NASCAR betting fans: We’re back with another fantastic race this weekend at Chicagoland Speedway, as 43 of the best drivers in the world look to make for great GEICO 400 picks and the Chase for the Sprint Cup begins!

2012 GEICO 400 Odds, Picks & Info
2012 GEICO 400 Date: Sunday, September 16th, 2012
2012 GEICO 400 Green Flag Time: 2:14 ET
2012 GEICO 400 Location: Chicagoland Speedway, Chicago, IL
2012 GEICO 400 Favorite: Jeff Gordon and Matt Kenseth (+800)
Defending GEICO 400 Champion: Tony Stewart
2011 GEICO 400 TV Coverage – Network: ESPN

Last year was one of the first times that we have seen a driver come from the Chase for the Sprint Cup to win the opening race of the Chase. The man that claimed that title was Tony Stewart (Odds to Win the GEICO 400: 17 to 2 at Bovada Sportsbook). The man they call “Smoke” is really getting disrespected as one of the middle of the road drivers on the odds to win the Sprint Cup, but he is surely going to be one of the favorites after winning here at Chicagoland last year. The problem that we have backing Stewart right now though, is that he only has one finish better than 19th since the August 5th Pennsylvania 400. The good news though, is that that solid finish came last week at the regular season ending Federated Auto Parts 400, so perhaps there is better coming here for Stewart as we start the postseason.

But of course, the man that is going to be the favorite here in the Windy City is Jimmie Johnson (Current GEICO 400 Odds: 11 to 2 at Bovada Sportsbook). The No. 48 hasn’t won at this track in his career, but he does have eight Top 10 finishes in his 10 career starts. There aren’t many drivers that are in the Chase that have all that much success at the GEICO 400, and we aren’t all that surprised that Johnson hasn’t done all that much either. However, he is still one of the drivers that has historically raced incredibly hard here in the opening few races in the Chase, and this could be yet another great time to back JJ to win this race.

List Of Past GEICO 400 Champions (Since 2000)
2011 GEICO 400 Winner: Tony Stewart
2010 GEICO 400 Winner: David Reutimann
2009 GEICO 400 Winner: Mark Martin
2008 GEICO 400 Winner: Kyle Busch
2007 GEICO 400 Winner: Tony Stewart
2006 GEICO 400 Winner: Jeff Gordon
2005 GEICO 400 Winner: Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
2004 GEICO 400 Winner: Tony Stewart
2003 GEICO 400 Winner: Ryan Newman
2002 GEICO 400 Winner: Kevin Harvick
2001 GEICO 400 Winner: Kevin Harvick

One of the men that the media is hyping up as a driver that could win the Chase for the Sprint Cup is Dale Earnhardt, Jr. (GEICO 400 Lines: 12 to 1 at Bovada Sportsbook). Little E isn’t exactly one of the immediate favorites to win the Sprint Cup or this race at Chicagoland, but he is going to be a force to be reckoned with. Unlike most of the other drivers in the Chase, at least Earnhardt Jr. knows how to get to Victory Lane here in the Windy City, having won here in 2005.

GEICO 400 Odds @ Bovada Sportsbook (as of 9/15/12):
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Jimmie Johnson 11 to 2
Denny Hamlin 15 to 2
Tony Stewart 17 to 2
Greg Biffle 9 to 1
Jeff Gordon 10 to 1
Matt Kenseth 10 to 1
Dale Earnhardt Jr. 12 to 1
Kasey Kahne 13 to 1
Kyle Busch 13 to 1
Brad Keselowski 27 to 2
Carl Edwards 14 to 1
Kevin Harvick 16 to 1
Martin Truex Jr. 20 to 1
Clint Bowyer 22 to 1
Mark Martin 22 to 1
Joey Logano 40 to 1
Marcos Ambrose 40 to 1
Ryan Newman 40 to 1
Jeff Burton 50 to 1
Paul Menard 50 to 1
Juan Pablo Montoya 66 to 1
Kurt Busch 66 to 1
Sam Hornish Jr. 66 to 1
Jamie McMurray 80 to 1
Regan Smith 125 to 1
Aric Almirola 150 to 1
Cole Whitt 150 to 1
Trevor Bayne 150 to 1
Bobby Labonte 300 to 1
Casey Mears 400 to 1
David Ragan 400 to 1
Scott Speed 500 to 1
Dave Blaney 750 to 1
David Gilliland 750 to 1
Joe Nemechek 750 to 1
Landon Cassill 750 to 1
Michael McDowell 750 to 1
Danica Patrick 800 to 1
David Stremme 800 to 1
JJ Yeley 800 to 1
Jason Leffler 1,000 to 1
Josh Wise 1,000 to 1
Mike Bliss 1,000 to 1
Reed Sorenson 1,000 to 1
Scott Riggs 1,000 to 1
TJ Bell 1,000 to 1
Travis Kvapil 1,000 to 1

