The Football League returns for its second round of fixtures this weekend and our EFL betting tips are eyeing up a League One team that finished last term with a rattle and two fourth tier sides whose opening day results may have misled the bookies.
EFL weekend best bets
Lincoln City to beat Barnsley @ 1/1
Carlisle to beat Barrow @ 13/10
Newport to draw or win (double chance) vs Doncaster @ 21/20
Bet on the latest English Football odds at Betzone
Imps can build on opening day victory back at Sincil Bank
Only automatically promoted Portsmouth and Derby amassed more League One points between January 1 and the end of last season than Lincoln, who also had the best goal difference during that period thanks to the division’s second stingiest defence.
Michael Skubala’s side overcame a spirited Burton Albion side 3-2 away on the opening day of the season and they look good value at evens to beat a Barnsley side that were turned over 2-1 at home by newly promoted Mansfield last time out.
The hosts routed the Tykes 5-1 when they last met back in March and conceded just five goals in their final 11 home games of 2023/24.
Tip: Lincoln City to beat Barnsley @ 1/1
Carlisle can bounce back from battering in the ‘Cumbrian Clasico’
Speaking after Carlisle’s 4-1 defeat at Gillingham last weekend boss Paul Simpson was unperturbed despite the scoreline. The Gills had scored one from distance and been handed another of their goals by a calamitous first-half back pass.
Carlisle registered a League-Two-high 18 shots in that encounter, suggesting they’d done more than enough to get something out the game with better finishing.
They’re 13/10 to beat Northumbrian rivals Barrow at Prenton Park as a result and that looks a price worth backing against the visiting Bluebirds, who failed to win any of their last 10 away from Holker Street at the back end of last term.
Tip: Carlisle to beat Barrow @ 13/10
Donny too short in Newport after flattering opening day romp
Doncaster finished 2023/24 with an incredible 14 wins from 17 games to gatecrash the playoffs, where they were eliminated by Crewe in semis.
The Turf Moor team were among the pre-season title favourites despite seeing Hakeeb Adelekun and Thimothee Lo-Tutala – the January loan signings that supercharged the side last season – back to their parent clubs.
They’re now outright market leaders having smashed Accrington 4-1 on the opening day, but the seeming dominance of that win was undermined by their xG of just 1.13.
That gives reason to eye their 3/4 favouritism away to Newport with suspicion, especially given their hosts beat Rovers to nil home and away last term.
Tip: Newport to draw or win (double chance) vs Doncaster @ 21/20
