English League One Odds Comparison Tips – Week 7
It’s early days in the League One season but already the cream is rising to the top. This weekend we have some big games at the top of the table on Saturday. It’s only just September but already clashes such as these can be viewed as promotion battles and come May the results from games like this could well prove decisive.
Barnsley are flying high in third place in the table, with their guests, Walsall, level on points but down in fifth on goal difference. There are some big, big sides in League One this term and the promotion race is going to be fought to the last. We are now six games in and the top five are separated by just two points. A further indication of the strength in depth in the third tier is that there are seven teams that have played in the Premier League – eight if you include Wimbledon.
Barnsley are one of those but they have a long way to go before they can recapture the magical days of 1997-98. The Tykes finished 22nd in the Championship last year and getting back into that division will be there aim this term.
They have started well, winning four and drawing two of their six games, the same record as Walsall. However, the South Yorkshire side have looked mighty impressive at times, notably when hammering both Oxford and Rochdale 4-0. Our odds comparison shows the home side at best betting odds of just 1/2 so back them with a -1 handicap as we fancy them to win with a little room to spare here.
Betting Tip: Barnsley to Win With -1 handicapSunderland v Fleetwood is another huge League One game, with Sunderland by far the biggest side in the division and Fleetwood attracting attention thanks to Joey Barton being the manager.
Fleetwood are also reasonably well funded and achieved an amazing sixth promotion in a decade when they came up to League One in 2014. They have stabilised in the third tier and are now looking to push on. Barton has begun his managerial career very well and his side are currently sixth, with three wins and two draws from their opening six matches.
That sees them trail Sunderland by three points, the Black Cats boasting an identical record to Barnsley and Walsall to sit fourth. They have drawn their last two at home and against a decent side they look a shade short at betting odds of 5/6 here. As such we think the draw offers a shade more value at much longer odds on our odds comparison.
Betting Tip: DrawAt the other end of the table 22nd place Oxford host 19th place Coventry in Sunday’s live televised (in the UK) game. Both sides have begun poorly but fans would have expected this to be a tough season given recent campaigns and safety will be the first target for both this term.
The home side are actually putting together a nice little run and will be full of confidence. They drew at Sunderland in their last league match and beat Burton 3-1 at home before that. With two 3-0 cup wins they now have three wins in four and sensational value at odds of 6/4 on our live odds comparison.
Betting Tip: Oxford to WinLeague One is the third tier of English football, sitting beneath the Premier League and the Championship but above League Two in the professional football hierarchy. Our League One hub page offers you everything you need for betting on this highly competitive division, including live betting odds comparison – both for the individual matches and a number of outright betting markets – along with the latest league table and fixtures.
League One has previously been called, perhaps confusingly, the Second Division and also, more logically, Division Three; but what remains constant is the battling nature of the football and the passion of the fans.
Making predictions for this league and offering betting tips is no easy task as, unlike the highest divisions, there is never a dominant team or group of teams. This season (2014-15) Sheffield United start out as favourite in the odds at a price of around 11/2 but it would take a brave man to predict they will romp to the title given there are at least five other sides whose betting odds suggest they have a reasonable chance of glory.
The League One champions from the 2007-08 to 2000-10 seasons have gone on to great success, with Swansea and Leicester currently in the Premier League and Norwich having just been relegated and so it is clear that success in this division can be used as a stepping stone to the dizzy heights of the top flight.
Can Sheffield United, Bristol City or any of the other favourites in the League One betting emulate those aforementioned clubs? We won’t be making any bold predictions but be sure to check back here for the latest live odds.