Gab Sutton EFL Predictions & Betting Tips
Gab Sutton 
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EFL expert Gabriel Sutton will continue to bring you his betting tips and EFL predictions for every round of the new season here on Freebets.
His knowledge and insight on everything from the Championship to League One and League Two is unrivalled, so expect detailed betting tips and analysis from all three competitions.
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Gab Sutton’s EFL Predictions & Betting Tips
EFL pundit Gab Sutton is back with his best bets for the weekend’s action, which you can use alongside our range of football betting sites ahead of the weekend.
Portsmouth v Derby
- Portsmouth to win
Portsmouth produced a solid performance at Coventry on Wednesday night, but two moments of madness at either end were the difference between a 1-0 away win that would have been a giant leap towards safety, and the 1-0 defeat that keeps them three points above the bottom three.
It does mean, though, that there’s an even greater incentive for Pompey to attain the victory that would put some daylight between themselves and the relegation zone.
John Mousinho’s men have thrived at Fratton Park this season, too, winning 10 of their 14 home league games since November, with two draws and two defeats, and the atmosphere they create is a huge part of that.
Portsmouth can rely on the likes of Josh Murphy, one of the top wide men in the division, and focal point Colby Bishop, who’s work ethic, physicality and link-up play is central to making their place a fortress.
Visitors Derby enjoyed a striking resurgence of four straight wins, before a defeat at Swansea and a draw with Burnley kept John Eustace’s side level on points with the bottom three.
Barnsley v Bolton
- Bolton to win
Bolton dropped two points off the top six on Tuesday night with a 1-0 defeat to Rotherham, combined with Reading’s 3-1 victory at bottom side Shrewsbury.
Steven Schumacher’s side were unfortunate, though, because they had 36 efforts at goal, with a combination of wayward shooting and a goalkeeping masterclass from Cameron Dawson denying the Trotters any reward.
Nonetheless, that level of performance likely yields all three points at Barnsley, who have accrued just two points from their last seven games.
After a disappointing season, the Reds are still to appoint a manager, and have won a paltry five home games all season – only strugglers Burton have won fewer.
Stockport v Rotherham
- Stockport to win
Seven points off the top two with five games to play, Stockport’s automatic promotion hopes are all but over, because even maximum points would leave them needing Wrexham to accrue no more than seven from a favourable fixture list.
Dave Challinor’s can, though, take motivation from the task of booking their Play-Off spot, with an eight-point gap to 7th-placed Bolton; that job could be finished at Peterborough on Good Friday, if they do the business here, depending on other results.
With the understanding that Kyle Wootton has struck up in attack with Isaac Olaofe, it’s hard to bet against the Hatters, who face a Rotherham side bound for midtable.
The Millers defended courageously to attain a 1-0 victory at Bolton last time out, the third straight victory since Matt Hamshaw returned to the club to have a galvanizing effect – but there’s still an enormous rebuild ahead.
Chesterfield v Fleetwood
- Double Chance: Draw/Fleetwood
Chesterfield’s 1-1 draw with Gillingham on Tuesday, which followed a 4-0 thumping by Tranmere on Friday, put pay to the Spireites faint Play-Off hopes.
13 of their 16 league wins this season have come as part of an unbeaten run of three or more games, while nine of their 14 defeats have come as part of a sequence of two or more consecutive losses.
In other words, Paul Cook’s side have been rather streaky, in a season in which some high-end quality in certain areas has been undermined by imperfections in others, due to injury crises that have compromised the squad.
And so, while the Derbyshire outfit aren’t in the best of form, there could be value in siding with Fleetwood, who have been inconsistent more than streaky.
Pete Wild’s side could be underrated, however, because they possess an excellent midfield, and four-goal away hauls at Crewe, MK Dons and Accrington Stanley show they’re highly capable at their best.
Harrogate v Grimsby
- Double Chance: Harrogate/Draw
Harrogate have conceded either none or one goal in 26 of their 41 league games, which speaks to admirable defensive consistency for a side down the bottom.
The three top performers for Simon Weaver’s side, by some distance, have been veteran goalkeeper James Belshaw and centre-backs Anthony O’Connor and Jasper Moon.
For that reason, Town have been able to overcome glaring weaknesses in certain areas purely through their solidity at the back, which has seen them to clean sheets against Colchester (twice), Doncaster, Port Vale and Chesterfield.
You can have a high volume of shots against the North Yorkshire outfit, but they have defenders who excel at rear-guard action, and a goalkeeper with stunning reflexes.
Harrogate are still fighting for their EFL status, and could be underrated for a result against a good Grimsby side, given what’s at stake.
