League 1 Top 2 Finish Odds: Stockport look a great pick for autos

League 1 gets underway with Luton Town vs AFC Wimbledon (20:00, Sky Sports Main Event), and the Hatters are the favourites to secure an instant return to the Championship. Securing promotion is the minimum requirement for them, while plenty of other teams in the third tier are also dreaming of the automatics.

Below you can find the League 1 Top 2 Finish Odds with Betfred. 

Luton Town @ 13/8

Yep. I would be absolutely staggered if Luton Town don’t get promoted from League 1 this season, and if they don’t win the league by a decent margin I'll also be shocked. Matt Bloomfield is at the helm and in the last 12 games of the Championship season, only Burnley and Leeds United picked up more points than Luton did. 

We expected them to be promotion candidates last year - and things went drastically wrong, culminating in their final-day relegation. But there is no way it happens again here, with the outstanding depth and quality this squad possesses. I don’t even mind this price for them to secure automatic promotion, which I am very confident they can achieve. 

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Cardiff City @ 3/1

Now, I’m not so sure about these lot. Cardiff also came down from the Championship but unlike Luton, they had been circling the drain for a while, before eventually plopping down the chute. Cardiff have now gone with Brian Barry Murphy as their new boss after his recent work with Manchester City and that’s a gamble that could pay off, but I’m not sure the squad is quite up to scratch yet. 

They could be play-off contenders, but I’d rather back others on this list to finish in the top two at this moment in time. 

League 1 Top 2 Finish Odds

Huddersfield Town @ 3/1

Huddersfield Town are spending big in order to fire themselves up the League 1 standings and they’ve got a new gaffer at the helm in the form of Lee Grant. He comes highly-rated from Ipswich Town, and he’s certainly been given the tools to produce this season. 

Alfie May joins from Birmingham City and guarantees goals at this level, Owen Goodman was the standout League 2 goalkeeper at AFC Wimbledon last season and joins from Crystal Palace on loan while they’ve gone a spending spree in defence - adding Joe Low, Jack Whatmough, Sean Roughan and Murray Wallace to their ranks. There is a lot to like about these names on paper and Grant has a high ceiling, but it could take a while for them to gel. A worthy candidate for automatic promotion. 

Plymouth Argyle @ 4/1

Miron Muslic walked out the door this summer, and two key players from last season Ryan Hardie and Mustaphu Bundu have also departed. It has left Plymouth with ground to make up but Tom Cleverley feels like an incredibly smart appointment after the work he did at Watford last term. 

The Greens boast Bali Mumba and Freddie Issaka at the time of writing and they could perform well, but I’m still not sure they are ready for a top-two push. It’s a case of wait-and-see for Argyle this season for me. Play-off contenders, but perhaps nothing more. 

Blackpool @ 6/1

Steve Bruce. Blackpool has become quite the home for our mate Steve and he is a popular figure around those parts. They finished ninth last term but picked up 65 points from 42 games under the gaffer and if they post that level of consistency over a whole season again, they should be in the top-six picture. 

Niall Ennis is a smart addition after impressing on loan last season while Oli Casey, and James Husband provide solidity at the back. Again, the top two might just be out of reach for Blackpool, but they should be in the play-off mix. 

Bolton Wanderers @ 6/1

Ian Evatt’s tumultuous time in charge of Bolton came to an end last season, with Steven Schumacher now at the helm looking to lead them back to the Championship. They flopped hard last season to finish eighth which just isn’t acceptable for a club like Bolton. 

Josh Sheehan, Aaron Morley and midfield captain George Thomason are all solid while Thierry Gale and Sam Dalby should strengthen their attack. This squad should have enough to get close this season - but there’s another name I fancy for top two. 

Stockport County @ 6/1 

Yep. Stockport County. Everything about this club just seems destined for the Championship and after more heartbreak in the play-offs on penalties, I’m backing them to avoid them altogether this time around. Dave Challinor is a magician when it comes to progressing this team up the league and his sides always compete at the right end of the table.

Mallik Mothersille is a good addition while Corey Addai, Oli Norwood and Ethan Pye are already top performers in League 1. There isn’t a lot of risk with Stockport and at the very worst, they should finish in the top six. I’m setting my sights a lot higher however at a massive price.

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