EFL League Two Preview 2025/26: Odds, Predictions and Betting Tips
Last updated: by Leon Marshall
The 2025–26 Sky Bet League Two season kicks off on 2 August 2025 and runs through to 25 May 2026. Below we break down the latest outright markets, including promotion and relegation odds, key fixtures and players to watch.
League Two Promotion Odds
The promotion market has tightened ahead of the opening weekend, with MK Dons and Chesterfield emerging as early favourites. Notts County and Gillingham sit just behind, while a tightly packed group including Salford, Barnet, and Bristol Rovers also offer each-way appeal. Oldham Athletic are outsiders, but could be a decent longshot for promotion, if things go their way.
Why we like them:
- MK Dons are tipped as the title favourites due to a squad that looks the strongest on paper and the presence of Aaron Collins up front.
- Chesterfield are viewed as promotion contenders, particularly with some sites offering enhanced odds on them going up alongside MK Dons.
- Notts County, Gillingham, Salford, and Swindon all feature in the promotion hopefuls bracket and have squads capable of a top-seven finish.
- Barnet and Oldham are seen as potential play-off teams, especially Oldham who boast EFL-level talent in Jack Stevens and Ryan Woods.
| Team | Promotion Odds | Title Odds | Recommended Betting Site | Secure Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MK Dons | 19/20 | 3/1 | 10bet | Visit Site |
| Chesterfield | 6/4 | 7/1 | Betfred | Visit Site |
| Notts County | 3/1 | 14/1 | Spreadex | Visit Site |
| Bristol Rovers | 3/1 | 14/1 | Fitzdares | Visit Site |
| Gillingham | 3/1 | 14/1 | bet365 | Visit Site |
| Swindon | 3/1 | 14/1 | Betfred | Visit Site |
| Salford City | 3/1 | 14/1 | Ladbrokes | Visit Site |
| Barnet | 9/2 | 14/1 | NetBet | Visit Site |
| Oldham Athletic | 6/1 | 25/1 | bet365 | Visit Site |
League Two Relegation Odds
Most betting sites have Newport County as favourites to drop, but there’s very little separating the bottom six on the odds board. Bromley, Crewe, and Cheltenham are also expected to struggle.
Why we’re wary:
- Newport, Harrogate, Accrington, and Cheltenham all appear in our relegation danger list. These sides are forecast to struggle based on limited squad depth or form over the past year.
- Newport, in particular, have one of the weakest squads in the division and are rightly priced shortest for the drop.
| Team | Relegation Odds | Recommended Betting Site | Secure Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newport County | 2/1 | Betfred | Visit Site |
| Harrogate Town | 10/3 | 10bet | Visit Site |
| Accrington Stanley | 4/1 | Spreadex | Visit Site |
| Cheltenham | 9/2 | NetBet | Visit Site |
| Bromley | 6/1 | Ladbrokes | Visit Site |
| Crewe Alexandra | 6/1 | bet365 | Visit Site |
League Two Top Goalscorer Odds
The top scorer market in League Two features some familiar names, with Aaron Collins leading the early betting and a handful of intriguing outsiders worth tracking.
Why Collins leads:
- Aaron Collins (MK Dons) is our top scorer tip. The forward is a proven finisher at this level and should benefit from a strong supporting cast in what is expected to be a high-scoring MK Dons side.
- With MK Dons tipped for promotion and possibly the title, Collins’ chances of hitting 20+ goals look realistic.
