There are only two races left in the “Chase for the Sprint Cup”, which means only a couple of opportunities for offshore betting players. As the Chase heads into Phoenix this weekend for the Checker O'Reilly Auto Parts 500, and NASCAR betting has Jimmie Johnson as a solid favorite to claim his third straight championship. However, NASCAR odds are also telling online sports betting players not to count out the hard-charging Carl Edwards, who has pulled off back-to-back wins in recent weeks.

Phoenix - Checker O'Reilly Auto Parts 500, Sunday, 3:45 PM ET

Johnson carries a 106-point lead into this race, where he is the defending champion and NASCAR betting has made him a +400 favorite this week. The No.48 driver also won this year’s spring race, and he has a phenomenal 6.0 average in ten races at Phoenix. It is no wonder that NASCAR betting favors Johnson, who is looking to bounce back from a poor run at Texas last week. Meanwhile, Edwards has NASCAR odds of +550 at Phoenix, and at +600, he is really the only driver within range of catching Johnson. Edwards is making a chase of it with his wins at Atlanta and Texas, but he is heading to a track where he has never won. The No.99 driver has a solid 14.5 average in eight races and five top-tens, but he will essentially need to continue his winning streak to be considered by sportsbook odds. Edwards’ Roush-Fenway teammate Greg Biffle is 143 points behind Johnson, but offshore odds have “The Biff” rated at +1200 this week at Phoenix, where he has not had much success with a 16.4 average and three top-tens in nine races. The No.16 driver has NASCAR odds of +1500 to win the championship, but he will need to win this week at Phoenix, and hope something happens to Edwards and Johnson.

Homestead-Miami - Ford 400, Sunday, November 16, 3:45 PM ET

The Roush-Fenway crew will be hoping for a stumble by Johnson at Phoenix, because if he does, they will be set up perfectly for the season finale at Homestead-Miami. Edwards’ finishing average of 7.8 in four races is tops among active drivers, while Biffle is eighth at 12.7 in six races. Biffle won three straight here from 2004-2006, while another Roush-Fenway driver, 2003 Cup champion Matt Kenseth, took the checkered flag here last year. Johnson’s finishing average of 13.4 in seven races at Homestead-Miami is solid, and this may have more to do with the fact the No.48 has been in the lead in his last two races here and did not need to push the issue. Offshore betting will still probably give Johnson a shot in the final race, as there is no better closer in the game than the two-time champion, but you can bet that the Roush-Fenway boys will be shown some love by NASCAR betting.