Football League sponsors Sky Bet have named Sheffield United as their front-runners for promotion to the Sky Bet Championship in the 2015/16 Sky Bet League 1 season.
The Blades are under new management after Nigel Atkins replaced Nigel Clough at the end of last season, but the League sponsor rate their chances and have installed them as 11/2 favourites to win Sky Bet League 1.
Their first game is away at Gillingham, and Atkins’ men are 6/5 favourites to open the season with three points. You can also back the Gills at 2/1 and the draw at 12/5.
Wigan Athletic, under the stewardship of former player Gary Caldwell, are second favourites for the title at 13/2.
They travel to Coventry City on opening day, with a stern test against Caldwell’s former boss at Hibernian and Celtic Tony Mowbray.
Wigan Athletic are 6/5 for an opening day victory, with Coventry 2/1 to spoil the party. Millwall were relegated alongside Wigan last season and are third favourites to win the title.
They can be backed at 10/1, or 3/1 to achieve promotion back to the Championship.
The Lions travel to Shrewsbury Town on the opening day of the season, and are 13/8 to get off to a winning start.
Burton Albion - promoted as Champions from Sky Bet League 2 last season – are a 28/1 shot to repeat the feat in the Sky Bet League 1 and are 9/1 for back to back promotions.
Their first game is at home to Scunthorpe United, and they are 19/4 favourites, with Scunthorpe 19/10.
Of the teams who may find themselves at the wrong end of the table, Sky Bet make Crewe Alexandra (10/11), Colchester United (8/13) and Port Vale (8/15) the least likely to stay up next May.
Crewe and Port Vale face each other on the opening day, with both teams eager to get off to a winning start.
Sky Bet think that home advantage will play it’s part and have Crewe as 6/4, with Port Vale 13/8.
Newly promoted side Shrewsbury Town are priced at 1/14 to avoid the drop, while Southend – who triumphed in the League 2 Play-Off Final are level with Bury at 1/6 to avoid relegation in their first season in Sky Bet League 1.
Southend fans face a mammoth first trip of the season to Fleetwood and can back their team at 21/10 to take all three points.
Walsall's opening day opponents Oldham Athletic are priced at 25/1 to win the league outright, whilst to gain promotion, Latics are 8/1.
The Saddlers are 5/4 to defeat the Latics on the opening day whilst Oldham can be backed with odds of 15/8.
Dean Smith's side are expected to be in the lower half of the table by the time we reach May 2016, with odds of 33/1 for the Saddlers to win the league.
All odds are subject to change.
The Saddlers are 5/4 to defeat the Latics on the opening day whilst Oldham can be backed with odds of 15/8.
Dean Smith's side are expected to be in the lower half of the table by the time we reach May 2016, with odds of 33/1 for the Saddlers to win the league.
All odds are subject to change.