The new season in League One kicks-off on Saturday 07 August, with a number of clubs looking like genuine promotion contenders this time.
On the day of the new campaign the bookmakers currently have joint favourites to win League One, with Ipswich Town at 7/1 with William Hill and Sunderland at 7/1 with bet365*.
There are contrasting reasons for the two teams being fancied though, with Ipswich Town having spent big over the summer to build a strong squad under manager Paul Cook, while Sunderland’s odds are largely down to them being seen as a big fish in a small pond.
The Tractor Boys have added real quality to their ranks in the likes of defender George Edmundson from Rangers, midfielder Rekeem Harper from West Bromwich Albion, goalkeeper Vaclav Hladky from Salford City, forward Conor Chaplin from Barnsley and more besides.
That being the case, the 5/2 with Betway for Ipswich in the ‘To Be Promoted’ betting market certainly has some appeal.
No luck for the Black Cats
The problem is that the Black Cats have been cast in that role for each of the previous three seasons in League One too and have gone close to promotion on each occasion, without getting over the line.
If he avoids injury, midfielder Alex Pritchard looks a great addition from Huddersfield Town for Sunderland, while the addition of young defender Callum Doyle on loan from Manchester City could prove to be a great signing. Replacing the departed Charlie Wyke’s goals is the big issue facing manager Lee Johnson though.
Sheffield Wednesday were relegated from the Championship last season and can be backed at 10/1 with bet365* to top League One. In truth there look to be better options out there than backing the Owls at those betting odds given the turmoil at the club in recent times.
Portsmouth are 11/1 with William Hill to win League One, but there doesn’t appear to be a great deal of confidence among the supporters at Fratton Park and they have struggled to bring in their chosen transfer targets over the summer.
Other League One Contenders
Other leading contenders with the online bookies to win the title are:
- Charlton Athletic who can be backed at 12/1 with bet365*
- Wigan Athletic at 12/1 with Betway
- Lincoln City at 14/1 with BoyleSports
- Rotherham United at 14/1 with Betway
Wigan Good for a Top-6 Finish?
After a year in which they were forced to sell their best players for a relative pittance in order for the club to survive, Wigan Athletic are now under new ownership and have embarked on a major recruitment drive. They now have a squad that should challenge for promotion and look worth an interest at 13/8 with BoyleSports for a Top 6 Finish.
Charlton Athletic could also be worth backing for a Top 6 Finish at best odds of 6/4 with Betfair. The club is now well run and manager Nigel Adkins has experience in taking clubs out of League One. Summer recruitment has been relatively slow to date, but the addition of another striker to the ranks seems almost certain.
Rotherham United are very much a yo-yo club when it comes to the Championship and League One, but the third tier looks very strong this season and they might just miss out on the Top 6 this time.
League One Relegation Betting
At the other end of the table, newly promoted Morecambe Town have lost manager Derek Adams and star player Carlos Gomes Mendes. They are working on a tiny budget compared to many of their peers and, although they have been very active in the transfer market, the 11/10 on them for Relegation with William Hill is difficult to ignore.
There are also strong cases to be made in the Relegation betting market for two of the other teams that were promoted, with Cambridge United at 11/8 with Betway and Cheltenham Town at 15/8 with Betfair both looking likely to struggle at the wrong end of the table.
Cambridge United look set to struggle after losing the prolific Paul Mullin to Wrexham, while Cheltenham are another club operating on a very limited budget who are struggling to attract the requisite quality at this level.
Outside of the newly promoted clubs, another club that looks destined to struggle at the wrong end of the table is Shrewsbury Town. Manager Steve Cotterill has struggled with COVID, which can’t have helped his preparations earlier in the close season. He is also working with a small squad that struggled for goals last season and could only record five wins at the Montgomery Waters Meadow last term.
Shrewsbury Town could well be worth a punt for Relegation at odds of 7/2 with bet365.*
Betfinder’s League One Predictions:
- To Be Promoted – Ipswich Town @ 5/2 with Betway
- Top 6 Finish – Wigan Athletic @ 13/8 with BoyleSports
- Top 6 Finish – Charlton Athletic @ 6/4 with Betfair
- Relegation – Morecambe @ 11/10 with William Hill
- Relegation – Shrewsbury Town @ 7/2 with bet365*
* League One betting odds correct at the time of article publication. All odds subject to change.
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