Check out our antepost preview on the forthcoming season in the Football League Championship, League One and League Two. | Free Bets | Live Scores |
Championship betting
Leeds United missed out on promotion from the Championship last season after losing in the play-off final, although they have been installed as favourites to win the second tier this time around. Boylesports offer a best price 7/2 that Daniel Farke’s side are able to claim the title and the German has previously landed promotion twice with Norwich City.
Some punters will feel as though Leeds are a touch too short and there are likely to be several other promotion contenders including Burnley who won the Championship at a canter two seasons ago. It’s Scott Parker who is tasked with leading the Clarets to success and the Lancashire outfit are an 8/1 chance to win the title.
Every other team are trading at a double figure price and that includes Luton Town, another side who dropped down from the Premier League last term. The Hatters are coached by the talented Rob Edwards and Betfred have 11/1 that the Bedfordshire outfit are able to land the title.
There could be more to come from Middlesbrough who have made steady progress under Michael Carrick, with bet365 going 12/1 about the Teeside team and the side were able to finish eighth last time out. Sixty-nine points was a solid total and this can be improved upon.
Coventry City could also be top six material, with the Sky Blues having a reliable manager in the form of Mark Robins. They reduced their reliance on loan players last season and Ladbrokes offer 16/1 that the Midlands side are able to build on some encouraging seasons and deliver the goods this time around.
Chris Wilder has delivered promotion for Sheffield United before and he’s now back at Bramall Lane and looking to guide them to glory. Coral offer 16/1 that the Blades nick top spot and there are similar odds when it comes to Norwich City, with Betfred offering 16/1 that the Canaries are flying high come the end of the campaign.
When it comes to each-way betting on the Championship, perhaps West Brom are the best value at 20/1 with Ladbrokes. They were beaten by Southampton in the play-offs last season, although Carlos Corberan remains in charge of the Baggies and it would come as no surprise to find them in the top six.
Sunderland have been attracting some money, with the Black Cats having lots of young players who can help propel them to a successful season. Jobe Bellingham is among the talent that could ensure that the Wearside club perform a good deal better than their sixteenth position last term, with Bet365 offering 25/1.
League One betting
Birmingham City were relegated from the Championship last season when mustering fifty points although the Blues are massive favourites to land the League One title. There has been some unprecedented spending this summer at St Andrews, with Chris Davies tasked with steering the Midlands club back to the second flight.
Some would argue that the 2/1 with bet365 about Birmingham is a value bet considering that plenty of money has been spent on Christoph Klarer and William Thor Willumsson, while centre forward Alfie May has arrived from Charlton and could be set to score more than twenty goals for a strong team at this level.
The team that narrowly missed out on promotion last season was Bolton Wanderers, with Ian Evatt’s side in contention for a top two spot before having to settle for the play-offs. The Trotters were then beaten at Wembley by Oxford, although William Hill have 9/1 that they land top spot this season.
Evatt has retained most of his key players this term and there’s little reason to think they’ll finish outside the top six places, with Rotherham United also among the favourites and they have Steve Evans back at the helm. The Millers have developed a reputation for being a yo-yo club between League One and the Championship.
William Hill have 11/1 that Rotherham get the job done, with Huddersfield another Yorkshire side who will be targeting promotion. The Terriers have made some interesting signings including Antony Evans and Lasse Sorensen, with Coral offering 12/1 which might appeal to some customers looking for each-way value.
There will be plenty of focus on Wrexham who are aiming for a third consecutive promotion after jumping up from the National League to League One in the space of two years. The Welsh side have been backed financially once again, with Phil Parkinson plotting a path to the Championship.
Lewis Brunt is the eye-catching arrival this summer, with Arthur Okonkwo arriving on loan from Arsenal and the goalkeeper should be strong at this level, while Paul Mullin should guarantee plenty of goals. William Hill offer 14/1 although it might be a season of consolidation for the Red Dragons.
Charlton Athletic are 14/1 with Betfred although they might struggle to replace the goals lost by the departure of Alfie May, with Peterborough United trading at 20/1 with Ladbrokes. Blackpool are available at a similar price with Ladbrokes and Neil Critchley has previously produced some strong work at Bloomfield Road.
League Two betting
Chesterfield were promoted from the National League last season and it’s possible that the Spireites will continue to rise up the football pyramid. Paul Cook remains in charge of a team who are 7/1 with Ladbrokes to win the League Two title, with some interesting players arriving at the club. Paddy Madden, Chey Dunkley and Lewis Gordon can all help to improve the squad, although perhaps there is better value from backing MK Dons, with bet365 offering 8/1 that Mike Williamson’s side improve on fourth position last term, with the big guns having all been promoted last term.
Doncaster Rovers produced an excellent second half to last season to reach the play-offs before losing to Crewe Alexandra. However, they are now targeting automatic promotion and Grant McCann is a shrewd manager at this level, with Betfred offering 9/1 that Donny are above the other twenty-three teams in the division.
Gillingham are another side who are trading at a similar price, with the Kent side having one of the biggest budgets in the division. They managed to poach Elliott Nevitt from Crewe who should be able to deliver goals, with Bet365 chalking up 9/1 that the Gills are able to top the table.
Port Vale were one of the relegated side from League One last term although there’s a possibility that the Valiants will return to the third tier automatically, with a flood of new signings having been made. Ryan Croasdale, Ben Amos and Lorent Tolaj are arrivals that can catch the eye and Betfred have 11/1 available.
Bradford City always seem to flatter to deceive despite their massive fanbase at this level, with William Hill offering 14/1 that the Bantams are finally successful. Perhaps Carlisle United can fare better under new ownership and the Blues are also a 14/1 chance with Bet365.
Notts County were promoted with an impressive points total two seasons ago although the Magpies tailed off after a strong start to last year’s campaign, with bet365 offering 16/1 that the Midlands side are able to finish top of a wide open section, while Tranmere also have the potential to go well.
Nigel Adkins is a good manager at this level and there have been some smart signings at Prenton Park as the team aim to compensate for the departure of Rob Apter by adding the likes of Sam Finley, Cameron Norman and Zak Bradshaw.
Prices correct at the time of writing and subject to change.
