Explore the Pocono Mountains 225 Predictions: Defending Champ Triumphs

• William Byron poses a formidable threat as the heavy Pocono favorite.

• AJ Allmendinger is a forgotten man on the original NASCAR “Roval”.

• It’s time for Cole Custer to stake his claim to another Xfinity championship.

Explore the Pocono Mountains 225 Betting Odds

Odds taken from BetMGM Sportsbook. Head over to BetMGM to place your bets and get up to $1,500 in bonus bets paid back!*
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Our Picks for the Explore the Pocono Mountains 225

• Cole Custer to win the race at (+525) at BetMGM

• Jesse Love to finish in the top three at (+525) at BetMGM

• AJ Allmendinger to finish in the top three at (+700) at BetMGM

Explore the Pocono Mountains 225 Predictions

Moonlighting William Byron Is a Threat in Any Xfinity Appearance

Oddsmakers have established full-time NASCAR Cup Series driver as the favorite to win Saturday’s Explore the Pocono Mountains 225 Xfinity Series race at Pocono Raceway.

At BetMGM, Byron is offered at (+325), and one this is certain - his No. 17 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet will lack for nothing in either handling or horsepower.

Here’s the rub: Byron hasn’t won an Xfinity Series race since he posted all four of his victories in 2017. In his two starts in the No. 17 Chevy this season, he finished 23rd and 11th.

In the Cup Series, Byron has two top fives in 10 Pocono starts, and his last three results at the 2.5-mile triangular track are 12th, 12th and 14th.

Though we expect Byron to be a contender to win on Saturday, we don’t expect him to win the race.

Bet on William Byron (+325) at BetMGM

Forgotten Man AJ Allmendinger Could Surprise at the Tricky Triangle

Long before there was a Roval at Charlotte (an oval/road course combination), scribes tried to hang that moniker on Pocono.

Though the nickname didn’t stick, there was ample justification for the attempt. Pocono has three distinct corners - tight Turn 1, bumpy Turn 2 over the entry tunnel and high-speed Turn 3, setting up the run down the long frontstretch.

In other words, it drives somewhat like a road course with only left turns. That being said, it’s a mystery why road course ace AJ Allmendinger is posted at (+2000) to win and (+700) to finish in the top three via BetMGM.

Admittedly, Allmendinger never excelled at Pocono in the Cup Series (two top 10s in 23 starts), but his only two Xfinity races at the Tricky Triangle have produced results of fifth and fourth.

On Saturday, we expect him to improve one spot and finish third at +700. We also like rookie Jesse Love to finish in the top three at +525, a generous number considering his performance this season.

Bet on AJ Allmendinger at BetMGM

Defending Series Champ Cole Custer Needs a Breakout Victory

Cole Custer has been remarkably consistent this season. That’s why the defending NASCAR Xfinity Series champion leads the regular-season standings entering Saturday’s event at Pocono Raceway.

What Custer doesn’t have is a victory this year. And with only two stage wins to his credit, he’s 15 points out of the series lead in accumulated Playoff points.

(With his third road course win of the season last Saturday on the Chicago Street Course, Shane van Gisbergen, our pick last week, leads the series with 17).

Custer needs a win and the five Playoff points that accompany a trip to Victory Lane. He won at Pocono in 2019 and has four top 10s to his credit in five starts at the track.

Custer will have plenty of Ford horsepower on Saturday, and we like him to win the race at (+525) at BetMGM.

Bet on Cole Custer (+525) at BetMGM

How to Watch the Explore the Pocono Mountains 225

Race: Explore the Pocono Mountains 225 NASCAR Xfinity Series race

Location: Pocono Raceway

Time: Saturday, July 13, 3 p.m. ET

How to Watch: USA