Barring a DNF, mechanical failure, and a Carl Edwards win in the Sunshine State, Jimmie Johnsons' 267-lap victory parade for his third consecutive Cup Series Championship begins this Sunday at 3:30 p.m. at Homestead Speedway in Miami, where all the No, 48 car has to do is finish better than 36th.

Gamblers who placed a futures wager on Johnson to win his third Cup in a row would have received between 4/1 and 7/2 odds.

Who will win the Ford 400?

The only things hotter than Johnson in NASCAR right now are my picks. I won for the second week in a row and look to close out my NASCAR season picking the Homestead winner. But, then again, Johnson has been en fuego in the past nine (eight top-10 finishes) Chase races where the No. 48 car has a sterling average finish of 4.7 and a driver rating of 118.7; his highest of the season. Johnsons' dominance in Chase races has been uncanny and this year was no different with three wins and six top-five finishes.

Homestead will be a different kind of race for Johnson. As Johnson said earlier this week, "I really think where we are in points is going to allow me to go to Homestead and take a little pressure off my brain this week," Johnson said. "We can just go down and relax and get in the car and set it up, just do what we know how to do."

That is as clear a message as a gambler can get. When was the last time Johnson relaxed a bit in a race? Johnson didn't say it but he said it. He'll be riding around Homestead with very expensive three car motorcade (Earnhardt, Jr., Gordon, and Mears) insuring Johnson a place in NASCAR history and Hendrick Motorsports winning their eighth driver championship and 11th team championship across NASCAR's three series. Despite this (and logic) Johnson is one of the favorites listed at 5/1 to win; a sure loser.

Another pick likely to get a lot of play but one I am shying away from is the race favorite, Carl Edwards at 5/2. However, I do like Rousch Fenway Racing's chances to take the checkered flag on Sunday. I love RFR's dominance at Homestead; they have won five of the past six series events in South Florida. They also excel at 1.5-mile tracks.

Pick! Greg Biffle, 5/1 (No. 16)

Ford 400 Odds
Sun, Nov 16th (3:30pm EST) Homestead-Miami Speedway, FL

AJ Allmendinger100/1
Bill Elliott100/1
Bobby Labonte100/1
Brad Keselowski100/1
Brian Vickers 25/1
Carl Edwards 5/2
Casey Mears 100/1
Chad McCumbee100/1
Clint Bowyer 35/1
Dale Earnhardt Jr. 12/1
Dave Blaney100/1
David Gilliland100/1
David Ragan 25/1
David Reutimann 75/1
Denny Hamlin 20/1
Elliott Sadler 100/1
Greg Biffle 5/1
Jamie McMurray 20/1
Jeff Burton 25/1
Jeff Gordon 15/1
Jimmie Johnson 5/1
Joe Nemechek 100/1
Juan Pablo Montoya 100/1
Kasey Kahne 30/1
Kevin Harvick 25/1
Ken Schrader150/1
Kurt Busch 25/1
Kyle Busch 8/1
Marcos Ambrose100/1
Martin Truex Jr. 40/1
Matt Kenseth 7/1
Max Papis200/1
Michael Waltrip 100/1
Paul Menard 100/1
Reed Sorenson 100/1
Regan Smith100/1
Robby Gordon 100/1
Ryan Newman 60/1
Sam Hornish Jr.100/1
Scott Riggs 100/1
Scott Speed100/1
Sterling Marlin 200/1
Tony Raines100/1
Tony Stewart 15/1
Travis Kvapil100/1