League One has a higher profile than usual in the 2024/25 campaign, with big spending Birmingham City and Wrexham vying for promotion.
Certainly, most English League 1 predictions forecast one of these two clubs winning the title, but sides such as Stockport, Bolton Wanderers and Huddersfield are also fancied by the best sports betting sites.
On this page, our football experts will make their own League 1 predictions for 2024/25! They’ll also appraise the best EFL sportsbooks while answering your most frequently asked questions.
League One Winner Prediction: Top Contenders for the 2024-25 Title
The most sought after League 1 prediction focuses on which side will win the title. League leaders Birmingham City have emerged as the heavy betting favourites in this market, with their average odds of 4/11 implying a 71.94% probability of them lifting the title in 2024/25.
Below, you’ll find a more comprehensive summary of the latest League 1 outright odds. Our League 1 experts have also analysed the main title contenders and factors that will determine the outcome of the title race.
| Team | MyriadPlay | 10BET |
|---|---|---|
| Birmingham City | Price of 6/4 with MyriadPlay | Price of 4/11 with 10BET |
| Wrexham | Price of 14/1 with MyriadPlay | Price of 12/1 with 10BET |
| Bolton Wanderers | Price of 14/1 with MyriadPlay | Price of 14/1 with 10BET |
| Stockport County | Price of 16/1 with MyriadPlay | Price of 16/1 with 10BET |
| Huddersfield Town | Price of 19/1 with MyriadPlay | Price of 16/1 with 10BET |
Tactical Breakdowns
Outright favourites Birmingham have won seven and lost just one of their nine matches so far, including a comprehensive 3-1 victory over fellow high flyers Wrexham at St. Andrews. The Dragons struggled to contain an attack-minded Blues team, with Chris Davis’ men averaging 68.2% possession per 90 minutes so far this term.
This is a league high, while a possession-oriented philosophy suits a team with such a technical midfield and attack.
It should prove effective in most League One games (especially given the depth and quality of the Blues’ squad), while it contrasts with Wrexham’s more direct style and reliance on counterattacking.
The Dragons average just 43.2% possession per 90 this season, the fourth lowest figure in the competition. Instead, they tend to rely on a solid 5-3-2 or 4-4-2 defensive shape and adopt a compact mid-block to catch their opponents in transition.
Manager Strategies
As we can see, managers Chris Davies and Phil Parkinson have very different tactical approaches.
However, the latter’s direct style has produced more goals so far (18 as opposed to 16), while Wrexham’s goals-per-shot ratio is also notably higher (0.17 vs 0.13).
As for Bolton manager Ian Evatt, he has looked to improve last season’s beaten playoff finalists by adopting a more flexible 3-4-2-1 formation.
This has seen the Wanderers average 4.67 shots on target and 55.2% possession per 90 so far, and while both metrics are slightly down on last season, they’ve improved markedly during a recent four-match unbeaten streak. This could help sustain Bolton’s title challenge in 2024/25.
Player Impact Assessment
The summer saw Birmingham break the League 1 transfer record, paying an initial £15 million for Fulham striker Jay Stansfield. Although he only has 27 goals in 103 career appearances overall, he did hit 13 in 47 matches for the Blues during a previous loan spell.
He has contributed three goals in six league appearances so far in 2024/25, including a brace during the win over Wrexham. His form and pedigree have directly impacted the League One winner odds and helped make the Blues the championship favourites.
Of course, the Blues also acquired the services of Alfie May, who was League One’s top scorer in 2023/24 after hitting 23 goals for Charlton.
This type of firepower certainly sets the Blues apart in the division and could have a key role in determining the outcome of the title and League 1 matches.
League One Playoff Predictions: Race for Promotion
Of course, it’s the top two clubs that gain automatic promotion to the EFL Championship, while a third makes this leap via the playoffs. You can bet and make League one predictions about three teams that will be promoted ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.
But outside of League One title favourites Birmingham, who are the main playoff contenders in the division?
Wrexham
The Dragons’ recent rise has been built on two consecutive promotions, backed by the millions of Hollywood pair Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds. They’ve started the 2024/25 campaign well too, winning six of their 10 matches to sit second in the table.
As we’ve touched on, the team is compact out of possession and rarely looks to win the ball up high. Instead, they rely on quick, direct counter attacking and a prolific front two of Jack Marriott and Ollie Palmer (with the seasoned Paul Mullin in reserve).
You can back Wrexham to gain promotion from League 1 this season at odds of 2/1 with MyriadPlay. We certainly expect them to at least secure a playoff place in the race for the Championship.
