Title Winners - Barnet - 17/29.50 to win League Two
Barnet finished strongly at the end of the season but agonisingly missed out on a play-off spot.
The first 23 games saw them pick up just 32 points, but after mid-March they scored 26 goals and won seven of their last eight matches. After March 14th, they scored in every match and were always reliable on the xG, finishing with the best metric in the division at 1.67.
January signing Kabongo Tshimanga made a big difference to a side that were creating so much but not finishing.
Some key players have departed with Ryan Glover and Callum Stead amongst the names outbound, with 10 new incomings. Midfielder Oisin Gallagher joins on loan from Lincoln, defender Will Wright from Swindon, winger Tom Knowles from Forest Green and former Walsall midfield pair Charlie Lakin and Brandon Comley are amongst the batch of new signings.
Manager Dean Brennan is one of the more quotable bosses in the division, he believes the squad is better equipped this time. There are plenty of similarities to last term's surprise League Two champions Bromley. At 17/29.50 I am backing them to finish top of the pile.
Back Barnet to win League Two
2nd - York City - 10/111.00
The summer at York has been as dramatic as some of the horse racing that is usually staged around the corner on the Knavemsire. Stuart Maynard's services as manager were dispensed with, in July. A somewhat surprising - nay baffling - move after guiding the club back into the EFL with the title.
The appointment of Scott Lindsey is so audacious you have to admire it.
Lindsey is no mug, having guided Crawley to League One in 2024 but, while a perplexing move, the squad have some muscle and firepower. Don't forget, York City picked up 108 points from the National League under Maynard.
Striker Josh Stones, just 22 years of age, has signed a five-year-contract and hit 18 in 40 games last term and Dipo Akinyemi has re-signed from Derry so the side promises to have goals. Lindsey will provide some theatre, but there is no show without punch.
3rd - Bristol Rovers - 15/28.50
A stunning 11,000 were packed in the Mem to witness Bristol Rovers' 4-0 victory last April, their eighth win on the spin, with manager Steve Evans in amongst the crowd for good measure.
To finish in 14th was remarkable considering the desperate run they endured under fallen idol Darrell Clarke. Eleven wins from their last 14 and just one defeat from February was serious form and their home record alone from last term (12 wins) means they will be a force.
"If we don't win promotion will I leave the football club? In the words of our chairman, no, but if we're not challenging that would be an issue for all of us because we have to somehow get this club into a position where it can't be in League Two for much longer," outlined Evans, who as usual has been busy with incomings including forward Bobby Kamwa from Newport, who in June was the club's seventh signing. A dribbler and wide player, just the sort Evans and the Gas love.
4th - Chesterfield - 10/111.00
I couldn't leave Paul Cook's side out of the play-off positions. It would be unthinkable following last term's sixth spot and the year before in seventh.
Perhaps the most interesting move of the summer for the Spirerites is Crusaders striker Fraser Bryden for an undisclosed fee on a three-year contract. A 22-year-old Scot with goals behind him - Bryden scored 22 last season in the Irish Premiership.
Cook looks well stocked in the forward department with fellow signings Ruel Sotiriou from Bristol Rover and Leyton Orient's Josh Koroma on a season-long loan, and that's to go with last season's top scorer (17) Lee Bonis.
Their xG of 1.40 is sure to be improved upon and out of the play-off sides from last term, they lost just four games at home all season, a superior record to the other three.
5th - Crewe Alexandra 22/123.00
Crewe won 12 games at home last season but lost 11 away
Joel Tabiner missed all of last term for the League Two side after suffering knee ligament damage in a pre-season friendly and the 22-year-old midfielder has been described as a big player by manager Lee Bell. The 22/123.00 on the Alex winning the title just looks far too big.
Bell certainly needs some striker options and signings. In is forward Jordan Gibson, centre-back Luke Offord and midfielder Joe White, a ball-playing midfielder reminiscent of a young Michael Carrick, will have a bit to prove after going missing at Leyton Orient and Bradford in two unsuccessful loan spells.
Lewis Billington has signed a new three-year contract with the League Two club, which is perhaps the best news as the 22-year-old right-back was coveted by other clubs.
Back Crewe for a top 7 finish
6th - Salford City - 5/16.00
Macaulay Langstaff from Millwall is a display of power and transfer strength and after just five goals in two seasons with the Lions, is back in familiar waters. The 29-year-old is the 5/23.50 favourite for Top Goalscorer.
