pick: Denny Hamlin at -110

4. Kyle Busch -180 vs. David Ragan +140 - - Ragan has no shot, right? Probably because Busch is a serious contender this year for the Sprint Cup, but I like Ragan at the online odds because Busch knows that next week he needs to really make a run in Daytona. I’m going with Ragan as an upset. It makes sense at the online wagering odds of +140.

Pick: David Ragan at +140

Good Luck!