Plenty of quality teams ascended from League 1 to the Championship last season but which three clubs will join the likes of Ipswich Town, Plymouth Argyle and Sheffield Wednesday in winning promotion to the second-tier of English football? We take a look at the odds and make a couple of predictions…

It comes as no surprise to see Derby County leading the pack when it comes to the betting. Paul Warne’s side have added some quality from the Championship to bolster their squad with Kane Wilson and Curtis Nelson potentially being key additions to the squad. Sonny Bradley was part of the successful Luton Town side last year and his experience could be key. We are 6/4 the Rams go up this term.

Next up is Bolton with my local team being priced up pre-season at 9/4 to return to the Championship for the first time in five years. Dion Charles is once again going to be their key man up front with the 27 year-old really kicking on last term but plenty of people are expecting big things from new man Dan Nlundulu who has joined for a six-figure sum. I’m sceptical but for those looking for a longshot in the top goalscorer market, he’s 66/1.

Bolton may be my local team these day but I am a Pompey mush and my club are the joint-third favourites to finally find their way out of this division. Every year people tip my lot to go up and every year disappointment follows. On paper the movement this summer looks positive and Colby Bishop will once again be expected to lead the line and score plenty. Call me a pessimist but until I actually see it with my own eyes, I won’t believe we’ll go up so I’ll swerve the 11/4 on a Portsmouth promotion.

The best team to miss out on promotion last season were clearly Barnsley, so you’d expect them to be the favourites to win this time around but with manager Michael Duff taking his talent to Swansea, that has left a big question mark hanging over their chances. They are under an investigation by the EFL for issues that occurred before the current board were in charge but how that plays out is anybody’s guess. That uncertainty leaves my uneasy so I’ll put them to one side just like Pompey at that 11/4 price.

Peterborough are priced up next at 3/1 for promotion and they have for me – the best centre-forward in the division. Jonson Clarke-Harris is just prolific and if he stays fit then the Posh have every chance to be there or thereabouts. Getting over their play-off heartbreak may be tough but if Darren Ferguson’s men get off to a strong start then watch out.

Reading, Blackpool and Wigan Athletic came down from the Championship and two of them are considered legitimate options to bounce straight back up according to the odds. Wigan however are in all sorts of a mess so they are very much expected to be middle of the pack. Star defender Jack Whatmough and James McGrath have both terminated their contracts due to repeated failures by the club to pay them their wages. That is a huge blow and they follow Will Keane out the door, who did the same earlier in the summer. I’m not expecting the Latics to be challenging.

Reading are under a transfer embargo due to a late payment to HMRC, so whether they can sort that before the transfer window closes could well shape their season. That leaves Blackpool as arguably the best placed of the three relegated clubs but their summer business hasn’t moved the needle. I’m not sure any of them are primed for a swift return to the Championship.

Peterborough I think are a value play at 3/1 to go up and the other team I’ll note is Charlton Athletic at 5/1. The Addicks have had quite the tumultuous run under their ownership group but are currently undergoing a sale which could breathe fresh life into the club. That positivity off the field could well translate on the field and with a good squad already in situ, they might be one of the surprise packages of the season.