Winger Luke Molyneux joined from Doncaster Rovers for an undisclosed fee and is another dropping down a level, much to the ire of the Donny fans.
Salford's money is a lure and Molyneux has goals and assists in him. Langstaff could have a field day.
The only worry is the trigger-happy board. New manager Peter Cklamovski is completely unproven in this sort of football and appears to be an appointment based on his relationship with the chief executive. I am happy to be proved wrong, but the turnover of managers at the club worries me as previous boss Karl Robinson, a losing play-off finalist last season, had brought some much-needed stability. Nevertheless I am backing them for a finish in the playoff spots.
Get more 1-24 expert predictions for The Championship and League One
7th - Grimsby Town 10/111.00
Veteran striker Andy Cook signed on a one-year deal in one of the better pieces of transfer business over the summer. He should get plenty of opportunities with a clear season of fitness given Grimsby were a free-scoring side in the last campaign.
They hit 41 at Blundell Park, the same as top two MK Dons and Bromley at home and their 1.59 xG metric overall home and away was second only to Barnet.
Bray Wanderers midfielder Cian Doyle for an undisclosed fee on a two-year contract, and Hull City goalkeeper Harvey Cartwright on a season-long loan are fellow new boys and can see another play-off potential chance.
8th - Northampton Town 20/121.00
A consortium including former Brazil forward Alexandre Pato is set to buy a majority stake in League Two club Northampton Town, which is a statement I never thought I would be saying.
Northampton chairman Kelvin Thomas confirmed last month that a "well-funded" group's proposed investment had been "pretty much agreed", and if successful, the debt of almost £3m will be clear.
On the pitch, MK Dons midfielder Connor Lemonheigh-Evans signed on an initial two-year deal, Manchester City youngster and forward Matty Warhurst and former Tranmere striker Harvey Saunders are two of the options further up the pitch, with experienced defender Janoi Donacien in on a one-year contract from Ipswich.
Chris Hogg is an inexperienced manager and the dynamic with a potential new consortium will be interesting, but he will have to prove himself as I am sure investors will want a bigger and more high profile name.
A top-half finish should be expected regardless.
9th - Walsall 18/119.00
Walsall had one of the worst home records in League Two last season with 10 defeats - only Tranmere and Newport fared worst with 13.
The template with the Saddlers is a good first-half of the season and after Christmas a capitulation. They lost 13 times at the turn of the year and Lee Grant, Mat Saddler's successor as manager will be all too aware that needs to be addressed.
Grant started last season as Huddersfield manager and one of the League One favourites, and thus far has made 10 signings this summer, the latest with the arrival of Harrogate Town winger Reece Smith on a three-year contract for an undisclosed fee.
Ryan Skura and Declan Leak are new arrivals, plus goalkeeper Jed Ward, defender James Connolly, midfielders Sven Sprangler - what a name! - Lewis Simper and Isaac Moore and forwards Tai Sodje and Andy Dallas.
10th - Oldham Athletic 16/117.00
Oldham Athletic manager Micky Mellon has agreed a new two-year contract to stay with the Latics until the summer of 2028. They are certainly one of the more stable club's in this division.
A solid mid-table tenth last term is to be replicated again as the basis of their good points tally was their excellent defence at home. They conceded just 18 times in 23 games with an xA metric of 1.27.
This week they've made a move for Bolton defender Lewis Temple, a ball-playing centre-back, and Favour Fawunmi on a season-long loan from Championship side Stoke City.
11th - Colchester United 20/121.00
Colchester never looked likely to make the play-offs last season but neither did they strike as a team that would be in for a relegation fight. Twelve months on, I am firmly predicting another mid-table finish, although there was too much happening off the pitch last term for my liking with three failed takeover bids.
"Recruitment is really tough at the moment, there's no hiding place from that," said boss Danny Cowley after a recent pre-season defeat.
"We know what we want. We're not willing to compromise at the moment but we are trying to stay as brave as we can to get the players that we want."
One player incoming is Paul Digby, released from Dundee, who will bring experience to the team in the middle.
