Expert League One playoff predictions and free football tips from Dan Childs

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for the League One playoffs.

Best bet

Sheffield Wednesday to win the League One playoffs
1pt 2-1 Betfred

Verdict

The League One promotion race has been fiercely competitive but Sheffield Wednesday are the 2-1 favourites going into the playoffs and are worth backing to justify that tag.

MK Dons ended up third on 89 points, the same total as 2020-21 League One champions Hull, but they finished the campaign with a few regrets after finishing just one point outside the top two.

The Dons' semi-final with sixth-placed Wycombe, which on starts Thursday at Adams Park, looks a tough one to call but whoever gets through will have to steel themselves for an even more difficult challenge at Wembley.

There have been some huge clubs in League One this season but they don't come any bigger than Sunderland and Sheffield Wednesday, who do battle in the other semi-final, starting with Friday's first leg at the Stadium of Light.

If size was everything the heavyweight duo would have achieved automatic promotion, but their fan bases could come into play in the final, where one of them would enjoy the support of the vast majority of a large Wembley crowd.

Sunderland approach the playoffs unbeaten in 13 matches but a lot of their performances have been workmanlike and they are sweating on the fitness of on loan Everton attacker Nathan Broadhead, who was substituted during last Saturday's 1-0 win at Morecambe.

Sheffield Wednesday finished the 46-game season with an injury doubt over influential playmaker Barry Bannan, but they have recently welcomed key striker Josh Windass and rugged defender Harlee Dean back into the fray and their squad looks deep enough and talented enough to deliver the ultimate prize.

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