The Allsvenskan is the top tier of domestic Swedish football and whilst it can't compete with the English Premier League or Spain's La Liga in terms of glamour or star quality, it certainly compares very well in terms of excitement and unpredictability. Due to the harsh Scandic winters, the 2015 season finished back in October so we're looking ahead to the outright winner betting for the 2016 Allsvenskan and we will bring you the best live betting odds, our outright winner Allsvenskan predictions and our best Swedish football betting tips.
Looking at the latest odds in the outright winner market, Malmo lead the way ahead of the 2016 season, priced at best betting odds of 6/4 with Unibet. A little further back come Stockholm rivals AIK, whilst Gothenburg are represented by third favourites IFK Göteborg. That pair are priced at odds of 7/2 (Unibet) and 4/1 (10Bet) respectively, whilst Elfsborg are next in the outright odds at 11/2 with Unibet.
Such is the unpredictability of the Allsvenskan, defending champions Norrkoping are way out at 20/1 with a range of firms. Minnows Norrkoping claimed just their second title since 1963 last season but even so, to see the defending champions at 20/1 - and fifth favourites in the outright winner betting - is highly unusual.
Norrkoping enjoyed great Allsvenskan success in the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s and whilst they had something of a renaissance in the 1990s they are very much, or we should say, WERE very much, yesterday's team. That changed on the 31st October 2015 when they won 2-0 at Malmo to secure the Allsvenskan title and there are sure to be those who feel the tiny club are decent value to retain their title at huge odds of 20/1.
Norrkoping finished 12th in 2014 though, in a 16-team league and their highest finish in recent times is the fifth place they managed in 2012, having only been promoted back into the Allsvenskan after the 2010 season. With additional European fixtures to contend with we fail to see how they can retain their title, especially with the big boys sure to spend big to reassert their authority.
So, to the favourites, Malmo, whom the bookies predict will win the Allsvenskan in 2016 despite finishing down in fifth last term. It is rumoured that Zlatan Ibrahimović may return to his home team and if he does there is every chance that the southern city side may have enough to win the league. Zlatan is no spring chicken but his class would really shine in the Allsvenskan and Malmo certainly have the money to make a push for another title. They last won the league in 2014, having also won it in 2013 and whilst we certainly predict an improvement on fifth, especially without any extra European fixtures, we think they look a shade short at odds of 6/4 in the outright.
As such our main betting tip in the Allsvenskan outright winner market is IFK Göteborg at best betting odds of 4/1 with 10Bet. The Gothenburg outfit could easily have clinched the title last season but four draws in their last six games saw them drop from the top spot they had occupied for much of the campaign. They have an impressive defence and, in Jörgen Lennartsson, a manager with the right mix of experience and new ideas. AIK Stockholm and Malmo will push them all the way but we predict it will be IFK celebrating another Allsvenskan title in November 2016.