We’re fast approaching the World Cup and while League One may well still be enjoying all the action, it certainly marks a bit of a chapter in the season over. For Port Vale, it’s been a steady start and in recent weeks the club have really got going with a solid victory over Lincoln at the weekend.
There’s still plenty to play for over the season, and a play-off march could even be on the cards once again with the side just five points off the positions after 16 games.
Of course, there are some strong outfits in the division too, and there will be plenty gambling with a few additions in January to try and catapult themselves up the league. And it’s a gamble putting your money on the promotion candidates too at present. In fact, you may even be better off backing a game of blackjack or 50/50 on roulette on 777 than backing a team to achieve promotion or reach the play-offs at present, such is the competitive nature.
The bookies have had their say though, and as it stands, this is how it’s looking:
Outright Winner & Promotion
Plymouth currently sit top of League One after 16 games, but it’s Ipswich, in second, who are currently favourites to finish as the outright winner. The Tractor Boys are far and away favourites to top the table come the end of the year, with most bookies pricing them around 5/6.
Sheffield Wednesday and Argyle are both 7/2, while they are also tipped highly for promotion to the Championship at 8/11 and 10/11 respectively with most bookies.
Peterborough, Portsmouth and Derby are outsiders for the title, while you can back the Vale at a cool 250/1 to win the league and 25/1 for promotion.
To Reach the Play Offs
The play-off positions are always hotly contested for and this season will be no different as just one good run can see a club climb into the play-offs and use that momentum to go all the way.
Port Vale are a rather tempting 8/1 to reach the play-offs, behind 11 other clubs in the market, with Ipswich, Plymouth and Sheffield Wednesday almost certainties in the eyes of the bookies.
Both Peterborough and Portsmouth are odds-on as it stands, while Bolton are heavily favoured at evens too.
Relegation Odds
Of course, there’s the other end of the table too and at the moment both Burton and Morecambe seem like they’re in a lot of trouble. According to the bookmakers, Morecambe have little chance of survival with the Lancashire side priced at 2/7 with a lot of bookies to be relegated, while Forest Green are 1/2 and Burton are 4/5.
The bookies are expecting Port Vale to be fine, and that’s difficult to disagree with at 16/1 to be relegated, with the likes of Cheltenham, MK Dons and Accrington Stanley most at risk outside the current bottom three to face the drop.
Of course, plenty can change from now until even Christmas and we’ll be keeping our eyes on the odds as the season progresses.
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