Bolton Wanderers
Bolton finished third in League One last season, only to suffer a heartbreaking 2-0 defeat to Oxford in the Playoff final. They’re also in a good run of form at present, and while they sit 14th in the 2024/25 League 1 table, they retain the quality and firepower to contend for promotion once again.
Last season, Bolton were the league’s second top-scorers with 81 goals, and Northern Ireland international Dion Charles has already struck three times in the 2024/25 campaign. He has 55 goals in 132 appearances for the Wanderers overall, as is key to the team’s promotion chances.
Like Wrexham, Bolton are also priced at 2/1 with MyriadPlay to gain promotion and should at least contend for a playoff place.
Stockport County
Stockport sit seventh in the current standings, just a point behind the League One playoff places. They also entered this season with genuine momentum, having won the League Two title in 2023/24 and made impressive loan signings in the form of Tyler Onyango (Everton) and top scorer Louie Barry (Aston Villa).
They’ve also proven difficult to beat this season, losing just one and conceding a paltry eight goals (the joint second lowest in the division).They’ve only conceded an average of 2.22 shots on target per 90 minutes too, and their defensive organisation could prove key if they’re to secure a playoff place.
If you want to back Stockport to win promotion, you can do so at the competitive price of 13/5 with 10BET.
League Two Relegation Battle: Teams Fighting for Survival
Other popular League 1 betting predictions and markets focus on the teams that will be relegated from the division. A total of four sides will drop into the League Two at the end of this season, but who are the most likely relegation candidates in 2024/25?
Burton Albion
Mark Robinson’s men escaped the drop by just two points last season, before losing influential midfielder Mark Helm during the summer. They’ve failed to win any of their 10 matches so far in 2024/25, losing the previous four since September 14th.
They also have the third worst defence in League One and face an average of 5.44 shots on target per 90, and their survival chances are becoming slimmer with every passing week.
Cambridge United
Prior to their 2-0 home win over Wigan on September 19th, Cambridge had endured a 15 match winless streak dating back to April 1st. They ultimately finished in 18th place in 2023/24, just four points from the drop zone and with the second lowest number of goals scored.
They’ve failed to find the net in six of their 10 matches this season so far too, and a lack of firepower could cost them their place in League One.
Crawley Town
Newly promoted Crawley Town currently sit 22nd in the League 1 table, having lost six successive matches and eight of their last nine. This is despite averaging 62.3% possession per 90 in 2024/25, with ‘The Red Devils’ struggling to convert their dominance and chances into goals.
In fact, they’ve underperformed their xG -2.47 goals so far, while shipping nine goals in their last two games at the other end also highlights defensive vulnerability.
Best Sites to Bet on League One
If you’re going to bet on League 1 games and outright markets, you’ll also need to identify the best and most reputable sites.
We’ve comprehensively reviewed the market leading operators, ranking them according to key criteria such as event coverage, their range of in-play betting lines and any available welcome offers. Here’s a summary of our top three sites for League One betting!
Betiton
Betiton offers a diverse selection of League One betting markets, including several different outrights and match wagering lines. You can also access competitive combination bets and specials here.
The site’s welcome offer also rewards new customers with a £10 free bet, when they deposit and wager £15 at odds of 1/1. The free bet must be placed at minimum odds of 4/5 and will be active on your account for 14 days.
Betiton also offers full and partial cashouts on qualifying League One bets, while its generous ‘Boostiton’ bonus boosting your pre-match combo bet winnings by up to 77%.
Pros
- Offers a diverse selection of League 1 match betting markets
- Access a £10 free bet when you initially deposit and wager £15
- Benefit from flexible cashouts and enhanced acca winnings
Betarno
We are particularly impressed with Betarno’s range of L1 match betting options, which include a diverse selection of over/under lines. You can also access several League One outright markets, including the teams that will secure a top-two spot or finish bottom of the table.
The site’s welcome offer rewards you with a £10 free bet as a new customer, when you deposit and wager at least £10 at odds of 1/1 or higher. You must opt-in within three days of registering, while your free bet must be deployed at the exact same odds as the qualifier.
Betarno also boasts an intuitive ‘Bet Builder’ feature. This enables you to construct combination bets based on your own match and form analysis.
Pros
- Access a number of over/under betting lines and markets during L1 games
- Earn a £10 free bet when you deposit and wager £10
- Use the site’s Bet Builder tool to construct rewarding combo wagers
GentlemanJim
Although the GentlemanJim sportsbook doesn’t currently offer a welcome bonus, it’s one of the best sites for acting on your League 1 score predictions. This is especially true if you want to wager on BTTS and the result in a particular match, which unlocks highly competitive odds.
