2025-26 League One predictions, title odds and best bets: Bluebirds could fly into the distance

2025-26 League One best bets

Cardiff to win League One
3pts 6-4 general

Plymouth top-six finish
0.5pt 28-1 Betfair, Paddy Power

Peterborough top-six finish
0.5pt 12-1 general

AFC Wimbledon to be relegated
1pt 10-3 bet365, BoyleSports

2025-26 League One title odds

Sign up with bet365 to bet on the League One. Here are the latest odds for the title:

Odds correct at time of publishing

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Bluebirds unlikely to have their wings clipped

Consistency has not been a strong point for many in League One this season. Bradford and Stockport are in the playoff places despite winning only ten of their 20 matches, and that should make leaders Cardiff tough to stop in their quest to return to the Championship at the first time of asking.

Only Peterborough have deployed a squad with a younger average age this season than Cardiff, which suggests there should be plenty more to come from the youthful Bluebirds, while manager Brian Barry-Murphy has a number of promising players who won’t be operating at this level for long.

A 2-1 defeat to second-placed Lincoln most recently was a setback but that came only four days on from a 3-1 loss against Chelsea in the EFL Cup quarter-final, which would be a legitimate excuse, and they still remain three points clear at the top with a game in hand.

That run to the last eight of the EFL Cup is a fair indication of what they are capable of, having dumped out Premier League Burnley and Championship Wrexham along the way, and they have a formidable look about them at home.

The Bluebirds have won eight of their ten outings at their Welsh fortress, racking up 26 goals, and their adventurous, possession-based style of play is well-suited to this young, dynamic squad.

Cardiff have occasionally struggled against the division's direct and abrasive sides but a hard-fought 1-0 win at fourth-placed Stevenage earlier this month shows that they can do the heavy lifting too and makes them difficult to catch given that they are only likely to get stronger.

Lincoln, Cardiff’s nearest pursuers, have the best home form in the division but three wins from ten outings on the road shows where the problems could lie for them while 24 goals scored in 19 matches suggests fourth-placed Stevenage may be undone by a lack of firepower.

Bradford are having a remarkable season, sitting third following last season’s promotion, but they have won only three of their last ten league games and can be thankful that they came out the blocks flying.

Stockport, having been derailed by injuries for large parts of the season, are in the hunt but they have struggled to make the most of home advantage at Edgeley Park, where they have won two of their last nine matches, making them increasingly hard to predict.

The bookmakers have Bolton as the dangers to Cardiff and that is because on expected goals they should be closer to top than sixth, but a seven-point gap won’t be easy to bridge.

Pilgrims making up for sluggish start 

Such is the congested nature of League One – seventh-placed Huddersfield are three points off the playoff places but only eight points clear of the relegation zone - it could pay to throw a dart at a couple of big-priced teams to make their presence felt on the top six.

Plymouth were joint-third favourites at 8-1 for the League One title with current leaders Cardiff at the start of the season, but the Pilgrims made a horrendous start following last season’s relegation.

However, Plymouth decided to keep faith in Tom Cleverley and their patience is starting to pay off as they have shrugged off six straight defeats with five wins in seven.

Cleverley wanted to play attractive football but has started to focus on the fundamentals and that has seen them win three in a row, two of which were 1-0 victories over Wycombe and Rotherham, before the shackles came off in a 5-1 rout of Doncaster last time out.

This squad is clearly capable of better and, with the potential of January reinforcements, all hope may not be lost yet in their quest for a Championship return.

Peterborough are also fascinating contenders having been revitalised since Luke Williams was appointed in October and he has won seven of his 11 matches in charge.

A busy end to the summer transfer window helped them bolster a squad that had been raided and they could be on a steep upward trajectory. Their results since the start of November include a 5-0 win over AFC Wimbledon and a 3-0 silencing of Stockport.

Wombles having a wobble

Last season’s League Two playoff winners AFC Wimbledon had a dream start to the season and after 13 games had already chalked up 25 points.

However, they have added just two points in their last seven matches and that means that they are only four points above the relegation zone despite still seemingly sitting comfortably in 13th.

But that seven-game winless run has included 1-0 defeats to Burton and Exeter and a goalless draw with Mansfield, three sides currently in the bottom six and chasing their tails.

A 3-1 defeat at Northampton last time out was another underwhelming result and, with the goals having dried up and confidence on the wane, Johnnie Jackson’s side have a very vulnerable look to them made worse by having to also manage on one of the lower budgets in the division.

Read more mid-season predictions from our top tipsters:

Premier League: Arsenal and Man City set for epic title battle  

Championship: Coventry's title dreams could be broken by Boro  

League Two: Magpies ready to take the step up 

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