Latest League One Odds: Cardiff Create Advantage

After the midweek action, there have been a few changes to the landscape of League One. At the bottom, a bit of movement has occurred, whilst the top is as interesting as ever. 

Cardiff Move Clear

It starts with Cardiff City, who are now the clear favourites to win the title this season at 6/4 and lower. The Bluebirds have had a pretty good week as they go, and their place at the top has been cemented as a result. 

At the weekend, they grabbed a nice win against Huddersfield Town - who were one of the leading favourites for the title before the start of the season - beating them at the Principality. Then, they followed it up with a 1-0 win against Stevenage away from home. A magnificent result. 

They are now four points clear at the top of the league, and it would take something rather magnificent for it to slip now. 

Following them in second is Bradford City, who have begun to overturn their poor form. At the weekend, they got their second win in a row, and their eighth point in their last five games. Albeit against a poor Plymouth side, three points are what matter, ultimately. 

They will now have a game in hand too, thanks to the postponement of their game against Port Vale in midweek. So they could extend their gap in the automatic places to three points with a win.

The other big price in the betting markets is Bolton Wanderers, who are second favourites to lift the title this season, even if they are not in the top two yet.

In midweek, they picked up a nice three points against Mansfield and with their last League One defeat coming in the middle of October, they are looking like a fantastic shot for promotion at the very least.

However, the fact that most UK football bookmakers have them at 5/2 to win the title is something interesting in itself.

Mixed Bunch

Lincoln top the play-offs at this moment and they are actually level on points with Bradford on 34 - the only difference being that they have played an extra game. In midweek, they picked up an impressive three points with a win against Barnsley, who were once considered play-off contenders. 

However, a 3-1 defeat to the Imps has put those beliefs to bed even more. With three wins in their last five games, Michael Skubala’s team are certainly looking strong, and they could even push for an automatic promotion spot. 

The story is largely similar for fourth-placed Stockport County, who are only a few points off the promotion places themselves. In midweek, they also grabbed three points with a win away from home against Doncaster. 

It is worth noting that the bookmakers have them third favourite for promotion and the title, and it would be difficult to disagree with the fact that they must be considered. 

Sitting at the bottom of the play-offs is Stevenage, who have had a really difficult few weeks. In their past five games, they have picked up just five points, and their loss to Cardiff in midweek has reduced confidence in their ability to get a play-off spot this season, with them now Evens with most bookmakers. 

Things look quite dismal for Luton and Huddersfield Town, who were two of the favourites to go up this year. Both sit outside the playoffs, separated by only a point. Yet, their fans will tell you that they feel miles away from where they want to be.

Luton’s draw with Leyton Orient did not help their case for promotion, whilst Huddersfield lost to Cardiff at the weekend and followed it up with a 1-1 draw against Northampton. In fact, the Terriers are almost 3/1 for a top-six spot with SpreadEx now. 

Five Goals to the Good

Having played no games this week, Port Vale still sit at the bottom of the league. Had they played their game against Bradford, they wouldn’t have moved off the foot of the table either, with them only on 14 points, five adrift. 

That gap has gotten bigger recently, though, with several relegation candidates winning in midweek. 

It starts with Plymouth Argyle, who snatched a 1-0 win away against an average Wycombe Wanderers, taking their points tally to 19th. They still remain well in the conversation to go down, but if they can muster up some consistency, they could start to move away. 

Also on 19 points is Blackpool, who have certainly had a good week. They progressed in the FA Cup at the weekend, and followed up that result with a convincing 3-0 win against Rotherham. The Millers have recently been on the rise, but a loss to the Tangerines may suggest otherwise. 

Rounding off the bottom four is Peterborough, who join the other two on 19 points after a win in midweek. Posh’s victory was not as attractive as the one from Blackpool. However, it still holds the same value, and it is another strong result for Luke Williams. 

Exeter’s first win in four games certainly came at a good time, too. They grabbed a 1-0 win against Wimbledon which has kept them out of the bottom four. 

Doncaster, Burton and Reading all sit on 22 points, so they are only three points away from the danger zone at this moment. That gap looks likely to be narrowed in the next few weeks, and it could be telling for the season.