Sky Bet takes a look at some of the best tips ahead of the brand new Football League season.
The Premier League hopefuls will aim to put down a marker as the new Championship season begins.
Hull host Blackpool on Friday in the first competitive game of the English season while
Sky Sports' other televised Championship game of the weekend sees newly-promoted Southampton host Leeds on Saturday evening.
Leicester have been installed as title favourites along with relegated West Ham, while bookmakers are expecting Nottingham Forest to be in contention having reached the play-offs the last two years.
Sky Bet's
Kristian Walsh marks your card with the value bets for the season
CHAMPIONSHIP
Winner: Brighton and Hove Albion - 18/1
Only one of the previous 11 favourites in the division, Manchester City in 2001/2002, have conformed to pre-season expectations and won the league. Backers of West Ham and Leicester at 4/1 should be wary, although the two sides appear worthy favourites.
The key for both Allardyce and Eriksson is settling their squads quickly. If they can't, it's with Brighton at 18/1 where the interest lies. Manager Gus Poyet took charge of the Seagulls in November 2009 with the club in 20th. Having steered them to 10th by the end of the season, he placed his own, scintillating attacking stamp upon the squad; from 56 goals the season previous, Poyet's side rattled in 85 goals on their way to promotion - a feat achieve in mid-April.
Although Brighton have lost top striker Glenn Murray to Crystal Palace, they've brought in the impressive Craig Mackail-Smith from Peterborough - the only player to score more than Murray in League One last season. With financial worries a thing of the past and a new 22,000-seater stadium to play in, Poyet's men look capable of back-to-back promotions;
18/1 to top the table in a nice price.
Promotion:
Derby County - 12/1
On the surface, two bottom half finishes in Nigel Clough's first two full seasons at Pride Park gives little reason to consider them for a return to the Premier League.
It was their exit from the Premier League in 2008 which brings Clough to the crossroads he's now at. 11 points and one win in 38 games left the club reeling; unprepared for life in the Championship, the club slipped a mere five points from the drop.
In came Clough, his stock high from an impressive tenure at Burton Albion - but his reign at Derby has been tarred by want away players and injuries galore. Only two players remain from his first win against Coventry in January 2009 - Steven Bywater, now back-up goalkeeper, and Paul Green.
Clough has brought in nine new signings, including influential England U-21 goalkeeper Frank Fielding. Derby sat 4th in the table when his loan expired but dropped to 19th in his 13-game absence. His return, this time permanently, is complimented nicely by the likes of Kevin Kilbane, Chris Maguire, Theo Robinson, Nathan Tyson and Jason Shackell.
Relegation:
Peterborough 2/1
Peterborough have been the definition of a yo-yo club in recent years both in terms of league and the managerial hot seat. The Posh flittered between Championship and League 1, while at the same time hiring, sacking and re-hiring Darren Ferguson as manager.
Expect the trend to continue this season. Mackail-Smith's departure throws more doubt upon Peterborough and manager Darren Ferguson's ability to keep them in the division.
The Posh have conceded 155 goals in the past two seasons with Ferguson averaging 0.9 points in 61 Championship matches. With Mackail-Smith and McLean now departed from their relegation season in 2010, and several failed attempts to sign last season's loanee Nathaniel Mendez-Laing from Wolves on a permanent basis,
Peterborough seem to be a nice prospect at 2/1.
Top Goalscorer: Max Gradel - 20/1
There's an element of risk in backing Max Gradel because his talent may lead him away from Elland Road and into the Premier League.
The 23-year-old scored 18 league goals for Leeds; both he and Luciano Becchio reaped the rewards of Simon Grayson's attack-minded management. Leeds were second top scorers in the division last season with 81 goals and United will look for more of the same this season.
Although those relegated from the Premier League cannot be ignored - in particular the West Ham duo of Cole and Piquionne - there seems few from last season who have the potential to trouble Gradel. Of those who finished above him in the scoring charts, only Long and Becchio remain.
Shane Long could yet move to the Premier League while Becchio, available at 18/1, is injured at the start of the season. This should allow Gradel - who also takes penalties - to play further forward and get amongst the goals again.
LEAGUE ONE
Winner:
Brentford - 12/1
Brentford were average throughout last season but summer arrivals could find them at the top of the table in May, with Crewe striker Clayton Donaldson the high profile signing of the summer for them.
But far more important than he, Celtic winger Niall McGinn (brought in on loan), Jonathan Douglas or Shaleum Logan is the new man in the hotseat - former Manchester City striker Uwe Rosler.
Rosler is well-known in Norway for his managerial skills, achieving impressive league results with Lillestrom SK and Viking. His best achievement, however, was transforming the fortunes of Molde FK; Molde were in severe danger of relegation but Rosler steered them to safety courtesy of an eight-match unbeaten run.
Pre-season results have been favourable with a win at home to Stoke demonstrating that Brentford's new man in charge is capable of winning the league ahead of more fancied opposition.
Promotion:
Charlton Athletic - 5/2
When Charlton dropped out of the Championship in 2009, it seemed impossible their stay in League One would be anything other than brief. The pressure is on Chris Powell to ensure their time there doesn't extend into a fourth season.
The club clearly mean business, bringing in 13 new players. The worry, of course, is that these players won't gel together; however, the quality of Matt Taylor, Paul Hayes and Danny Hollands. These players are proven at this level, which is perhaps what Charlton have lacked over previous seasons; the addition of Mikel Alonso in the midfield will add some class to the experience.
