I'VE just about sorted out my antepost picks and will put them on the site on Friday night or Saturday morning.
The Football League kicks off on Friday with a potential Championship cracker between Blackburn and Cardiff and here the thoughts on the English lower league anteposts and top scorers from Paddy Power.
They say: Starting with the Championship this could be anyone’s year as the fight to make it to the Premier League begins. We make Derby 15-2 favourites to lift the Championship trophy. They are closely followed by last year’s relegated Premiership teams Cardiff at 8-1, Fulham at 9-1 and Norwich at 10-1.
Wigan will look to return to the top flight following their year in the Europa League and are 11-4 to win promotion to Premier League. Looking at the outsiders Wolves will look to make back-to-back promotions and could be the surprise package this season. They are 11-2 to make the cut.
Blackpool have had a disastrous pre-season and it doesn’t seem like things are set to change as they’re odds-on favourites to go down at 8-15. Championship new boys Rotherham are 11-4 to go straight back down.
Fulham have made the biggest money move in the build-up to the season, paying a hefty £11million for Leeds striker Ross McCormack. He was top goal scorer last season in the Championship and is 9-1 to repeat the feat at his new home at Craven Cottage. Blackburn frontman Jordan Rhodes is favourite for the Golden bBoot at 7-1 while Watford’s Troy Deeney bagged 24 goals last season and is 14-1.
Sheffield United start the new League One season as clear favourites for the title following their tremendous run to the FA Cup semi-final last year. The Blades are 5-1 to come out on top under manager Nigel Clough. Preston finished in the play-off places last year but failed to go up, they are 8-1 to go one better and take the trophy this season.
Elsewhere, Chesterfield could be the dark horses of the division and are 6-1 to gain promotion to the Championship. Doncaster are 4-1 to go back to where they came from and get their hands on a promotion ticket. Crewe narrowly escaped relegation last season and are the bookies' 7-5 favourites to get the chop from League One.
Looking at the Golden Boot winners only one goal could separate Sam Baldock beating Britt Assombalonga in the goalscoring charts last season. They are 7-1 joint favourites for top scorer this campaign. Joe Garner of Preston is 10-1 to improve on his tally of 24 goals last season and collect the Golden Boot.
Portsmouth have put their financial problems behind them and will look to use their impressive average of 15,000 fans at Fratton Park to propel them back to League One. They are 7-1 favourites to win League Two with Paddy Power.
Luton town are newly-promoted from the Football Conference following their brief exodus from the Football League and are 10-1 to come back with a bang and take the League Two title.
Former Man United player Luke Chadwick will look to take his boyhood team up another level and Cambridge United are 6-1 to get promoted.
On the relegation front, Wycombe only survived last season by goal difference and are 9-2 to exit the football league this year.
Resident football tipster at Scotland's most read newspaper, the Daily Record, for over 20 years and proud host of one the best betting communities on the web with daily betting tips.
coming from a pompey fan mr f. I think pompey will do well this season but im not sure were win the league but promotion looks a cert. we were favourites last season and then look what happened. the thing is just cos we got good support shouldn’t make us favourites. the fans have always been there and even more so now were a fan based run club. were just passionate about our local team. over 10,000 season tickets for a league 2 club says it all. but anyway I think a top 3 finish is a good bet to place
lucas, tough league to call but so far I’m thinking Pompey each way.
yeah that’s a good shout mr f. I think burton will be strong this year and a lot of people seem to keen on luton but im not so sure. a pompey away win tomorrow against Exeter looks a good bet to. a sell out from our lot on the road as usual. no doubt were have more fans then the home side like numerous occasions last season
Mr f I’m looking to do a patent on 3 teams to be promoted from championship,league 1 & league 2 what are your thoughts
Sauzee, I’ll be posting later but I’ve already said Derby will be my Championship bet ahead of Fulham.
chris martin – championship leading scorer @14-1 i believe with bet365, think he bagged us 21 last season, most of his goals came during Mclaren’s change of style to a more attacking game. even as an each way bet, it has free money written all over it. he’s fitter and sharper too. people also know he’s a threat because last season he was the most fouled player in the championship.