NASCAR Cup Series at Watkins Glen odds, picks: The points battle strategy for Martin Truex Jr. and Ryan Blaney

Kevin Harvick has won back-to-back races. Kevin Harrvck is on the playoff bubble. Martin Truex Jr. and Ryan Blaney are also on a playoff chase. The Athletic's motorsports reporters Jeff Gluck and Jordan Bianchi previewed this weekend's NASCAR Cup Series at Watkins Glen.

Tyler Reddick has won two straight road races. Austin Cindric has the best average finish on road courses this season. Chase Elliott, Michael McDowell and Chris Buescher are also good bets. Ross Chastain and Daniel Suarez won the other two races at Watkins Glen.

Kevin Harvick has won back-to-back races. He's on the verge of the playoffs. Kevin Harrvck and his team are poised for a deep playoff run. He should advance to the next round. If he can avoid mistakes and/or a bad finish, he could make it to semifinal round and then the final four.

Ryan Blaney and Martin Truex Jr. are in a points battle for the NASCAR Cup Series at Watkins Glen. Blane currently holds a 29-point lead. TrueX's only chance to make the playoffs is to win at Daytona.  Gluck, Bianchi and Bianchi give their picks for WatkinsGlen. They also give them their predictions for Daytona 500.

Gluck, Bianchi and Gluck discuss the sponsor names for NASCAR's Cup Series races. Raikkonen is making his first start in the series and is expected to finish in 14th place. Ty Gibbs is a better bet to win than Raikonen. The 2007 Formula One world champion is +4000. He has never made a green flag pit stop with his car. It's a tall task to make a start for the first time in any series. Bianchi thinks Ty is more likely to be the winner. Martin Truex Jr. and Ryan Blaney are the main contenders. They are going to go head-to-head in points battle.

Gluck, Bianchi and Kyle Larson are picking the winner of the NASCAR Cup Series race at Watkins Glen. Martin Truex Jr. won the race in 2017. Ryan Blaney is second. The points battle is between Truec and Blane.