Charlton's best hope is the goals of Bradley Wright-Phillips. Wright-Phillips joined the club in January after he scored 13 goals in 17 games for Plymouth in the first half of the season and settled quickly at the Valley with eight goals. With a full pre-season behind him, he, along with Powell's new signings, can propel Charlton to the Championship.
Relegation:
Bournemouth - 13/2
As cliché as it sounds, Bournemouth's season was a season of two halves. The Cherries were just a point from promotion in 3rd when manager Eddie Howe left for Burnley, leaving player Lee Bradbury in temporary charge.
Bradbury performed admirably in the immediate aftermath, landing himself the job on a permanent basis. However, just eight wins from 24 games saw Bournemouth just hold on to their playoff spot by a point.
The squad has been weakened with Jason Pearce, Anton Robinson and captain Danny Hollands departing; the latter two moving to League One rivals Huddersfield and Charlton respectively. The club also lost Josh McQuoid to Milwall in January, perhaps attributing to their downturn in fortunes.
The jury is still out on Lee Bradbury, but the club have lost an inspirational manager, their club captain, defensive solidity, creativity and a goalscoring forward. If Bradbury doesn't manage to start well, it could be a downward spiral for his side.
Top scorer: Ryan Lowe - 25/1
There is usually a direct correlation between a successful goalscorer and the success of the team. Because of this, players who topped last season's League One goalscoring charts - Mackail-Smith, Murray and Lambert - will all be plying their trade in a higher division.
Goalscorers such as Gary Jones of Rochdale and Jordan Rhodes of Huddersfield still remain and will be amongst the goals once more. At short prices - 7/1 and 8/1 respectively - neither fail to tempt. Thoughts then turn to those who were in fine form for their club's last season, and Ryan Lowe of Bury fits the bill perfectly.
Lowe is a superb striker at lower level, notching 27 league goals for Bury in their promotion season. Only Crewe's Clayton Donaldson scored more - 28 - but the 27-year-old is now at Brentford under Uwe Rosler, who looks set to play a more team-based game as opposed to providing Donaldson with goals.
Bury are set up to play through Lowe and he can enjoy another good season at Bury.
LEAGUE TWO
Winner:
Oxford United - 11/1
Things are on the up for Oxford United. After a turbulent few years battling non-league football and an ownership which almost sent them down the River Isis, they're now the best run club outside the top two divisions. That could soon change if Chris Wilder gets their new signings to gel.
A 12th-placed finish last season doesn't tell the whole story; Oxford were just five points behind the playoff positions and would have been closer with more creativity and firepower in the squad. Wilder has sought to repair that, bringing in a plethora of attacking talent.
Liam Davis, Dean Smalley and Jon-Paul Pittman are all good attacking players at that level, with the latter two achieving promotion from League Two last season. Whing, Duberry and Capaldi are all astute signings, while the acquisition of Peter Leven from MK Dons is the coup of the summer.
The midfielder was voted Football Writers' Player of the Year last season and should help steer Oxford to the summit of League Two.
Promotion:
Southend United - 3/1
Paul Sturrock achieved miracles at Roots Hall last season and he is a manager who has the ability to progress them even further. They finished 13th last season, only seven points from the playoffs - an impressive campaign considering they were tipped for relegation by many due to financial worries.
Sturrock knows what it takes to gain promotion having gained three promotions with Plymouth, Sheffield Wednesday and Swindon, as well as leaving Plymouth with the club primed for promotion in 2004.
His moves in the transfer market have been shrewd, bringing in Jemal Johnson, Alassane N'Diaye and Neil Harris - all of whom have impressive at a higher level. Southend have also kept Anthony Grant and Barry Corr - their two goalscoring outlets last season - in addition to the new arrivals, meaning Sturrock has a good squad to choose from in their push for promotion.
Relegation:
Torquay United - 14/1
There was a feeling of all-or-nothing for Torquay United at the playoff final last season. Having, arguably, played above their level, promotion was essential for players such as Scott Bevan, Chris Zebroski and Guy Branston to stay at Plainmoor.
Their defeat to Stevenage seen the aforementioned three leave, along with manager Paul Buckle. Buckle was the catalyst to Torquay's promotion back into the football league, gaining promotion via the playoffs in his second season. After consolidating their league status a year later, Torquay were deserving playoff finalists.
But Buckle's departure, combined with key players, could spell trouble for Torquay. Buckle's replacement, Martin Ling, has struggled at Cambridge and looks set for an uphill struggle to keep Torquay at last season's level.
At 14/1, relegation appears value.
Top goalscorer: Adebayo Akinfenwa - 33/1
Adebayo Akinfenwa possesses one of the most incredible lower league careers. At the age of 29, he's played for ten clubs in Britain and one in Lithuania. But the feeling now is that he's finally found a home: Northampton Town.
Akinfenwa has played for the Cobblers before and enjoyed his longest and most prolific stint there. In two seasons, he scored 37 goals but was moved on to Gillingham last year due to a breakdown in contract negotiations.
After a decent season at Gillingham which returned 11 goals, Akinfenwa has returned back to Northampton, believing in the project new manager Gary Johnson has invested in. Johnson is a very good manager who can get the best out of his squad and if he can do so with the raw talent of Akinfenwa, he should score a hatful for the club.
