EFL BETTING TIPS
Championship Promotion – Sheffield Wednesday
League One Promotion – Stockport County
League Two Promotion – Colchester United
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
CHAMPIONSHIP: SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY
Using the pre-season odds as a guide, Sheffield Wednesday are expected to finish 15th in the Championship this coming season. They successfully fought off relegation in 2023/24 but more is expected this time around. A new contract for the highly popular and likely in-demand Danny Röhl this summer is a signal of intent they are ambitiously seeking much more.
Transforming from a side that only survived against the drop by three points to one that can at least push for the play-offs may not appear so far-fetched. After all, if last season’s Championship was purely based on the final 15 matches of the campaign then The Owls would have finished in the top-six. Even from the last 30 games, they’d have only just missed out. It really was a dreadful start, mostly prior to Röhl’s appointment, which let them down.
With some handy recruits signed on, plus retaining the likes of James Beadle, Di’Shon Bernard, and potentially Iké Ugbo, along with Röhl leading his first full season at Hillsborough, there is every reason to believe they’ll outrun their current promotion odds.
They began last season almost dreading what could be to come after Darren Moore’s surprising departure, but the mood this time is the complete opposite and a much sharper opening ten games could set them up for something special further down the line.
LEAGUE ONE: STOCKPORT COUNTY
Three promotions, all as champions, in the space of six seasons, have propelled Stockport County from National League North to League One quickly, and they aren’t prepared to put on the breaks just yet. Under Dave Challinor, the Hatters have been a constant winning machine, and whilst this season will be their toughest yet, underdogs is a tag that suits them well.
Seeing the likes of Paddy Madden, Antoni Sarcevic and Connor Lemonheigh-Evans leave is a shame, but canny signings in the form of Corey Addai, Lewis Bate, Callum Connolly, Jack Diamond and Lewis Fiorini don’t scream the intentions of a team not wanting back-to-back promotions.
The odds suggest mid-table is where they are likely to end up, but let’s not forget they won the League Two title last season, and yet Wrexham, who finished four points behind in second, are backed to make the play-offs. This alone makes County great value.
Of course, there are plenty of big clubs at this level who are expected to be in and around the promotion shake-up, but Challinor’s move, and the club in general, have real momentum. Birmingham, Huddersfield, and Rotherham need to discover their winning formulas after relegation, while Bolton and Peterborough need to prove they won’t suffer a play-off hangover. No side will relish going to Edgeley Park this season, and they are an intriguing promotion bet.
LEAGUE TWO: COLCHESTER UNITED
Danny Cowley accomplished his mission last season after retaining Colchester United in League Two and taking on what was a very tough task at the time in January. Although victories proved hard to come by in the final few months of the season, he oversaw a 70% unbeaten ratio, giving him a real foundation to build on in 2024/25.
He wasted no time in bringing back a familiar feel to his squad by way of players he previously managed at former clubs. Lyle Taylor, Alex Woodyard, Jack Payne and adding Harry Anderson on a permanent deal are all on the roster and are trusted heads of Cowley that should help drag them in the right direction.
The club isn’t blessed with huge finances but has a management team that can identify and improve players. Although they survived on the final day last season, they still became a team that was hard to beat, and a sprinkling of fresh recruits offers an energetic outlook.
Also, Cowley is never one to settle for mediocrity. He would not be here if the goal were to stave off relegation. His only seasons managing at League Two level, while at Lincoln City, saw them achieve a play-off finish and a league title. He gets what is needed to be successful at this level.
EFL BETTING TIPS
Championship Promotion – Sheffield Wednesday
League One Promotion – Stockport County
League Two Promotion – Colchester United
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
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