On Sunday, Liverpool and Manchester City will clash as the Champions of England take on the Champions of Europe in what should be an absolutely cracking FA Community Shield game at Wembley, between the two teams that ran away from the rest in the Premier League last season.
However, before that, the three divisions of teams below the top division will get the new season underway as the first games in the English Football League will be contested in the Championship, League One and League Two and of course, such an important day in the football calendar for so many football fans means that there is going to be a fair amount of money placed on bets over the next week or so.
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To preview the season, we will begin by taking a look at the three divisions in the Football League, and divide our tips up into three different options. The team we think will be Champions, those that will be promoted or contest for the playoffs, and lastly those we feel in danger of relegation from their division. We’ll also take a look at the first fixtures for each of the divisions taking place across this weekend.
All kick off times are 3pm on Saturday 3rd August unless otherwise stated.
Season Preview – The Championship
Opening Fixtures
- Luton Town v Middlesbrough (Fri, 7.45pm)
- Barnsley v Fulham
- Blackburn Rovers v Charlton Athletic
- Brentford v Birmingham City
- Millwall v Preston North End
- Reading v Sheffield Wednesday
- Stoke City v Queens Park Rangers
- Swansea City v Hull City
- Wigan Athletic v Cardiff City
- Nottingham Forest v West Brom (5.30pm)
- Bristol City v Leeds United (Sun, 4.30pm)
- Huddersfield Town. V Derby County (Mon, 7.45pm)
Champions – Stoke City – 12/1
The Potters had a miserable season back in the Championship last season following relegation from the Premier League the season before, but they were never an easy team to beat. If they can turn their many draws into wins, they could be a real contender this season and with a years experience at this level, and still a very strong squad, I think they will surprise a few here.
Promotion & Playoff Contenders – Leeds Utd 15/8, Fulham 9/4, Cardiff City 3/1, West Brom 3/1, Huddersfield Town 5/1, Nottingham Forest 5/1, Birmingham City 10/1, Swansea City 10/1, Hull 14/1
I see the battle for promotion and playoffs being very open this season in the Championship and it could be that we head into the final day of the season with several teams still in with a chance of either promotion or a playoff spot. I’d back Nottingham Forest to clinch the second promotion spot with Stoke, with the others battling it out for a playoff berth.
Relegation Battlers – Millwall, Barnsley, Charlton Athletic, Wigan, Preston, Blackburn
Three spots go down in the Championship and I think Millwall and Charlton are the most at risk with one of the teams from Lancashire or Yorkshire listed above to join them in the drop zone.
Season Preview – League One
Opening Fixtures
- AFC Wimbledon v Rotherham United
- Blackpool v Bristol Rovers
- Burton Albion. V Ipswich Town
- Bury v Milton Keynes Dons
- Coventry City v Southend United
- Doncaster Rovers v Gillingham
- Lincoln City v Accrington Stanley
- Peterborough United v Fleetwood Town
- Shrewsbury Town v Portsmouth
- Sunderland v Oxford United
- Tranmere Rovers v Rochdale
- Wycombe Wanderers v Bolton Wanderers
Champions – Ipswich Town – 13/2
The signing of goalscorer James Norwood, who netted 32 goals for Tranmere last season, is a real coup for Ipswich Town and I think with him added and a few new faces, plus the quality the squad already has, they could well be the team to beat in this division this season.
Promotion & Playoff Contenders – (Odds shown are from the To Be Promoted Market) – Sunderland 6/4, Portsmouth 5/2, Doncaster 5/1, Lincoln City 6/1, MK Dons 7/1, Blackpool 8/1, Tranmere Rovers 14/1
Promotion from League One is much tougher than League two as there is one fewer spot available and much tougher teams. Tranmere have been promoted twice in a row via the playoffs and they are my outside pick here. I’d back Sunderland to go up automatically with Ipswich and the other teams to battle it out for the playoff spots.
Relegation Battlers – Bury, Bolton, Wycombe, Southend, Coventry City, Bristol Rovers
Cash strapped clubs do find League One tough and the likes of Bury, Bolton and Coventry are all very much in this boat. Coventry will play their games at St Andrews which is never ideal for a team. I also don’t feel Southend, Wycombe or Bristol Rovers have the strongest of squads either.
Season Preview – League Two
Opening Fixtures
- Salford City v Stevenage Borough (12.30pm)
- Bradford City v Cambridge United
- Carlisle United v Crawley Town
- Colchester United v Port Vale
- Crewe Alexandra v Plymouth Argyle
- Exeter City v Macclesfield Town
- Forest Green Rovers v Oldham Athletic
- Leyton Orient v Cheltenham Town
- Morecambe v Grimsby Town
- Newport County v Mansfield Town
- Northampton Town v Walsall
- Scunthorpe United v Swindon Town
Champions – Forest Green Rovers (16/1)
If Forest Green’s home form had matched their away, then they would have been promoted automatically last season instead of losing to eventual winners Tranmere at the semifinal stage of the playoffs. I feel Mark Cooper’s squad is very strong, talented and if they can get off to a better start this season, particularly at home, they should be very strong contenders in this very even league.
Promotion & Playoff Contenders – (Odds shown are for the To Be Promoted market) – Salford City 7/4, Mansfield 11/4, Carlisle 7/2, Oldham Athletic 6/1, Exeter City 6/1, Newport County 7/1, Stevenage 8/1.
It’s always a very close contest for promotion and playoff spots in League Two with seven available meaning that many teams should be in with a shout at least until the final few weeks of the season. I fancy Mansfield and Oldham to be promoted outright, with the others battling it out for playoff spots.
Relegation Battlers – (Odds shown are for the To Be Relegated Market) – Morecambe 7/2, Crawley Town 9/2, Port Vale 8/1, Plymouth Argyle 40/1.
I think Morecambe are the team in most trouble here but I also feel that relegated side Plymouth, with lots of traveling to do, could well find this season to be much tougher than many are expecting.
*All odds shown in this article were correct at the time of writing with bet365, but may be subject to change over time.
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