The Mariners have made enormous strides this year under David Artell, but they are short up top: their only available, out-and-out centre-forward could be Danny Rose, who’s just recovered from concussion.
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Gab Sutton’s EFL 2024/25 Antepost Picks
Following the opening weekend of 2024-25′s EFL action, EFL pundit Gab Sutton gives us his five tips…
Championship
Promotion
Despite being held to a 3-3 draw by Portsmouth on the opening day, Leeds are favourites for promotion and can be backed at Evens, although Daniel Farke’s side are without the prodigious talents of Archie Gray and the individual craft of Crysencio Summerville, now both have left for London.
Elsewhere, Burnley are into 5/4 after that statement 4-1 opening day victory at Luton on Monday, thanks to an incisive, clinical display from Scott Parker’s men.
The Hatters, themselves, are down to 13/5 after their disappointing start, while Middlesbrough, West Brom and Sunderland are up to 3/1, 7/2 and 4/1 respectively after opening day victories.
For Boro, it’s all about Emmanuel Latte Lath, who built on his stunning form from the last quarter of last season by getting off the mark against Swansea, and could be among the top goalscorers in the division this term.
The Baggies may have a goalscorer of their own, though, in Josh Maja, who displayed impeccable poaching instincts to bag a hat-trick in the 3-1 victory at QPR.
Sunderland need a marksman, but they have pretty much everything else if Jobe Bellingham and Jack Clarke hit top form.
The one to watch, though, is Sheffield Wednesday, after Danny Rohl’s side stormed to a 4-0 opening day victory over Plymouth Argyle.
Bigger tests are surely to come for the Owls, but in terms of pressing, patterns of play, co-ordination of movement, organisation, pace and guile, they had it all and could be a serious bet at 8/1 in some places.
Relegation
Argyle look vulnerable after that trouncing at Hillsborough, and while it’s only day one, it was hard to see what they were trying to do – it’s not as if they were pressing high, or looking after the ball well, or being aggressive in their defensive third then flying forward on the counter.
It was difficult to see a discernible game plan from Wayne Rooney’s side, who could be a bet for the drop at 7/4.
Oxford were favourites before the season began but their convincing 2-0 victory over play-off aspirants Norwich has nudged them to 6/4, the same price as Argyle, and those odds will lengthen with more performances like that – especially with the likes of Cameron Brannagan and Mark Harris making the step up seamless on early evidence.
Cardiff have shortened to 3/1, perhaps surprisingly, after that 2-0 defeat to Sunderland, despite signing the likes of Calum Chambers and Anwar El Ghazi.
Millwall, meanwhile, are 10/3 for the drop after losing 3-2 to Watford: the Lions will need a target man if they want to play the way Neil Harris likes.
Preston North End, though, look value at 10/3 after parting company with manager Ryan Lowe after the opening night’s 2-0 defeat to Sheffield United – for the Lilywhites, it all hangs on who they appoint next.
Derby are a bet at 7/2 after producing one of the worst performances of the opening weekend in their 4-2 loss at Blackburn, who are now up to 9/2, following a summer of trepidation.
League One
Promotion
Despite dropping points on the opening day, with a 1-1 draw with Reading, Birmingham remain firm favourites for promotion at 4/6: understandable, with the quality of their squad and resources.
Bolton are 23/10 second-favourite after beginning with a 2-1 victory at Leyton Orient, although Ian Evatt’s side will need to improve their performance levels, after relying on goalkeeper Nathan Baxter to bail them out at Brisbane Road.
Rotherham are 3/1 despite an opening day 1-0 defeat at Exeter, while Wrexham are fourth favourites at 16/5 following the 3-2 triumph over Wycombe, but neither of those quite look the value picks.
Instead, Huddersfield at 10/3 hold appeal after a statement victory at recent play-off competitors Peterborough and, with so many moving parts of the squad, Michael Duff has shown his managerial class to deliver such a commanding opening day performance.
Charlton can also be backed at 10/3 after a great start under Nathan Jones, winning 1-0 at Wigan, while Lincoln look the value play at 11/2, under a fine coach in Michael Skubala.
It looks highly competitive, though, with so many teams aiming to be in the mix.
Relegation
Crawley Town remain 8/11 for the drop despite beginning with a 2-1 victory over Blackpool.
11/10 second-favourites are Paul Hurst’s Shrewsbury, who opened with a 1-0 defeat at Stevenage and will rely squarely on Aston Villa loanee Tommi O’Reilly for any sort of creativity.
Cambridge are also short in that regard, and could be vulnerable after two close shaves with the drop – the U’s are 11/8 to fall at the third hurdle.
