English Football League Tips and Preview of the Season Ahead

Last season, the four teams that celebrated winning their divisions in England were Manchester City, who pipped Liverpool to the Premier League title, Norwich City, Luton Town and Lincoln City. Fans that had backed these teams at the start of the year to claim their respective league titles would have been delighted at the way things progressed.

After a very short off-season, when many players were involved in international tournaments for several weeks after the end of the season, teams are now already getting back together with a view to the start of the new season, which kicks off in England in the beginning of August. The opening weekend sees the Charity Shield between Manchester City and Liverpool, as well as the first sets of games in the Football League’s three divisions.

For football fans, the pre-season is all about how their team will improve themselves ahead of the big kick off, either by managing to keep hold of their most talented and influential players, as well as signing players that will come in and improve the team considerably. Many fans also reckon now is the time to get the best odds on their selections to win their respective divisions and if you like to bet on these markets at bet365 Sport, then their latest offer may well be of interest to you.

League Winner Early Payout Offer

With bet365’s League Winner Early Payout Offer, simply place a bet on the To Win Outright market on any team from selected leagues up to and including Friday 13^th September 2019, and if the team you back takes a lead of 10 points or more in their league, and all teams have played the same number of games, we will settle your bet early as a winner.

Offer applies to bets on the To Win Outright market for the 2019/20 season for teams from the English Premier League, English Championship, English League 1, English League 2, Scottish Premiership, Scottish Championship, Scottish League One, Scottish League Two, German Bundesliga I, Italian Serie A, Spanish Primera Liga and French Ligue 1. If your team is leading the league and the other teams have games in hand but cannot get to within 10 points of your team by winning those games, we will settle your bet early as a winner.

This offer will not apply where a stake has been fully Cashed Out. Where a stake has been partially Cashed Out the bet will be settled on, and this offer shall apply to, the remaining active stake. If a qualifying bet is amended using your Edit Bet feature prior to 23:59:59 UK Time on Friday 13^th September 2019 the bet will be settled on, and the offer shall apply to, the new selection and/or stake. This offer will not apply if your qualifying bet is amended using out Edit Bet feature after 23:59:59 UK Time on Friday 13^th September 2019.

T&Cs apply. Only available to new and eligible customers.

We have a Premier League season preview planned for you which will be coming in a few weeks on No Deposit Poker, which will give you the full lowdown on how we see the season unfolding in the biggest domestic league in the world. However, we are now going to take a look at the remaining three professional divisions in English soccer, the Championship, League 1 and League 2 and give you our tips on which teams we think stand a chance of winning their respective division this season.

We will start that with what looks like being a very competitive season in League 2.

League 2 Champions Preview and Tip

Of all the divisions in England this year, I think League 2 is the toughest to predict because the difference between the top and bottom sides in this league can be so small. I think Newport County are massively overpriced at 33/1 and they could well be a very good each way bet if you are interested in a team that is very tough to beat and who only just missed out in the playoff final last year.

Other good value options include Forest Green at 16/1, Oldham at 25/1 and Carlisle United at 16/1, all of whom I think have the potential to at least make a run at the playoff places.

For the title though my pick is going to be Mansfield Town. At 10/1, the Stags have enjoyed a solid couple of years and they are very tough to beat home or away. They are consistent and while I can’t see them blowing teams away and winning the league at a canter, I do feel they are capable of winning enough points to land top this season.

League 1 Champions Preview and Tip

Sunderland are the favourites to win League One this season and it is easy to understand why as they are by far the biggest club at this level. That said, I do feel they are not quite consistent enough as yet to lift this title and while I feel a second place spot may be doable, I can’t see them finishing first.

Ipswich are a good bet at 13/2 especially after signing 30-goal striker James Norwood from Tranmere in pre-season, but I also feel they are not quite at the level they will need to be to win this division outright and as such I think a playoff spot is more likely.

So who will win it? Well I can see a number of teams being involved at the top, I think Peterborough, Doncaster, Lincoln City and Blackpool all being in with a shout. But for me the team to beat this season are Portsmouth who at 7/1 are a good value bet.

Championship Winners Preview and Tip

The bookmakers currently have Leeds United as the favourites to win the Championship this season, despite the fact that Marcelo Bielsa’s side threw away a great opportunity to earn promotion to the top flight last season. While I do think Leeds will be amongst things, I am not convinced that they will be the team to earn promotion.

Relegated duo Fulham and Cardiff should also be in contention, though I do feel Huddersfield will find things tougher and I think that Derby’s appointment of Philip Cocu to replace Frank Lampard is a very wise move, though I think their moves in the transfer market over the coming weeks will likely determine whether they are genuine contenders for the top, or merely in with a shout of the playoffs.

There are two teams for me I think will improve a lot this season, one is Nottingham Forest, who have had significant investment in recent times and who I think will start to see the benefit of that this year and my final team is my tip to win the Championship, Stoke City, who after too many drawn games last season, will be desperate to get back into the Premier League this time around.

Stoke are currently 12/1 to win the Championship outright at bet365 Sport.

*All odds shown were correct as of 1pm on Monday 15^th July 2019 at bet365 Sport.