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League One outright odds, season preview and tips

League One outright odds, season preview and tips

Telegraph4 days ago
The League One season gets under way on Friday with 3/1 title favourites Luton Town taking on AFC Wimbledon in the season-opener at Kenilworth Road (kick-off, 8pm).
Birmingham City ran away with the title last campaign, amassing an eye-watering 111 points, but there should be a more even spread of points in the 2025-26 season.
Ahead of the third-tier campaign, our expert tipster takes a look at the outright odds and best bets for the 2025-26 League One season, from who could be promoted to the top goalscorer betting.
Want to explore a vast array of online bookmakers? Check out the UK's best free bets and betting sites
League One 2025-26 – outright tips
Stockport County to win League One @ 9/1 with Sky Bet
Stockport County to be promoted @ 11/4 with Sky Bet
Blackpool top-six finish @ 11/8 with Sky Bet
Nahki Wells top goalscorer (each-way) @ 14/1 with Sky Bet
Malik Mothersille top goalscorer (each-way) @ 25/1 with Sky Bet
Odds correct at the time of publishing and subject to change.
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League One 2025-26 – outright winner odds
Luton Town @ 3/1
Huddersfield Town @ 6/1
CardiffCity @ 8/1
Stockport County @ 9/1
Plymouth Argyle @ 9/1
Bolton Wanderers @ 11/1
Blackpool @ 11/1
Reading @ 16/1
Wycombe Wanderers @ 18/1
22/1 bar
Odds courtesy of Sky Bet
Check out our season preview and latest odds for the Scottish Premiership
County can atone for play-off heartache
Luton are the standout side in the League One outright betting this season and it is easy to see why.
The Hatters were relegated on goal difference from the Championship last season and were starting to show signs of progress under Matt Bloomfield at the end of the campaign.
Last term's top scorer Carlton Morris has departed for Derby County, but they have recruited smartly, with highly rated goalkeeper Josh Keeley and the experienced pair of Kal Naismith and George Saville among those to arrive, along with veteran striker Nahki Wells.
The 3/1 on offer for Luton to win the title looks about right but it is Stockport County who are the value picks to finish top at 9/1 and to be promoted at 11/4.
Dave Challinor has done a remarkable job since arriving at the club in 2021 and led County to third last season, before they lost to Leyton Orient on penalties in the play-off semi-finals.
There is a risk that could set them back psychologically, but Challinor knows how to get the best out of this group, which has been strengthened by the arrivals of talented forward Malik Mothersille from Peterborough United and defender Joseph Olowu from Doncaster Rovers among others.
They should not face the same level of competition at the top as last season and despite many fancying them to impress this term, their odds are still far too big.
If you'd like to find more odds and offers, take a look at our list of the best betting sites as well as the latest free bets
Tangerines in for a fruitful campaign
Blackpool could be outsiders to force a promotion push and look a solid bet at 11/8 to make the top six.
Steve Bruce's appointment at Bloomfield Road raised eyebrows last season but under the former Newcastle United manager, the Tangerines secured 65 points from 42 games.
They finished only three places outside the top six and it should be a more balanced division in 2025-26.
Losing midfielders Rob Apter and Sonny Carey to Charlton Athletic is not ideal, but they have recruited well with George Honeyman and Jordan Brown joining from Millwall and Leyton Orient respectively.
Former Stockport centre-back Fraser Horsfall is a great addition to the defence, while Niall Ennis, who bagged seven goals in 19 appearances on loan last season, has joined on a permanent deal and can be a danger at this level.
Dropping down a tier can benefit Wells
Huddersfield Town's Alfie May, who bagged 16 goals in 44 appearances for champions Birmingham last season, is the 9/2 favourite to be top goalscorer in League One this season, but there is value to be had further down the betting.
Those who think Luton can win League One this season can get better value from an each-way bet on their striker Nahki Wells to be top scorer at 14/1, rather than backing the Hatters outright.
Wells turned 35 in June and is probably past his best but he scored 10 goals in 39 league games in the Championship last season, so there is a chance he could excel now he drops down a division.
He has reached double figures in three of the past five Championship campaigns and should spearhead the attack of a Luton team expected to score plenty of goals.
At 25/1, Mothersille is another player who appeals, having joined Stockport after an impressive season at London Road.
Winger Mothersille is a key creator but he also scored 12 times in League One last term for a Peterborough team who finished 18th.
He should have even more attacking opportunities at Stockport and, at the age of 21, he is only going to get better.
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