Northampton enjoyed a safe, midtable season last year, after winning promotion from League Two, but could suffer from the losses of Sam Sherring, Marc Leonard and Kieron Bowie in defence, midfield and attack respectively, and are 13/8 to plummet.
We think Burton (9/4), Leyton Orient (5/2) and Stevenage (3/1) will all be fine this season, while Mansfield and Exeter (also 3/1) have boosted their chances by getting three points on the board nice and early.
League Two
Promotion
MK Dons have widened to 6/4 for promotion with Betfair after a 2-1 loss to Bradford, but they remain favourites and, having played well in that game and created a lot of chances, with Liam Kelly pulling the strings in midfield, Mike Williamson’s side should find form very soon.
Fellow Play-Off Semi-Finalists of last year, Doncaster continued their sumptuous form from the final quarter of 2023-24 into this campaign, and after a ruthless 4-1 victory over Accrington Stanley, including fine strikes from Luke Molyneux (x2), Jordan Gibson and Billy Sharp, they look a threat at 13/8.
Also 4-1 victors at the weekend were Gillingham, who swept aside fellow promotion aspirants Carlisle with a clinical attacking showing, something we haven’t associated with the Kent outfit prior to Mark Bonner’s summer appointment – they’re 2/1 to reach League One.
Chesterfield are 9/5 to attain back-to-back promotions, although Paul Cook’s star-studded squad could only manage a 1-1 draw with Swindon on opening night.
Port Vale are ones to watch at 11/5 after beginning with a 2-1 victory at Salford, as Darren Moore’s side benefit from the higher-level pedigree of George Byers in midfield.
Elsewhere, Notts County are 16/5 for promotion after being one of the best attacking sides in the league last season, and they’re hoping to remain that if Alassana Jatta can replace talisman Macaulay Langstaff, while they’ve strengthened defensively with fine additions like Jacob Bedeau.
Relegation
Morecambe are unfortunately a value play at 5/2 with Betfair for the drop because, while they do have their greatest ever manager in Derek Adams at the helm, they’re also plagued by financial uncertainty which has compromised the standard of their recruitment, and may yet incur a points deduction.
Harrogate Town, however, could be vulnerable, too, at 7/2, with question marks over the spine for Simon Weaver’s side, who aren’t expecting to be active in the remainder of the transfer window.
Accrington Stanley, on the other hand, look to be in for a struggle at 11/2 with bet365, with the mood around the club suffering from the careless treatment of legendary manager John Coleman – that mood may sour with a poor start.
Newport are 4/1 to drop through the EFL’s trapdoor under an unknown quantity in Nelson Jardim, although there can be some encouragement taken their performance in the 3-2 loss at Cheltenham, which deserved at least a point.
Swindon meanwhile, could be ones to plummet at 11/2, after ownership and structural issues led to their lowest ever finish last year – there’s a chance they could implode.
EFL Betting Tips from Gabriel Sutton
About Gab Sutton
Known for offering an expert opinion on all things EFL, Gab Sutton is a man to listen to when he talks about the Football League.
Every week, he brings his best picks in the form of Sutton’s Acca to mark your card for the weekend action.
On top of this, Gab also delivers a huge amount of insight into the EFL via his Twitter feed, so if you want to keep on top of what’s happening away from the Premier League then give Gab a follow on Twitter.
What is the EFL?
The EFL covers three of the four English leagues, consisting of the Championship, League One and League Two.
Each league has promotion and relegation, with the main goal for clubs being to get out of the Championship and up into the Premier League.
Coverage of the Premier League is everywhere, but here at Freebets, we want to focus on more than just top flight football. Thanks to the incredible knowledge Gabriel has, we’ve got an expert on hand to guide us through the Championship, League One and League Two every week of the season.
From battles at the bottom to those fighting for promotion, with three leagues, there is sure to be plenty of excitement in the 2024/25 season.
Championship Betting Tips
The second tier of English football, and the league often referred to as the toughest to gain promotion from in the world.
The prize is big, a place in the Premier League, arguably the greatest football league in the world.
But of course, everyone wants to get there. That makes the Championship highly competitive, and the 2024/25 season could well be the most competitive ever given the line up we have.
League One Betting Tips
League One comes in the middle of the pack, but has been home to a number of bigger names in recent years, and the coming season is no different.
The likes of Birmingham, Bolton, Barnsley, Charlton, Reading and Peterborough have records that show they can compete much higher, so once again, a tight finish to the season is expected.
League Two Betting Tips
League Two almost always offers a competitive environment at the top, with four teams promoted up into League One.
There’s plenty of focus points, but of course, the entire world will have eyes on Wrexham, finally back in the football league, with Hollywood ownership and ambitions to make it back-to-back promotions, they will grab 99% of the attention on this league, for sure.
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