EFL Tips: Season Preview and Ante-Post Best Bets

Gaz selects three ante-post bets for the upcoming 2023/24 EFL season spanning The Championship, League One and League Two

While preparing for the upcoming season a couple of ante-post bets have caught my eye. In the Championship I can’t help but feel Sunderland are being a little overlooked. The Black Cats made the playoffs last year with a relatively young squad which has mostly been kept, with the notable exception of Manchester United loanee Amad Diallo. Tony Mowbray has added more young talent with the signings of Jensen Seelt and Jobe Bellingham, but it’s the signing of an experienced head in the shape of Bradley Dack that could be most important. Dack who needs to stay fit after suffering two cruciate ligament injuries in recent seasons, is a top player at this level and will fit into Mowbray’s team perfectly. He’ll be surrounded with legs in midfield and given license to show off his attacking ability. If it clicks I see no reason The Mackems can’t make the playoffs again and at 11/4 it looks a decent bet.

Stockport to win League Two at odds of 11/2 is my second ante-post bet. As I mentioned in my opening weekend preview, County have a strong squad and with the addition of Nick Powell will be extremely difficult to beat. Wrexham are the current favourites and while that’s probably deserved given their vast resources, I don’t think they’ll have it all their own way. The media circus that will follow the Welsh side will add a sense of “giant killing” to their games and most sides will look to up their game when facing them. If that happens Stockport are best placed to capatilise and should give backers a good run for their money.

Lastly, in League One I’m focusing on the relegation market where I think Burton look a big price. The Brewers struggled for large parts of last season and face a difficult run of matches at the beginning of this one which could put them on the back foot straight away. Although they have recruited some new talent I’m not convinced it will be enough to see them avoid a relegation scrap which makes the 9/2 to finish in the bottom four look like value.