12th - Rotherham United 12/113.00
If Rotherham enjoy a good season and crack the division after relegation from League One, Tom Bradshaw is sure to have a good campaign. The 34-year-old forward has a bit of pedigree with 115 goals in 473 career league appearances and a one-year-deal from Oxford is a risk-free signing.
Bradshaw was transfer number nine and another (almost oldie) in former Wrexham hero Paul Mullin, who scored 91 goals in 148 league appearances for the Red Dragons as they won promotion from the National League up to the Championship.
That could be a potent partnership, as could Steve Agnew as the assistant to new head coach Alex Bruce.
13th - Fleetwood Town 33/134.00
Following the sacking of Peter Wild last winter, Matt Lawlor was named caretaker and then was handed the keys full-time. He knows the club well working in development and as a youth coach.
Metrics of xG 1.41 and xA of 1.44 represented a perfectly symmetrical season with 34 scored and 34 conceded at home but they drew far too many games in the second-half of the season to get anywhere near to a top-half finish.
Ronan Coughlan has signed a new deal and will have a bit to prove after an Achilles' injury that hampered 2026.
14th - Exeter City 28/129.00
One of the relegated clubs, Exeter are a big price at 28/129.00 to go back up, but with a player budget reduced and an unconvincing manager in Matt Taylor, I cannot see them troubling the play-offs.
Off the field could be more problematic as the club needed loans from owners Exeter City Supporters' Trust worth around £600,000 last year in order to remain solvent after an overspend in the 2024-25 season.
15th - Swindon Town 16/117.00
I don't want to incur the wrath of Ian Holloway (as I have done in the past from my Clubcall days), but I will leave it to former Robin Billy Bodin who criticised Holloway on departure by saying players would often not know they were in the team in the day of the game.
Holloway's unique style can veer from amusing to puzzling but he had Swindon in a great spot last year before a change in fortunes after Christmas and they missed out on the final play-off spot by two points.
Looking at the signings, Wigan forward Joseph Hungbo and Bolton defender Sam Inwood arrive on season-long loans, ex-Fleetwood midfielder Matty Virtue has experience of the league, and Oxford Stephan Negru and defender James Debayo on a season-long loan deal from Premier League side Hull City strengthen the back.
16th - Port Vale 10/111.00
Vale have made Onel Hernandez their eighth signing of a busy summer, having already recruited Lewis Montsma, Jasper Moon, Max Watters, Aaron McGowan, Kyle Dempsey, Matthew Craig and Jackson Smith.
Watters is the most interesting by a long chalk. A free signing from Barnsley, at 27 years of age his tools will be needed up front as Vale produced a miserable 36 goals across all 46 games last season when relegated.
Mo Faal from Wrexham and Luton Town's Oliver Lynch are fellow attacking additions and as a West Ham fan, I'll be watching out for goalkeeper Mason Terry, who last year was on loan at Braintree.
They look too short in the Promotion market at 9/43.25 and the 10/111.00 does nothing for me at all for the title.
17th - Cheltenham Town 50/151.00
Joe Tomlinson moving from the MK Dons was a very positive signing and new owner Mike Garlick is making positive moves. He must have sold a good sell to Tomlinson, who was vice-captain at the MK Dons last year.
Steve Cotterill, a Garlick ally, has also shored up the back with experienced defender Pierce Sweeney but at the other end it's inexperience with striker Kirsten Otchere on a season‑long loan from League One side Leicester City.
They over-achieved in my opinion to finish 18th but I think they'll be safe with a good manager.
18th - Crawley Town 40/141.00
Gaolkeeper Nick Michalski and winger Osman Kamara from Blackburn Rovers, and midfielder Nathan Tinsdale from Hull City - all on season-long loans were recent additions in the last week to add to previous deals for winger Malcom Ebiowei and defensive midfielder Klaudio Krasniqi.
I like the signing of high-energy midfielder Jude Arthurs on a free transfer from League Two champions Bromley too.
Crawley head coach Colin Kazim-Richards kept them up last year and did well for an inexperienced coach who won two and drew three of his seven games in charge.
Asking me to back a side at 40s with a manager with just seven matches experience, however, is a bridge too far.
19th - Rochdale 28/129.00
Ian Watson signed as their manager on a three-year deal following the exit, and not wholly surprising one of Jim McNulty to Stockport, despite guiding Rochdale back to the EFL.