Overall, the sportsbook provides competitive outright odds, both on the winner of the league in 2024/25 and the teams that are likely to achieve promotion to the Championship.
Once again, GentlemanJim operates a handy ‘Build-a-Bet’ feature, and while this is available for all League 1 matches, such wagers cannot be cashed out.
Pros
- Access competitive combo bets featuring BTTS and 1×2 lines
- Leverage competitive League One outright markets
- Use the platform’s ‘Build-a-Bet’ feature to construct your own L1 wagers
How the League One Works: A Beginner’s Guide
If you’re a fan of EFL football, you’ll know that the same league structure underpins the Championship, League One and League Two.
But what’s the precise format here, and how can this inform your own English League 1 predictions and insights? Here’s an overview!
The League One Format
There are 24 teams in League One. They’ll engage in home and away games against one another during the regular season, with each side playing 46 matches in total. Clubs can earn three points for a win, one for a draw and are left empty-handed after a defeat.
Once the 552-match regular season has been concluded towards the end of May, teams will finalise their league position based on their total points’ haul.
Tiebreakers in League 1
If two teams finish the campaign with the same number of points, goal difference is used to determine which one places higher. If this is also tied, the side that scored the most goals during the season will edge their opponents.
If the clubs in question still cannot be separated, the relevant head-to-head results will be used as a definitive tiebreaker. Subsequent considerations include the number of matches won, most goals scored away from home and disciplinary records.
Promotion and Playoff Rules
The two teams that finish top of the League 1 table will earn automatic promotion to the Championship. The four sides that place between third and sixth will compete in the League One playoffs, which comprise a pair of two-legged semi-finals and showpiece final at Wembley.
All playoff ties adopt a knockout format and will be settled after extra-time and penalties if necessary. The eventual winner will also advance into the Championship.
Relegation Rules
At the end of the 2024/25 season, the four teams that have accumulated the fewest number of points will be relegated to League Two. These sides are relegated automatically and won’t be required to compete in a playoff series against clubs seeking promotion.
If two teams are tied in the battle to avoid relegation (in 20th and 21st position), the tiebreakers referenced above will be used. If an outcome still cannot be determined, the sides in question will have to play another match against one another.
Key Statistics for Your League One Predictions
In order to make informed football League 1 predictions and bet successfully, you’ll need to identify and analyse the most relevant datasets.
These will vary from one type of prediction and betting market to another, but some statistics are universally applicable. Here’s a summary of the key datasets when betting on League One!
Team Form (Including Home and Away Form)
When engaging in 1×2 League One betting, team form is the single most important dataset. You can evaluate form and results over a predetermined number of matches, although analysis of between six and 10 previous games tends to offer the most telling insights.
It’s also important to distinguish between home and away performance. For example, of the 128 League One matches contested so far in 2024/25, 45% have been won by the home team.
This percentage was 42% across the whole of last season, and this type of statistical bias will need to be factored into your picks.
Head-to-Head Records and Team News
When drilling down further into individual match betting markets, we’d also recommend analysing the relevant head-to-head matches between sides.
Once again, we’d recommend analysing the previous six results between competing teams, while paying attention to match outcomes, goal difference and respective home and away performances.
Player form and availability is also key here. Ensure that you keep in touch with the latest injury reports and suspension news, as this could have a direct impact on outcomes. Also, review historic individual scoring records if you intend to bet on the first, last or anytime goal scorer markets.
Goals and Scoring Data
Backing BTTS and the over/under on how many goals will be scored in a game is also popular in League One. To place informed bets of this type, you should analyse current and historic scoring data, in order to determine the likeness of specific outcomes occurring.
For example, 76% of all L1 matches in 2024/25 have yielded over 1.5 goals (compared to 74% across the whole of last season). Some 52% of games have produced more than 2.5 goals (compared to 50% in 2023/24), while 25% have yielded over 3.5 goals across both campaigns.
These figures are fairly consistent, so they should help you to identify the best value over/under betting lines in specific games.
Making Informed League Name Predictions: Expert Tips
To make the most informed football predictions and bets, you’ll also have to develop viable wagering strategies and systems. So, we’ve prepared some expert tips and insights to help you get started!
Build Bets Based on Numerous Variables
In addition to home and away form and scoring statistics, there are other variables to consider when constructing football prediction strategies.