The Carolina Panthers and New York Giants are set to continue the 2012 NFL season, and as a part of our analysis of the Week 3 betting lines, we are taking a look at some of the best NFL props on the board for this crucial Thursday Night Football matchup.

Total Sacks Over/Under 4: We really don’t like betting these sack props all that often, but in this case, we are going to make an exception. The Panthers know that there is absolutely no threat of the Giants running the ball in this one, and that means that they can pin their ears back and go after QB Eli Manning, who is going to be without RB Ahmad Bradshaw, who is also an underrated pass blocker, T David Diehl, arguably his best offensive lineman, and WR Hakeem Nicks and WR Domenik Hixon, his No. 1 and No. 3 receivers. We’re never going to count out the New York defensive front from getting its sack or two either even though QB Cam Newton is one of the best escape artists that the game has to offer. This should be a nice game for the two defensive lines, though both offensive lines are going to be scratching their heads as to how they are going to end up getting the job done against these ferocious rushes. Total Sacks Over 4 (-130)

Eli Manning Over/Under 290.5 Passing Yards: Manning threw for 500+ yards last week, so this should be no problem, right? Maybe not so much. Again, both Nicks and Hixon are out of the fold, and the receivers aside from WR Victor Cruz that are available just aren’t all that great, to say the least. Manning will hopefully have a better chance of playing this game from ahead than from behind, though you never really know about that either. The Carolina defense is going to be amped up to try to defend the pass this time around, and the unit really did well against the New Orleans Saints five days ago. This one could be tough sledding for the younger Manning, as he has to face the facts that he is really going into battle in this one from an offensive standpoint, basically all by himself. Eli Manning Under 290.5 Passing Yards (-115)

Victor Cruz Over/Under 6 Receptions: This is definitely a donkey type of play, but we just don’t see any other options out there. Who’s going to be catching the ball from Manning on Thursday night? Martellus Bennett? Okay, he’ll have a few. Rueben Randle? Ramses Barden? Who are these guys? There’s just nothing out there for Manning to work with in this one, but at least he has a rapport built up with Cruz the likes that he just doesn’t have with anyone else out there. And yes, Carolina is going to know that that’s coming, and it is going to overload on Cruz’s side with defenders, but that won’t matter. Eli just has to be good enough to work the ball to his top receiver at least a dozen times in this one, and more often than not, those passes are going to be completed. Victor Cruz Over 6 Receptions (-150)

Will Eli Manning Throw an Interception?: Of course he will. This is Eli that we’re talking about. Last week, Manning had three picks in the first half, and this week, he is in even worse shape, knowing that he doesn’t have his best and most reliable receiver. Carolina doesn’t have the greatest secondary in the world, but it does have a unit that can get to the football when it is loose. Manning will make at least one mistake in this game amongst the 45-50 throws that he is probably going to be asked to make, and when he does, we’ll cash one of the easiest -220 tickets of our lives. Eli Manning To Throw an Interception (-220)

Brandon LaFell Over/Under 51.5 Receiving Yards: We’re used to it being boom or bust for LaFell, but it is clear this year that he is receiving some more attention from QB Cam Newton. The Giants’ secondary, along with its offensive line and the rest of its team, is all banged up right now as well, and if DB Prince Amukamara doesn’t end up playing, LaFell might be the man that ends up getting sprung deep down the field. The way that Newton throws the ball, it only takes one great shot down the field to get LaFell 50+ yards, and we think that that is exactly what is going to happen in this one. Brandon LaFell Over 51.5 Receiving Yards (-115)

