When it comes to prop bets, I typically find myself taking more head-to-head driver matchups in a given week. That's not necessarily because I like matchups more than other NASCAR wager types, but because that's simply where the value tends to show up.
However, today I really like a handful of top-five props for the Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead — and there's a reason.
Because the Championship 4 drivers — Martin Truex Jr., Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin — are all priced at 3-1 or shorter to win today at Homestead, it leaves a lot of nice numbers for non-playoff drivers.
This value ripples down to top-five prices, as well, which are great bets because we don't need these drivers to beat the Championship 4, they simply have to sneak their way into the top five.
Here are my two favorite top-five prop bets for today's Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead.
NASCAR at Homestead Prop Bet Picks
Ryan Blaney (+750) for a Top-Five Finish
I like Blaney a lot at 60-1 to win the race, and am backing that up at +750 for a top-five finish. Blaney has plenty of long run speed in his car, ranking in the top five in five-, 10-, 15- and 20-lap averages in final practice and landing the seventh-starting spot when qualifying was rained out on Saturday.
Blaney has the speed to hang around his starting position today and give us a crack at a top five, which is all we can ask for at +750.
William Byron (+1400) for a Top-Five Finish
You didn't think I'd leave Byron out of my final NASCAR article of the season, did you?
I had my eye on Byron coming into today's race based on sneaky speed from Hendrick Motorsports drivers at racetracks similar to Homestead, specifically Chicagoland Speedway.
The driver of the No. 24 Chevy finished eighth at Chicago, while posting the sixth-best Driver Rating, and has carried that speed over to Homestead this weekend.
Byron really popped on long runs, posting the second-best 15-lap average and the top 20-lap average in practice.
Again, we don't need him to win the race, but 14-1 is an incredible price for a driver who has shown speed on this type of racetrack and backed it up in practice.
Be sure to follow me on Twitter as I continue adding to my betting card for today's Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead.
