This week the Sprint Cup series returns to the heart of NASCAR racing country for the prime time running of the Bojangles\u2019 Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway. <\/p>\n
NASCAR Sprint Cup Bojangles\u2019 Southern 500 Preview and Prediction<\/b> Saturday night\u2019s race is set to get underway at 7 p.m. and it will be broadcast nationally on FOX.<\/p>\n David Ragan stunned the field last week at Talladega in a wild green-white-checkered finish with another longshot, David Gilliland taking second. Carl Edwards rounded-out the top three of this rain soaked event.<\/p>\n The following is a closer look at our favorite, contender, and longshot picks for this Saturday night\u2019s race with odds provided by Sportsbook.<\/p>\n As expected, one of the top favorites to win this week is current Sprint Cup point leader Jimmie Johnson<\/b> at +600.<\/p>\n The No. 48 car has already opened up a 41-point lead in the standings in its pursuit to recapture the title after a two-year absence. Johnson has posted two victories and three other top-five finishes to tally 383 points in the first 10 races.<\/p>\n Adding even more value to these odds is the fact that he comes into this week\u2019s race as the defending champion. He has three career Sprint Cup victories at Darlington and a number of other top-10 runs that add up to a 9.1 average finishing position at this track. [ad-8757089]<\/p>\n In 2011 Carl Edwards<\/b> came painfully close to winning the Sprint Cup title and after suffering through a disappointing season in 2012, he is right back near the top this year. With a victory at Phoenix combined with four other top-five finishes the No. 99 car is sitting in second place in the standings with 342 points.<\/p>\n Edwards comes into this race at +1000 to win his first ever point race at this track. He ended-up second in 2011 and finished seventh in last year\u2019s race.<\/p>\n Anytime you can get longer odds on a driver that is currently sitting in third place in the point standings you should jump at the chance. Dale Earnhardt Jr. is still looking for his first victory this season and he has been opened as a mild +2000 longshot to end the drought this Saturday night.<\/p>\n The No. 88 car has been in the mix all year long with six top-10 finishes in the first 10 point races including a second-place finish at both Daytona and Fontana to tally a total of 324 points so far. The reason for the long odds is an average finishing position of 15.3 at this track with is last top-five finish coming in 2008.<\/p>\n Kyle Busch 5-1
\nRace: Bojangles\u2019 Southern 500, Darlington Raceway<\/b>
\nDate: Saturday, May 11, 2013<\/b>
\nTime: 7 p.m. (ET)<\/b>
\nBroadcast: FOX<\/b>
\n Odds: Bovada<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\nThe Favorite (odd of less than 10\/1)<\/h3>\n
The Contender (odds from 10\/1 to 19\/1)<\/b><\/h3>\n
The Longshot (odds 20\/1 or greater)<\/b><\/h3>\n
Odds from Bovada<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n
\nJimmie Johnson 6-1
\nMatt Kenseth 7-1
\nDenny Hamlin 8-1
\nJeff Gordon 10-1
\nKasey Kahne 10-1
\nGreg Biffle 12-1
\nCarl Edwards 12-1
\nBrad Keselowski 12-1
\nClint Bowyer 15-1
\nMartin Truex Jr. 15-1
\nDale Earnhardt Jr. 18-1
\nKevin Harvick 20-1
\nTony Stewart 20-1
\nJoey Logano 30-1
\nMark Martin 45-1
\nRicky Stenhouse Jr. 50-1
\nKurt Busch 55-1
\nJuan Pablo Montoya 80-1
\nRyan Newman 80-1
\nAric Almirola 100-1
\nMarcos Ambrose 100-1
\nPaul Menard 100-1
\nDanica Patrick 500-1
\nField (All Others) 100-1<\/p>\n