The first weekend of the EFL League One and Two seasons is upon us in what is traditionally a tricky time of year for punters trying to make sense of the myriad comings and goings across the lower tiers of the Football League.
We’re backing AFC Wimbledon’s solid rearguard to help us land a value bet under the Friday night lights at Kenilworth Road before taking on overrated hosts Huddersfield and Swindon.
EFL: Parachutists can make winning start but Dons will keep them honest
Luton may have suffered consecutive relegations en route to their League One opener against Wimbledon, but that hasn’t stopped Betzone installing them as 16/5 favourites to win the title.
Still receiving Premier League parachute payments, the Hatters have the spending power to augment a squad that only went down on goal difference and have already made the shrewd acquisition of consistent Championship marksman Nahki Wells from Bristol City.
Matt Bloomfield’s men are just 2/5 to get the better of an AFC Wimbledon side that played their football in the third tier last term and were promoted despite being outscored by 12 of their League Two rivals in the regular season.
However, Johnnie Jackson’s side also booked their playoff place thanks to the meanest defence in the division by a 10-goal margin. They can boost the Luton win price to 13/5 by failing to score and limiting the Hatters to two goals or less.
Luton to beat AFC Wimbledon & under 2.5 goals
@ 13/5
EFL: Too early to be certain Terriers have dispelled grim slump of spring
Huddersfield endured a dismal end to the 2024/25 campaign, losing 12 of their last 15 games in League One and they look worth taking on as 17/20 home favourites to beat Leyton Orient.
The Terriers will be hoping plenty of Kieran McKenna magic rubbed off on new boss Lee Grant, who joins the club in his first managerial role after three years as a coach at Portman Road.
However, last season’s beaten playoff finalists Orient represent a very tricky opener for the new sheriff at Town and the visitors look a very fair price for an away win with the draw-no-bet concession.
Orient romped to a 4-1 win at the Accu Stadium last May in win all the more remarkable for none of their four being scored by departed 21-goal striker Charlie Kelman.
Manager Richie Wellens has improved the east London side in each of the three full seasons he’s been at the helm and it would be no surprise if they make light of losing Kelman. Aaron Connolly, formerly a wonderkid at Brighton, could prove a very shrewd replacement.
Leyton Orient to beat Huddersfield (draw no bet)
@ 17/5
EFL: Robins overpriced to maintain early 2025 momentum at the Bescot
Ian Holloway replaced Mark Kennedy at the Swindon helm last October and really got the Robins chirping, with only the three promoted clubs Doncaster, Bradford and Port Vale putting up better League Two points tallies between January and the end of the season.
Walsall spent the same period going dramatically off the boil after ending 2024 top of the shop.
They eventually rallied to get as far as losing the playoff final but still look vulnerable in their 2025/26 opener at 11/10, after losing key defenders Taylor Allen and David Okagbue in the summer.
Swindon beat them 1-0 on home turf in March and should be a more threatening prospect for the signing of Non League goal machine Jake Tabor. At 6/5 draw-no-bet they’re a play.
Swindon to beat Walsall (draw no bet)
@ 6/5
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