New York Giants vs. Carolina Panthers NFL Props @ 5Dimes Sportsbook (as of 9/20/12):
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Score in the First 6 Minutes of the Game -135
No Score in the First 6 Minutes of the Game +105

Giants Score First -120
Panthers Score First -110

First Score a Touchdown -190
First Score Not a Touchdown +155

Longest Touchdown of the Game Over 50.5 Yards -115
Longest Touchdown of the Game Under 50.5 Yards -115

Longest Field Goal of the Game Over 43.5 Yards -140
Longest Field Goal of the Game Under 43.5 Yards +110

Shortest Field Goal of the Game Over 25.5 Yards -130
Shortest Field Goal of the Game Under 25.5 Yards +100

Total Field Goals Made Over 3.5 +125
Total Field Goals Made Under 3.5 -155

Total Punts Over 9.5 +110
Total Punts Under 9.5 -140

Total Sacks Over 4 -130
Total Sacks Under 4 +100

Defensive or Special Teams Touchdown +140
Not a Defensive or Special Teams Touchdown -170

Eli Manning Completions Over 23.5 -115
Eli Manning Completions Under 23.5 -115

Eli Manning Longest Completion Over 37.5 Yards -115
Eli Manning Longest Completion Under 37.5 Yards -115

Eli Manning Passing Yards Over 290.5 -115
Eli Manning Passing Yards Under 290.5 -115

Eli Manning Total Touchdown Passes Over 1.5 -200
Eli Manning Total Touchdown Passes Under 1.5 +160

Eli Manning Throws an Interception -220
Eli Manning Doesn’t Throw an Interception +170

Andre Brown Total Rushing Yards on First Attempt Over 3.5 -110
Andre Brown Total Rushing Yards on First Attempt Under 3.5 -120

Victor Cruz Over 6 Receptions -150
Victor Cruz Under 6 Receptions +120

Victor Cruz Over 85.5 Receiving Yards -125
Victor Cruz Under 85.5 Receiving Yards -105

Victor Cruz Scores a Touchdown -115
Victor Cruz Doesn’t Score a Touchdown -115

Martellus Bennett Over 3.5 Receptions -160
Martellus Bennett Under 3.5 Receptions +130

Martellus Bennett Over 46.5 Receiving Yards -120
Martellus Bennett Under 46.5 Receiving Yards -110

Cam Newton Completions Over 20.5 -110
Cam Newton Completions Under 20.5 -120

Cam Newton Passing Yards Over 254.5 -115
Cam Newton Passing Yards Under 254.5 -115

Cam Newton Touchdown Passes Over 1.5 -125
Cam Newton Touchdown Passes Under 1.5 -105

Cam Newton Total Rushing Yards Over 47.5 -115
Cam Newton Total Rushing Yards Under 47.5 -115

Cam Newton Scores a Rushing Touchdown +110
Cam Newton Doesn’t Score a Rushing Touchdown -140

DeAngelo Williams Over 55.5 Rushing Yards -125
DeAngelo Williams Under 55.5 Rushing Yards -105

DeAngelo Williams Scores a Touchdown +115
DeAngelo Williams Doesn’t Score a Touchdown -145

Jonathan Stewart Over 10.5 Rushing Attempts -110
Jonathan Stewart Under 10.5 Rushing Attempts -120

Steve Smith Over 5.5 Receptions +100
Steve Smith Under 5.5 Receptions -130

Steve Smith Over 84.5 Receiving Yards -115
Steve Smith Under 84.5 Receiving Yards -115

Steve Smith Scores a Touchdown +140
Steve Smith Doesn’t Score a Touchdown -180

Brandon LaFell Over 3.5 Receptions -125
Brandon LaFell Under 3.5 Receptions -105

Brandon LaFell Over 51.5 Receiving Yards -115
Brandon LaFell Under 51.5 Receiving Yards -115

Greg Olsen Over 3.5 Receptions -120
Greg Olsen Under 3.5 Receptions -110