2019 Gander RV 400 Vegas picks and NASCAR predictions: Fade Martin Truex Jr., back Chase Elliott at Pocono

Micah Roberts pioneered wagering on NASCAR races and just locked in his 2019 Pocono picks

The race to the NASCAR Playoffs is heating up, with just six races left in the regular season. Only seven of the 16 playoff spots are still up for grabs, with automatic berths for the final race winners. The last seven races have been won by seven different drivers, including three with 25-1 or higher odds. Next up on the NASCAR schedule is the 2019 Gander RV 400, set for Sunday at 3 p.m. ET from Pocono Raceway. Only four drivers have 2019 NASCAR at Pocono odds lower than 10-1. The favorite is Kyle Busch, who has won three of the last four Cup races at Long Pond and is a four-time winner in 2019, tied with Martin Truex Jr. for most on the circuit. Truex is one of three drivers at 5-1 Gander RV 400 odds, joining Kevin Harvick, who earned his first win of the year last week at New Hampshire, and Brad Keselowski, who's finished 15th or higher in three of his last five races. With so many contenders on the board, you'll want to see the latest NASCAR at Pocono picks and predictions from Micah Roberts, the legendary Vegas bookmaker who pioneered wagering on racing, before laying any 2019 Gander RV 400 picks of your own.

Those who have wagered $100 on Roberts' picks for each of the 24 NASCAR races in 2019 are already up $1,300. It started with the very first race, as Roberts went with Jimmie Johnson as a hefty 25-1 long shot at the season-opening Advance Auto Parts Clash. The result: Johnson survived a huge crash and went on to win the rain-shortened race as Roberts' followers raked it in. At the TicketGuardian 500, Roberts nailed Busch at 4-1 odds over the heavily favored Harvick, and at Dover he hit Truex Jr. at 8-1. Truex won the race despite starting at the back of the field.

Roberts' leaderboard has been on top of it, too. At the TicketGuardian 500, he nailed an eye-popping eight of the top 10. At the Auto Club 400, he got nine of the top 10 correct.

Those who put down $50 on Roberts' top-four leaderboard picks are up $1,700 on the year, buoyed by Alex Bowman's big win at Chicago at 30-1 -- Roberts had the huge underdog in his top four.

Roberts entered the 2019 NASCAR season after finishing big-time in the black in 2018, with $1,750 in profit for $100 players. His biggest wins came when he went against the grain, taking Keselowski at 12-1 to win the South Point 400 at Las Vegas in the opening race of the NASCAR playoffs and going with Joey Logano, also 12-1, to take the First Data 500 at Martinsville. He also nailed four of Harvick's nine series victories and three of Busch's nine wins. Anyone who's following his picks is up huge year after year. 

Now, Roberts has analyzed Sunday's 2019 Gander RV 400 grid. His winning pick and leaderboard are available at SportsLine.

One shocker: We can tell you that Roberts is fading Truex, one of the top favorites at 5-1 NASCAR at Pocono odds. Engine issues ended his race at Pocono in June early. The 2019 four-time winner took sixth last week at New Hampshire, but was 19th and 22nd the two previous weeks, and Roberts says this won't be his week either. 

"My problem with him is that it's been the other race package he's had the most success with, winning three of his four races this season," Roberts told SportsLine. "I like other drivers more this weekend at much better odds than the 5-1 premium you'll need to pay for Truex."

Another surprise: Roberts is high on Chase Elliott, a 16-1 dark horse who finished fourth at Pocono in June and has a history of strong racing at the Pennsylvania track. Roberts says Elliott's car should be top-notch and he has a real chance to compete for the checkered flag here.

"His 10.8 average finish in seven starts at Pocono is second-best among all active drivers," Roberts added. "He also won a 2013 ARCA race there. He'll have a good set-up this weekend that can win."

For the win, Roberts is high on a big underdog that's run well at this track and those similar to Pocono. He's trending upward and Roberts says Sunday could be his day. Anyone who backs this driver could hit it big.

So who wins the 2019 Gander RV 400? And which long shot stuns NASCAR? Visit SportsLine now to see the projected leaderboard for the 2019 Gander RV 400 from the nation's premier NASCAR handicapper, and find out.