The holidays are almost over. The Santa’s wish list column has been put to pasture. 2013 predictions are becoming mundane. It’s time to put fake money where a real mouth is and talk 2013 Sprint Cup racing….prop bet style.

Odds Joey Logano really makes the leap this year: 10/1

Someone foolishly predicted Joey Logano would make the Chase in 2011 and 2012. Oops. Logano has a new team, new crew chief and new running buddy in Brad Keselowski. This tandem is young, aggressive, talented and focused on racing for wins, not points. Logano will be more interesting in 2013. But with articles already out about the year of Logano, I want to run in the other direction.

Odds Carl Edwards contends for the 2013 Sprint Cup: 2/1
I will define contend as being in contention with four races to go. Call me crazy, but the lack of success Edwards had in 2012 flew under the radar. Jimmie Johnson, Tony Stewart, Kyle Busch and Matt Kenseth even had more visibility for what they didn’t do. If team Edwards stabilizes and Edwards wins a race or two early, he can spend the final five races before the chase tweaking his ride. That should be a huge advantage leading into the Chase, which features the intermediate tracks Edwards adores. I say Edwards is a factor at Homestead.  In fact, I’m saying it now.

Odds Kyle Busch bounces back: Even Money    

Kyle Busch is in a contract year. That worked out really well for Carl Edwards and was a mixed back for Matt Kenseth. You would think Kyle Busch would see his brother’s struggles and get his act together. You would think Kyle Busch would think. You would also think Busch might have a new crew chief for 2013, but Dave Rogers is still there. Busch either finishes in the top three our out of the top twelve. There’s zero middle ground.

Odds Kevin Harvick bounces back: 15/1
Harvick has the talent. That talent is already out the door to Team Tony Stewart, and Richard Childress didn’t seem very pleased. With RCR’s future in jeopardy and engine shop in question, I see this as a major rebuilding year, one Harvick will regret as a lost opportunity.

Odds an Earnhardt-Ganassi driver wins a 2013 Sprint Cup race: 6/1

Remember when Juan Pablo Montoya gave Jimmie Johnson all he could handle? Remember when Jamie McMurray won ever big race of the year, yet couldn’t make the Sprint Cup?

Running on Hendrick power should help both teams. Add road races and restrictor plates to the schedule, and I think they break out of the slump. Chasing? No. Busting slumps? Yes.

Odds this column is over: 1/654,234
Have a safe last weekend of 2012, and insert random catchphrase here.