Watson said on the appointment: "The club really aligns with me as a person and also shares the same beliefs in terms of the game model."
Apart from wincing at the "game model" line, Watson is too inexperienced for the division to consider as even an outsider despite the strength of the National League.
Dajaune Brown on a season-long loan deal, winger Jonny Smith on a two-year deal, wide player Zain Silcott-Duberry and defender Sam Sherring on a one-year contract are summer additions.
Chelsea defender Kaiden Wilson and Brighton goalkeeper Nils Ramming are also on season-long loan deals.
20th - Accrington Stanley 50/151.00
Club stalwart and captain Seamus Conneely has agreed a one-year contract extension to the delight of Accy fans around the globe. He isn't far away from 500 games at the club.
Incomings include David Tutonda from Rochdale on a one-year deal, and Salford City striker Cole Stockton on a two-year deal. Stockton is a proven scorer at this level and at 50/151.00 in the Top Goalscorer market might have the ability to outrun those odds. At 32, that was a good piece of business.
However, if Stockton doesn't fire (as they only scored 27 at home last term from 23 games) they will do well to better last year's 17th.
21st - Gillingham 18/119.00
I worry for Gareth Ainsworth and Gillingham. He performed near miracles at Wycombe but last season was one of the worst endured by fans at the Priestfield in many a season. If you liked a player taking on an opponent, you'd have been starved in Kent.
At times the football was as poor as you would ever see and the tender nostalgia of his days at Adams Park with that famous old direct style might seem destine for the distant past.
The Gills lost eight of their last 12 games and Ainsowrth's overhaul includes 11 new signings
but amongst defender Samuel Tabare (Southampton) Conor McManus (Brentford) and winger Sheldon Kendall on a season-long loan deal from Millwall, there is not a lot of experience there. Will Goodwin will need to drastically improve his goal record after arriving from Oxford too.
Nick Freeman, the 30-year-old midfielder, was teased on the Gillingham X feed with a montage like a Ridley Scott production, but he was part of the Wycombe promotion team in 2020, and Ainsworth has also brought in another of his ex-Wycombe chums in Steven Craig to the coaching staff.
22nd - Shrewsbury Town 40/141.00
The Shrews are prominent in the Relegation market at 11/26.50 and having fought the drop bravely to survive the last two seasons, one has to wonder have they got one more fight in them?
Gavin Cowan took over as manager last January and earned 27 points from 19 games, so deserves a proper run at the job
"I'm asking them to be optimistic, I'm not trying to give any false promises, but there's a lot of hope out there when you see the types of players that we've got," he told BBC Radio Shropshire.
"We're young, we're athletic, we're mobile and they're willing to learn."
Will Gray is a talent at just 17 years of age and has signed a new three-year deal with Shrewsbury Town but they look desperately short of firepower despite forward additions Joe Gbode on loan and former Cheltenham forward Josh Davison on a free.
The club are on a transfer ban and can only sign loan players or frees. Cowan will do well to see out the year.
23rd - Tranmere Rovers 40/141.00
Darrel Clarke, who would have taken Bristol Rovers down had Steve Evans not rescued them, is now in charge of a club who narrowly avoided relegation last term. Sorry Rovers' fans, I just cannot see this one working out.
Clarke has failed too many teams and his disastrous run of 10 straight defeats at the Mem last term was painful to watch.
With 12 outgoings, Clarke needs to recruit well from a small budget. Veteran forward Tom Ince is the most familiar face, but defender Jack McEvilly, both from Burnley proved to be the biggest hit in terms of 'X' traction.
Just four wins at home last term and 22 scored in 23 games at Prenton Park - well, you are a braver person than me if you want to back them at 40s. I'd be adding another nought on as they have no chance.
Back Tranmere to be relegated
24th - Newport County 100/1101.00
Another of the usual strugglers and while I am pleased to see old Hammer Hayden Mullins get a job I am not sure this is the right fit.
Ade on the BBC fans voice summed up the situation better than me by saying: "We have signed players that no one else wants. Nothing seems organised like last season. I fear for us, I really do. Even our new kit looks poor. Home, away and third. Shambolic across the club."
Going viral for the wrong reasons is never a good start, and I am sure Mullins is a good coach and a young manager with a big future, but he has already pledged to put substance before style and this looks doomed before it even gets off the ground.