EFL Best Bets for the 26/27 season
Another new season kicks off tomorrow in the EFL with newly relegated Wolves hosting Blackburn at Molineux, lets try predict how the cards will fall in the EFL this season, and give you some value if you fancy a dabble this season,
Championship
West Ham United - 7/4 At most Bookmakers
It was heartbreak on the final day last season in London, when West Ham were relegated from the Premier League and begin a season in the Championship for the first time since 2011. They have somehow managed to keep hold of Jarrod Bowen who was unlucky not to represent England at this summer's World Cup in America. They have also managed to keep hold of Taty Castellanos, who they signed last January, he looked extremely decisive towards the latter end of last season. Their manager also has experience of this level, guiding that famous Wolves side to Championship glory in 2018. I expect Jarrod Bowen to explode this season in terms of goal contributions and if Castellanos stays it would be hard to see him not being in the golden boot race come May. Bowen is currently best priced t 6/1 on Sky Bet with Castellanos at 10/1 at most places.
They have made some nice additions with Joel Veltman joining on a free and Manor Solomon signing from Spurs, and today are expecting the announcement of Arne Engels from Celtic. It would be extremely difficult to not see the Hammers in and around the title, but I expect Wolves and potentially Middlesbrough to also be up there. West Ham have a tricky opener on Sunday afternoon when they travel to Turf Moor to play Burnley. I think at 7/4 with that squad and the experience of the manager is hard to pass up.
Blackburn to be Relegated - 9/2 at Bet 365
It looks like being a gloomy time at Blackburn this season, with serious doubts over the quality of the squad with only one two new additions added since last seasons poor 20th place finish in the league. The Rovers spent the majority of the last campaign flirting with relegation and with serious disconnects between owners and fans there is more than enough reason to expect them to be down there again this season. They have also lost Sondre Tronstad on a free as his contract expired this summer, who was a fan favourite and will be tricky to replace.
I think Blackburn will be struggling again this season, only 4 players got over 2 goals for them last campaign, and if Yuki Ohashi doesn't replicate his form from last season, it is very difficult to see where the goals come from. I think at 9/2 its well worth a punt, they would need to seriously fix there home form this season for them to have any chance at staying up, with only four wins at Ewood Park in the entirety of last season.
Mohammed Touré to be Championship Top Goalscorer - 16/1 at Bet365 EW 4 places
Phillipe Clement's Norwich side had a sneaky good end to the last campaign after a tricky spell in the first half of the season. Many expected Norwich to be fighting for promotion last season but after a less than convincing start expectations dropped. They signed Mohammed Toure in January and even though he only played 12 games for them, before suffering a season ending injury, he netted 10 goals. Now imagine that over a full 46 season campaign, he's definitely on course to get over 20 if he continues anywhere near that trajectory. He has already got off an running for the season, scoring against MK Dons in Norwich's 4-1 win in the EFL Cup . There's no way with that amount of expected goals he isn't in and around the top 2/3 names in the Championship.
League One
Plymouth Argyle to be Promoted - 9/2 at Unibet
Plymouth Argyle are fresh off their 2-0 derby win against Exeter in the EFL Cup and their stocks to be a decent outfit in League One this season are at a high. Manager, Tom Cleverley will be aiming for a positive campaign building on last season's 8th place finish, narrowly missing the playoffs by two points. Only the two teams that gained automatic promotion, in Lincoln and Cardiff, scored more goals than Plymouth last season, with three of their forwards all getting over ten goals. One of those names was Lorent Tolaj, who netted 17 goals in League One last season has since departed and joined Bristol City in the championship. However, the other two Arbim Pepple and Owen Oseni are expected to both have electric season after scoring 16 and 7 league goals respectively last campaign.
I like the look of Plymouth's attacking outfit this season, losing Tolaj isn't ideal but I think Pepple and Oseni can take some of that goalscoring pressure this season. They looked a real threat every time they came forward the other night vs Exeter and it could have been much more than 2-0, I know the opposition was questionable but the football was lights out at times. At 9/2 I can see them fighting for the automatic slots and at worst having a real go at the playoffs if they get in there.
Sam Nombe to be League One Top Goalscorer - 35/1 at Unibet
Many are tipping MK Dons to have a successful season and if they do, Sam Nombe will be at the forefront. MK Dons have a lot of quality forward options at their disposal in terms of EFL Forwards, Callum Paterson, Aaron Collins and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing and adding Sam Nombe who can be a focal point in their side could be a great addition. Nombe, I think is also a League One specialist having scored 26 league goals, for a very poor struggling Rotherham side over the last two seasons and when he was last in the league before that in 2022/23 scored 15 goals for Exeter. This could be the first time for a long while, he is in a team that could play on the front foot who will take the game to the opposition and create chances. MK Dons scored the most goals in League Two with 86 and have strengthened their squad significantly for their League One campaign. Nombe at 35/1 with 4 places is worth a quid each way.
League 2
Salford to win the League - 4/1 at Bet 365
After a heart-breaking playoff campaign last season, Salford will be looking to bounce back this time around and go and finally get that promotion they have been teetering on for years. They only missed out on automatic promotion by a point and were demolished at Wembley in May by a Notts County side that just seemed to want it more. This season however, I expect it to be different and there's one huge outlying factor that is the whole reason. Macauley Langstaff...
Langstaff signed for Salford for £700k, and is dropping a whole two divisions from Millwall to join the side. The last time Langstaff was in this division, with Notts County in 23/24, he scored 28 goals and won the golden boot before getting his move to Millwall which never really paid off. He joins the likes of Daniel Udoh and Ryan Graydon who were Salford's leading scorers and will upgrade their attack drastically. If you are looking for value I don't know where else a 4/1 shot looks so tempting.
Macauley Langstaff to be League Two top Goalscorer - 3/1 Ladbrokes
I don't really need to say much I haven't already said. 3/1 for a player that scored 28 goals in this division just 2 years ago and clearly excels at this level of football is almost too good to be true. Salford get criticised for often chopping and changing things too much and perhaps are labelled as too reactionary, but if you've got the money then spend it I say. Langstaff could be the entire difference between going up and staying in this division for another season. This one is my best bet of the entire season, all the other strikers in the league would have to have an incredible campaign to be ahead of him.
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