Our best 2026/27 League One outright betting tips include expert picks for the title race, promotion contenders, dark horses and value picks.
The headline addition to the League One cast for 2026/27 are Leicester City, who were Premier League champions this time a decade ago and are now rebuilding from one of the lowest ebbs in their history.
The Foxes, who lead the League One betting, come down with Sheffield Wednesday and Oxford United, with Bromley, MK Dons, Cambridge United and Notts County coming up the other way.
Luton Town and Huddersfield Town have also featured in the top flight in recent memory, while Stockport County and Bradford City are among the other clubs expected to challenge. These are our best football betting tips for the season ahead.
League One Winner Tips 2026/27
Much like in the Championship, where West Ham United are heavy favourites, Leicester City are the team most capable of a rampant promotion – and are 9/4 to win the league.
Martin’s side have a number of players who have played in the Premier League for the club still on their books, including Oliver Skipp, Stephy Mavididi and Bobby Decordova-Reid, while Wes Burns and Connor Chaplin add experience and pedigree.
The former Southampton boss’ pass-heavy style of play will take some getting used to, though – particularly for supporters who didn’t much enjoy Enzo Maresca’s tactics even when they registered 100 points in the Championship in 2023/24.
There could be a few nerves early on and that potentially opens the door for one or two others, who we will back at a bigger price.
Wednesday are still recovering from the threat to their existence last season, but have quickly recruited a very capable squad and look the better bet at 13/2 .
Club legend Barry Bannan returns in midfield and should be nicely complemented by Billy Mitchell from Millwall, while Louie Barry provides stardust from the left wing.
Mason Burstow and Harry Gray are exciting forward options, too, and with Hillsborough set to be bouncing, there is no reason why the Owls can’t challenge right at the top.
League One Promotion Betting Tips
In the promotion market, let’s back the tried-and-trusted Paul Warne to do it again with MK Dons at 9/2 .
Warne has gone up from this level three times with Rotherham and looks to have everything he needs in place to repeat the trick with the side he brought up from League Two last season.
The Dons, backed by wealthy Kuwaiti owners, already had a strong squad and have added impressive reinforcements in the form of Charlie Goode, Dan Barlaser, Ryan Wintle and Sam Nombe.
Existing talent such as Aaron Collins and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing are retained, while Calum Paterson is an experienced, versatile option.
Combined with Warne’s wealth of experience, they are a solid bet to be right in the mix.
As explained above, Leicester should be the powerhouses of the division and could be worth backing in a double at 2/3 .
League One Top-6 Betting Tips
The Dons look a very attractive bet at 7/4 in this market, too, but we’ll also take a swing at a bigger price.
Leyton Orient are an interesting shout at 7/1 , having finished in the play-offs two years ago before sliding down League One in 2025/26.
They appear to have recruited well, adding Tony Springett from Norwich City and Jaze Kabia from Grimsby, who replaces outgoing top scorer Dom Ballard.
The fee accrued for Ballard from Bristol City could be reinvested in other areas, too, and Richie Wellens seems to have a spring in his step again.
When Wellens gets on a roll, he can be the type of inspirational figure who drags teams up the table, as previously shown with Swindon and, more recently, with Orient themselves.
League One Relegation Betting Tips
At the bottom end, there is real concern about Barnsley, who have become entrenched in League One and seem more likely to slip further than they are to bounce back.
The Tykes have appointed Daniel Stendel as boss, the German having had little success since he left the club in 2019, and have lost key midfielder Adam Phillips to divisional rivals Bradford City, while Eoghan O’Connell goes to Stockport County.
The South Yorkshire outfit took just 23 points from their last 21 matches of last season, broadly relegation form, and have finished in a worse league position than the last in four straight seasons. They are 7/2 for the drop.
It could also be worth a bet at a bigger price – 5/1 – on Oxford United.
The U’s currently have a strong enough squad to compete at the other end, but are under a transfer embargo for failure to comply with financial rules, with further punishment – including points deductions – not impossible down the line if things don’t improve.
The mood could really sour at the Kassam Stadium and there are enough competitive teams in this division to potentially make life awkward for Oxford if it does.
League One Top Goalscorer Tips
The top goalscorer market gives us an opportunity to have a few bets big prices and there are a couple of options who catch the eye.
Sticking with the Leyton Orient theme, Kabia is an interesting shout at 22/1 .
The summer signing from Grimsby scored 17 goals in League Two last season, so presumably goes straight into Wellens’ team as first choice.
Even better, he is joining a side that has produced the last two winners in this market – Charlie Kelman in 2024/25 and Ballard in 2025/26.
Wellens gears his teams up to create chances for strikers and Kebia, handed the number nine shirt, can benefit.
At a bigger price, we’ll back Michael Cheek of Bromley at 50/1 .
Cheek is 34 but was the top scorer with 25 goals in League Two in 2024/25 and netted another 16 last term as they won the title.
League One will provide a tough test but shouldn’t prove impossible, and it may just be that he is a natural fit for this Bromley team at the next level up.
Best League One Outright Value Bets
MK Dons to be solidly placed around the top of the league is what we should be most confident hanging our hat on, so the value lies with them in most major markets.
The title is a big ask, with the power of Leicester and Sheffield Wednesday to overcome, but certainly promotion is worth a sniff at 9/2 .
A bet on the Dons to finish inside the play-off spots, though, does not even rely on them being sensationally good all season or getting over the final finish line.
That’s our favourite pick at 7/4 .
