AS we hurtle headlong towards the final month of our regular EFL League One season, now is a good time to analyse latest odds concerning the major issues to be resolved.
Promotion and relegation matters are delicately balanced. Accordingly, League One betting is proving very popular.
Here is my considered analysis of clubs in the mix to assist your football betting…
Outright Winner & Promotion Odds:
Lincoln City
- Current position: 1st
State of play: Protecting a club record of 22 unconquered EFL matches. It is 17 ongoing wins and five draws thereby establishing their formidable seven point pole position cushion.
Foremost divisional scorers on 74 goals too. Furthermore, 34 conceded signifies League One’s tightest defensive rearguard. True hallmarks of champions then!
Crucially, Lincoln City are set to grace English football’s second tier after 65 years of waiting. I expect them to clinch automatic promotion over the Easter weekend.
- Predicted finish: 1st
Cardiff City
- Current position: 2nd
State of play: Our long-time leaders have slipped off the pace due to three defeats among seven League outings which brought just two wins.
Consequently, the Bluebirds lie seven points behind table toppers Lincoln City. Yet significantly 11 points above the Play-Off pack.
Their home game against third placed Bolton Wanderers scheduled for Saturday 11th April may well prove decisive. I think Cardiff will continue to wobble and therefore miss out on automatic promotion.
- Predicted finish: 3rd
Bolton Wanderers
- Current position: 3rd
State of play: I was thoroughly surprised by their miserable 1-0 reverse away to rock bottom Port Vale last time out. This shattered the Trotters’ run of 13 unbeaten League encounters dating to mid-January.
They hover 11 points behind second spot following three games bereft of victory. But I believe Bolton will rapidly commence a timely winning sequence – including maximum points at Cardiff in that aforementioned vital fixture - to dramatically claim automatic promotion on the closing day.
- Predicted finish: 2nd
Relegation Odds:
Wigan Athletic
- Current position: 19th
State of play: Saturday’s 3-0 setback at Reading curtailed three undefeated EFL performances. They sit two points ahead of the bottom four.
Wigan face desperate relegation dogfight six pointers against Northampton Town (away), Rotherham United (home) and Port Vale (away) during the closing weeks.
- Predicted finish: 20th
Blackpool
- Current position: 20th
State of play: Three games unbeaten move Blackpool two points clear of relegation danger. They nurse League One’s worst defensive record with 63 goals leaked.
- Predicted finish: 19th
Exeter City
- Current position: 21st
State of play: Sitting two points inside the drop region because of failing to win throughout 14 EFL engagements. Exeter’s previous victory was 3-1 away to Port Vale on Saturday 24th January.
- Predicted finish: 21st
Rotherham United
- Current position: 22nd
State of play: Nine points below the dreaded dotted relegation line. Rotherham possess merely one win amid 10 EFL affairs.
- Predicted finish: 23rd
Northampton Town
- Current position: 23rd
State of play: Ten winless matches across all competitions losing the past five. Thus the Cobblers slumber 10 points shy of safety. A possible glimmer of hope sees four of their concluding six games at home.
- Predicted finish: 22rd
Port Vale
- Current position: 24th
State of play: Rock bottom Vale eye 14 points to make up on survival rungs. Despite reaching the FA Cup Quarter Finals, present EFL form reflects a solitary win spanning seven assignments.
- Predicted finish: 24th
