public ActionResult Index()
{
    var query = db.Users.Select(c => new SelectListItem
                                              {
                                                  Value = c.UserId, 
                                                  Text = c.UserName,
                                                  Selected = c.UserId.Equals(3)
                                              });
    var model = new MyFormViewModel
                    {
                        List = query.ToList()
                    };
    return View(model);
}

public class MyFormViewModel
{
    public int UserId { get; set; }
    public IList<SelectListItem> List { get; set; }
}

@model MyFormViewModel

@Html.DropDownListFor(m => m.UserId, Model.List, "--Select One--")