These include real-time team and injury news (including the potential impact of rotation during busy periods of the season) and head-to-head records, the latter of which can directly influence 1×2 betting.
Comparing recent H2H outcomes is one of the most effective League One analysis techniques.
Rely on Data and Not Emotions
By understanding and analysing these variables, you can make predictions and betting picks based solely on data. This negates the temptation to blindly back your favourite team or wager emotively, which is one the most common prediction mistakes made online. Similarly, you can use our expert forecasts and betting tips to inform your own selections, so long as you continue to conduct your own market analysis.
Consider Matched Betting
If you have access to one or more free bets across your sportsbook accounts, you could also consider engaging in ‘matched betting’. This is a strategy that sees you lay your traditional ‘back’ bet at a betting exchange, usually at the exact same odds.
This covers all potential match outcomes, while the use of at least one free bet will guarantee a nominal profit. This is an advanced strategy that can deliver incremental results over time.
League One Prediction Guide
At this stage, you may feel ready to make your first England League 1 prediction! Before you do, however, here’s a brief guide to betting online and realising the full value of your hard-earned bankroll.
Understanding League One odds
When wagering at one of our recommended sites, you can access League One betting odds across a number of popular markets. Most odds are displayed in decimal format, which displays a single number to two decimal places. This relays how much you can win for every £1 wagered successfully (inclusive of your stake). Here are two alternative odds formats:
- Fractional Odds: Also popular in the UK, fractional odds feature two numbers separated by a single slash. The former tells you how much you can win in relation to the latter, which represents your stake amount. Potential winnings here are calculated exclusive of your stake.
- American Odds: This format presents three-digit numbers accompanied by either a ‘+’ or ‘-’ sign. The former highlights a betting underdog, while the corresponding number tells you how much you can win when you stake £100. A minus reveals a 1×2 favourite, with the accompanying number indicative of how much you’ll have to stake to win £100.
Leverage Value Betting Opportunities
Value betting is the process of identifying outcomes with an implied probability value that’s higher than the odds suggest. There’s even a formula to help you identify value bets, which reads as follows:
Value = (Implied Probability * Odds) – 1
If the resulting value is greater than zero, the line in question is considered to be a value bet. For example, Exeter are priced at 2.39 to beat Reading at St. James Park, implying a 41.84% probability of a home win. However, Exeter have taken 19 points from the last 30 available to them, while the Royals sit 13th in the table and have struggled defensively.
So, if you’re analysis shows that Exeter actually have a 55% chance of prevailing here, the above equation would read as follows – Value = (0.55 * 2.39) – 1. The resulting value is 0.3145, so this is a genuine value bet that should be pursued.
Risk Management Strategies
Every League 1 bet carries the risk of loss, making responsible gambling particularly challenging. However, one of the best ways to manage your risk when engaging in L1 betting is to set a conservative bankroll.
This should never exceed an amount that you can afford to lose. It should also cover a finite period of time, such as a single gameweek or the duration of the season.
You can also manage your bankroll in real-time using customisable deposit limits. These are available at every licensed sportsbook in the UK, and they enable you to set limits based on your betting frequency and activity. This way, you can minimise losses over an extended period of time.
Historical League Name Predictions
To further inform each individual League One prediction, you should also analyse the most relevant long-term league trends.
These can apply to promotion, relegation and historic performances, while helping to improve your prediction accuracy significantly. Here are some key statistical trends and insights:
Playoff and Promotion Betting – The Importance of League Position
While the top two League 1 teams will gain promotion to the Championship, a third will advance via the playoffs. This introduces a fascinating betting dynamic, as it’s not unusual for the clubs that finish third and six in the table to be separated by as many as 20 points.
However, the side that has finished third has gained promotion through the playoffs just five times during the previous 10 seasons (since 2014/15). The teams finishing fifth or sixth have both won promotion twice during this time, while the fourth-place side has advanced only once.
Ultimately, backing the third place team to win the playoffs affords you a 50% chance of success from a statistical perspective.
However, the side that finishes sixth may offer superior value in this betting market, as they’ll carry enhanced odds and often enter the playoffs with momentum and little to lose.
Assess Average League Positions
Regardless of your preferred L1 betting markets, the analysis of average league positions over time can be highly insightful.
For example, League One veterans Peterborough have contested 14 seasons at this level since the restructuring of the English game in 1992. Although they’ve finished as high as second and as low as 23rd, they’ve become increasingly consistent in recent years and now regularly contend for promotion.
