EFL League One Betting Predictions and Odds 2024/25

Predicting League One this season is a really difficult task. As such, we wanted to provide you with some insight into different areas of the division, rather than trying to pinpoint where each team will finish, and why this will be the case.

On paper, this looks like the most difficult division in a long time, and that goes for both ends of the table. At the top end, there are several teams that could compete for the automatic spots, and whether we include the title in that - well, we'll talk about that later.

Looking at the lower end of the table, the story is the same, and there are several teams that could be in the relegation picture. So, let's dive into League One, and where each team could be at the end of the season.

Who Will Win the League One Title?

I'd love to be optimistic about the League Title battle, but I'm really struggling. As a football fan, I'd love to see a battle for the title, but I don't think that will be the case, but I'd love to be wrong.

The clear favourites to win the division are Birmingham City, and there is a good reason for this. When taken over by the American group, Birmingham Sports Holdings, the expectation was to progress immediately, but this was not the case, and the Blues were relegated from the Championship.

Relegation does not always mean a lack of progress, though. It can be argued that the club have needed a reset of some kind for a few years, and the drop has allowed that, and Birmingham have taken advantage of that.

Instead of allowing the drop to consume them, the owners have gambled heavily in some respects, spending more than £10 million this season - a figure that not many Championship clubs have come near.

As a result, I struggle to see past them winning the title this season. They have quality across the pitch, and I think they have the top goalscorer in the division in Alfie May, who has been fantastic in the past few years in League One.

To look further at the bookies' predictions for the division, some of the best football bookmakers are offering prices on Birmingham to break the points record for the division, which is a telling offer about the quality of the Blues.

I like Huddersfield Town and Bolton Wanderers as other selections to win the division, and perhaps, there could be some money in some each-way bets on them, given the prices available. However, I'm really struggling to look past Birmingham, but I'm not sure how close they may get to the points record that Wolverhampton Wanderers set in 2013/14 - 103 points in 46 games.

Who Will Gain Promotion From League One?

Let's start where we left off, Huddersfield Town and Bolton Wanderers. If we were to do a 1-24, Bolton and Huddersfield would be the teams I'd be thinking about putting second and being honest, I'm glad we do not have to pick between them.

Arguments can be made for both teams.

Starting with Bolton, they have been in the playoffs for the past two seasons, so it would be no surprise if they are in the same position again this season. Ian Evatt is in his fourth year in charge of the Wanderers and with three campaigns of progress, this could be the year of promotion, and they have made some nice additions.

Looking at the Terriers, they were taken over at the end of the 22/23 season, they failed to move forward last season. However, several issues on and off the pitch needed rectifying, and this summer, attempts have been made to do this. They have kept the vast majority of their squad, and have added some decent players, which I like, and they have one of the better coaches in the division. However, a few areas still need improvement, but there is time to bring in other players.

Elsewhere I really like Wigan Athletic, Charlton Athletic and Lincoln City for shouts of promotion, all three have some key talking points to make about each, and this season could be a chance for them to push on into the playoff picture.

There are some notable omissions from that list too, though. For Rotherham United, Barnsley, and Peterborough United, I'm also conflicted. Rotherham have recruited well, and have a fantastic manager in Steve Evans, but they have effectively overhauled their squad in one window, and I'm not sure how this will go.

Barnsley are coming off the back of two unsuccessful playoff campaigns, and whilst they have made some decent signings, they have lost a lot of quality from their squad, a lot of them on free transfers.

With Peterborough, they have lost a lot of their star players from the last few seasons, and I'm really unsure of their replacements, or at least how they will fare at the start of the season, so whether they can push for promotion is a doubt for me.

Who Will be Relegated From League One?

With the top end of the table looked at, now we need to look at the bottom side of the division, and there are some standout teams for me in the relegation picture, and ultimately, the candidates are the same for many people.

I think there are four clear standouts for relegation this season, and there is a host of reasons why this is the case, but the most common reason is recruitment, and we'll get into the four here.

The first team facing the drop, I think, are Cambridge United - a squad that had a lack of goals last season, they have lost their two highest goalscorers, and their replacements do not fill me with confidence, and I can see them being victims of the division's strength in the upcoming season, and Garry Monk is not a manager who excites me.

Following them is Northampton Town. Whilst they had a fantastic season last year, they have failed to retain their key players, and their replacements are not up to the same level, so I'm expecting a hefty drop in their position next season, and the drop is a very real possibility threat.

One of the biggest things in professional football is squad depth, and for Shrewsbury Town, this is a major problem. Going into the 2024/25 season, there are just 20 senior members of their squad currently, and this terrifies me. The League One calendar is vicious and a 20-man squad is just asking for problems, and I think problems will be what we see for Town.

My final pick for relegation is Crawley Town, who have completely ignored the footballing handbook when it comes to promotion. After winning at Wembley in May, the majority of that squad have moved on for nominal fees, and their replacements are nowhere near the same standard, and I think humiliation could be on the cards.

Outside of these four, Exeter City and Burton Albion strike me as two sides that could face problems in the season. Exeter have not recruited to a fantastic level, and whilst the opposite can be said for Burton, they have, potentially, over-recruited, and I'm unsure how they will fare with basically a new squad.