Big Kick Off: League One Betting Tips

The League One season kicks off on Saturday, and this season looks set to be a good one. There are a number of massive clubs who find themselves down in the depths of the third tier of English football. Southampton, Sheffield Wednesday and Charlton will all be looking to become upwardly mobile once again after some recent barren seasons.

It is the Saints who are the favourites to take the silverware in May. They have a superb array of attacking talent in Ricky Lambert and Lee Barnard who almost guarantee at least 20 goals apiece. They will undoubtedly finish higher than their 7^th position of last season. They are, of course, without a points deduction this time around. They can be backed at 12/5 (Totesport) to win the title.

If you’re looking for a decent outside bet, Brighton could well be the team for you. In Gustavo Poyet, they have a bright young manager who is building a talented squad at the Withdean Stadium. Radostin Kishishev, the former Charlton midfielder, will add class to the midfield alongside a couple of interesting newcomers in Argentinians Agustin Battipiedi and Cristian Baz. They’re available at an inviting 14/1 (Bet365, Blue Sq, Ladbrokes, Paddy Power).

At the other end of the table, expect to see Rochdale, who are one of the favourites for the drop at 9/4 (888 Sport, Blue Sq, Ladbrokes). After a superb season last year, they tailed off significantly towards the end and only just crept past the finish line to gain promotion. They have seen last season’s top scorer, Chris Dagnall, leave to go to Scunthorpe, and their goal threat could be greatly diminished without him.

The pick of the weekend’s fixtures in League One comes at the County Ground where Swindon host Brighton. Swindon were terrific last season, making the play offs. They’ll be hoping that the additions of Simon Ferry (from Celtic) and David Prutton (from Colchester) will help improve their push for promotion this time. And as I’ve previously mentioned, Brighton could be a good outside bet for promotion themselves.

It should prove to be an interesting game. Swindon’s firepower in the form of Vincent Pericard and Charlie Austin could prove to be the difference in this one, and the home side can be backed to win at 5/4 (Bet365, Coral, SkyBet).

Another attractive fixture is Notts County against Huddersfield. County did well to win the League Two title last season and have a striker in Lee Hughes who is always a threat in the box. The Terriers have strengthened their squad immeasurably this summer, and the signing of Joey Gudjonsson from Burnley could prove to the signing of the season.

The 7/4 on offer with Ladbrokes for a Huddersfield win has to be the best value match result bet of the weekend.

League One tips of the weekend:

• Huddersfield to beat Notts County @ 7/4 (Ladbrokes)
• Gary Doherty (Charlton) – anytime goalscorer v Bournemouth @ 7/1 (Coral)
• Sheffield Wednesday to beat Dagenham & Redbridge 3-0 @ 11/1 (Bet365)

Npower League One Fixtures

Saturday 7 August

• 12:15 [TV] Southampton (3/4) v (11/4) Plymouth (4/1)
• 15:00 Carlisle (5/4) v (12/5) Brentford (12/5)
• 15:00 Charlton (8/13) v (14/5) Bournemouth (5/1)
• 15:00 Exeter (6/4) v (12/5) Colchester (15/8)
• 15:00 Notts Co (13/8) v (12/5) Huddersfield (7/4)
• 15:00 Peterborough (5/6) v (5/2) Bristol Rovers (4/1)
• 15:00 Rochdale (13/10) v (12/5) Hartlepool (9/4)
• 15:00 Sheffield Wednesday (1/2) v (10/3) Dagenham & Redbridge (6/1)
• 15:00 Swindon (5/4) v (12/5) Brighton (9/4)
• 15:00 Tranmere (5/4) v (12/5) Oldham (12/5)
• 15:00 Walsall (6/4) v (23/10) Milton Keynes Dons (19/10)
• 15:00 Yeovil (13/10) v (23/10) Leyton Orient (9/4)

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