They’ve earned top seven finishes in five of the previous six seasons, for example, entering the playoffs in the last two campaigns and earning automatic promotion in 2020/21 (they were subsequently relegated after a single season in the Championship).
So, the Posh offer genuine value as a promotion pick in 2024/25, especially with in-form striker Kwame Poku having already contributed six goals and three assists in just 12 appearances.
Analyse the Previous Season Results
Further analysis of this type also reveals some of the key relegation candidates in 2024/25. Take Shrewsbury Town, for example, who have finished 17th or lower in seven of their last 10 seasons in League One.
Burton Albion have failed to finish above 16th since the 2019/20 campaign too, while Cambridge have placed 20th and 18th in the previous two seasons. These three sides all finished within two points of the relegation zone in 2023/24, and currently sit in the bottom four.
Clearly, detailed analysis of previous season results and more recent form highlights these teams as obvious candidates for relegation in 2024/25.
Case Study: Most Surprising League Name Outcomes
Interestingly, League One sides have also been responsible for some incredible underdog stories since 1992. These have concluded with both unexpected champions and stunning relegation escapes, alongside some spectacular cup runs. Here are some of the most memorable L1 fairytales of recent times!
Burton’s Stunning Promotion Campaign
While Burton Albion may be among the favourites to be relegated from League 1 this season, it should be noted that the Brewers didn’t make their EFL debut until the 2009/10 season.
What’s more, the 2015/16 campaign saw Burton achieve a second-place finish in League One, which resulted in one of the most surprising promotions in the history of the third tier.
Chairman Ben Robinson put this achievement on a par with Leicester City’s 5,000-1 Premier League success during the same season. There’s good reason for this too: with Burton making their debut in the third tier during the campaign and the club unable to spend any money on recruitment during the pre-season.
They subsequently finished a point ahead of Walsall to secure the second promotion spot and spent two seasons in the Championship before being relegated.
The Great Escapes – League 1 Houdini Acts
At the other end of the table, a number of teams have performed incredible escape acts after being on the cusp of relegation to League 2.
Take current EPL team Bournemouth, for example, who won five of their last seven matches (and six of their last nine) in 1994/95 to relegate Cambridge by two points.
More recently in the 2018/19 campaign, AFC Wimbledon found themselves bottom of League One and 10 points from safety ahead of gameweek 32. However, a surprise win at Walsall triggered a run of seven wins, five draws and just two defeats in their final 14 matches, helping them to stay up by virtue of goal difference.
Ultimately, a 0-0 draw at Bradford on the last day of the campaign saw them relegate Plymouth by a margin of just three goals.
Famous League One Cup Wins
Teams in League 1 and the third tier of English football have also produced some stunning cup upsets down the years.
For example, Bradford City (who had reached the League Cup final as a League Two outfit two years’ previously) stunned Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea in the 2014/15 FA Cup. The Blues, who went on to win the EPL and League Cup double that season, conceded four unanswered second half goals at Stamford Bridge as ‘The Bantams’ ran out 4-2 winners.
Chelsea had opened up a 2-0 lead during a dominant first 45 minutes, but veteran striker John Stead inspired Bradford’s comeback in front of a shocked home crowd.
In 2009/10, defending Premier League champions Manchester United were also stunned in the 3rd round of the FA Cup by L1 leaders Leeds United.
Jermaine Beckford slotted home the only goal of the game here, as Simon Grayson’s side became the first ever lower-division team to beat the Red Devils in the FA Cup during Sir Alex Ferguson’ reign.
FAQ League Name Predictions
How accurate are League One predictions typically?
There’s no surefire way of picking League One winners, due to the number of variables that impact football match results. However, our English League 1 predictions typically have a high degree of accuracy, due to our reliance on detailed statistical analysis and historic datasets.
What factors are most important when making League One predictions?
In addition to team form and home and away performances, the head-to-head record between two competing sides can also be insightful. You should also assess the latest team and injury news before picking likely match winners.
How often are League One predictions updated?
You’ll find that our League 1 predictions are updated on a weekly basis, in order to provide tips and insights during each gameweek. We’ll preview the biggest League One matches and highlight the most likely outcomes.
Can I use these predictions for betting purposes?
You sure can! Our match and League One predictions are built on comprehensive statistical analysis, which can be used to identify the best value betting picks and markets. Just remember to wager responsibly and carry out your own analysis when betting!
What role does historical data play in making predictions?
As we’ve touched on, historic data is key when making match and league predictions. From recent form to historic head-to-heads and scoring metrics, such datasets can help identify high value markets and enable you to make the most informed selections!