EFL Promotion Tips
The English Football season gets underway on Friday with 72 teams starting the campaign with dreams of promotion.
We have a selection in the Championship, League One and League Two, which makes up a promotion accumulator.
Championship - Middlesbrough to win promotion @ 7/2
The last four Championship titles have been won by teams who have been relegated from the Premier League in the previous season, but that trend may be bucked this term.
Luton lost Ross Barkley in the summer, Sheffield United were hopelessly outclassed last term and Burnley, who have turned to Scott Parker to lead them back to the top-flight, look far too short.
Outside of that trio, Middlesbrough look like the best place for a Premier League push. Boro have been making positive progress under Michael Carrick and injuries and a run to the semi-final of the League Cup derailed their promotion hopes last term.
Carrick has strengthened his squad in the summer, with the signings of Luke Ayling, Aidan Morris and Delano Burgzorga and Boro can make a bold bid this season.
League One - Bolton to win promotion @ 3/1
Portsmouth, Derby, Oxford, Plymouth, Ipswich, Sheffield Wednesday, Wigan, Rotherham and Sunderland are the last nine teams to have been promoted from League One.
The third tier has been a division stacked full of quality for many years, but with Derby and Pompey escaping last term and relegated trio Birmingham, Rotherham and Huddersfield having plenty to prove, Bolton may get their chance to shine.
The Trotters begin their third straight season in League One, having finished ninth three years ago, fifth two seasons ago and third last term. It’s an indication of steady progression from the Whites and Ian Evatt’s men were undoubtedly at least the third best side in the third tier last term.
Szabolcs Schon, Scott Arfield and Luke Southwood have arrived to strengthen the Trotters’ squad and Bolton may well have climbed into the automatic play-off places with a little more fortune last season.
Evatt’s men appear primed for another good season and the Trotters look a bet to gain promotion from League One.
League Two - MK Dons to win promotion @ 5/2
MK Dons missed out in the League Two play-offs last season, but boss Mike Williamson made a positive impact in his first season in charge of the Dons and another promotion bid looks likely.
Williamson has added 12 players to a strong Dons squad this summer and defensive reinforcements looked a must for a side that conceded 41 away league goals last term.
The issues in defence appear to have been addressed and the Dons are a cracking bet to gain promotion to League One.