The Action Network: Two driver matchup bets to like for the 2022 Daytona 500

The Action Network specializes in providing sports betting insights/analytics and is a content partner with NASCAR. Check out more NASCAR betting analysis here. Daytona Speedweeks is officially upon us! Cars are on track Tuesday (5:05 p.m. ET, FS1) for the NASCAR Cup Series' first two practice sessions of the week and will be back again Wednesday night for Daytona 500 qualifying (8:05 p.m. ET, FS1). Daytona 500 odds are widely available, including outrights, finish props and driver matchups, though numbers might adjust after the qualifying session that will set the front row for Sunday's race. With this in mind, let's take a look at two Featured Driver Matchups offering value right now. RELATED: 2022 Daytona 500 odds | NASCAR BetCenter for the latest from The Action Network 

Daytona 500 Picks

*Odds as of Tuesday morning

Michael McDowell (+150) over Justin Haley

DraftKings Sportsbook has four featured driver matchups posted for the Daytona 500, and this is my favorite of the bunch. And, it's not just my preferred matchup, but two of The Action Network's verified experts have also gotten down on this bet as well. Simply put, there's no way that an accomplished superspeedway racer and defending Daytona 500 winner should be a +150 underdog to Haley in a race as unpredictable as this one. Sure, Haley is a strong superspeedway performer as well, but this matchup is much closer to a coin flip than the current odds imply, making McDowell's +150 side a very enticing one.

Bubba Wallace +3.5 (-110) over Austin Dillon

The reasons to like the matchup are almost exactly the same as the one above. Wallace won the most recent Cup Series race at Talladega last fall, so he's clearly a driver who knows how to contend at superspeedways. Dillon is the 2018 Daytona 500 winner, so he's not too shabby in the draft, either, but again, there's no way Austin should be such a heavy favorite in the matchup, especially for a race that projects to be extremely random. By taking Wallace here, we're getting a three-position buffer AND an underdog price of -110 odds. Yup, that works for me. Take a minute to download The Action Network App, which now includes live NASCAR odds and pick tracking as well as the option to follow all of our verified experts.