| Top Scorer Odds | Recommended Betting Site | Secure Link | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aaron Collins | 5/1 | bet365 | Visit Site |
| Michael Cheek | 8/1 | Ladbrokes | Visit Site |
| Alassana Jatta | 10/1 | Betfred | Visit Site |
| Will Grigg | 14/1 | Spreadex | Visit Site |
| Kabongo Tshimanga | 25/1 | NetBet | Visit Site |
| Lee Bonis | 25/1 | 10bet | Visit Site |
| Jake Tabor | 25/1 | bet365 | Visit Site |
| Cole Stockton | 20/1 | Ladbrokes | Visit Site |
| Harry Smith | 25/1 | Betfred | Visit Site |
| Emre Tezgel | 33/1 | Spreadex | Visit Site |
| Jonny Stuttle | 40/1 | Spreadex | Visit Site |
| Mike Fondop | 40/1 | bet365 | Visit Site |
Our Betting Insight and Predictions
Find some of our tips and football predictions for the season below:
- Title favourites: MK Dons – they are by far the best team on paper
- Promotion hopefuls: Chesterfield, Notts County, Bristol Rovers, Gillingham, Salford City, Swindon
- Play-off contenders: Walsall, Barrow, Barnet, Oldham (outsiders)
- Relegation danger: Newport, Harrogate, Accrington, Cheltenham
- Top scorer tip: Aaron Collins (MK Dons) — clinical finisher with experience
- Top 7 finish: Gillingham and Salford offer strong value for finishing in the playoffs
- Specials: Some sites offering enhanced odds on Chesterfield & MK Dons dual promotion
Our Predicted Final Table – League Two 2025/26
This prediction is based on outright winner, promotion, and relegation odds published across major bookmakers, combined with insight from our League Two season preview:
| Pos | Club | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | MK Dons | Promotion favourites. Top of most outright markets. |
| 2 | Chesterfield | Backed strongly in both promotion and title betting. |
| 3 | Crewe Alexandra | Solid, consistent team. Promotion-tipped again. |
| 4 | Gillingham | Improved squad, defensively strong, backed for top 7. |
| 5 | Notts County | Playoff contenders again. Dangerous in attack. |
| 6 | Tranmere Rovers | Quietly backed for promotion push in the market. |
| 7 | Walsall | Competitive squad. Close to playoff pricing. |
| 8 | Cambridge United | Relegated from League One. Strong start expected. |
| 9 | Salford City | Underachieved last season, but not a relegation side. |
| 10 | Fleetwood Town | Another League One dropout — unpredictable. |
| 11 | Grimsby Town | Mid-table projection. Lacking top-end betting support. |
| 12 | Accrington Stanley | Comfortable finish likely. Balanced squad. |
| 13 | Harrogate Town | Decent home form, expected to hold mid-table. |
| 14 | Colchester United | Occasional drop-zone flirtation, but usually safe. |
| 15 | Newport County | Unremarkable but safe most seasons. |
| 16 | Barrow | Not as strong as in previous seasons — regression likely. |
| 17 | Swindon Town | Not fancied in promo or drop markets — low ceiling. |
| 18 | Oldham Athletic | Should survive, but unlikely to climb higher. |
| 19 | Shrewsbury Town | League One relegated side, little market optimism. |
| 20 | Bristol Rovers | Slipping backward in market sentiment. Just safe. |
| 21 | Barnet | Newly promoted, expected to fight but stay up. |
| 22 | Crawley Town | Defensive concerns but not in bottom 2 in most odds. |
| 23 | Bromley | National League playoff team. Will face step up in quality. |
| 24 | Cheltenham Town | Relegation favourites in multiple books. Poor 2024 form carried over. |
Season Preview
The 2025/26 League Two campaign promises to be one of the most open in recent years. With two strong National League sides coming in, the is plenty of competition at the top.
MK Dons and Chesterfield are considered the strongest sides on paper, but several others have quietly strengthened. Notts County have retained most of their attacking threats, while Gillingham and Bristol Rovers look stable and well-organised under experienced managers. Swindon also look like dark horses, with Jake Tabor providing the unknown.
Salford have added depth with experienced EFL names, and Barnet are banking on continuity after a high-scoring National League campaign. Oldham are another potential outsider for the playoffs, with Jack Stevens and Ryan Woods providing quality.
At the bottom, Newport and Harrogate will need to defy expectations. Expect early volatility, especially through August and September, before the league table starts to settle.
Key fixtures: Chesterfield vs MK Dons in mid-September will be an early test of promotion credentials. Likewise, Bristol Rovers’ trip to Salford in January could offer clues about the play-off race.
Football League Previews: Full Coverage
We’ve previewed all three tiers of the English Football League ahead of the 2025/26 season. Check out our full breakdowns and betting predictions below:
League Two club previews: