League Two winner odds and promotion predictions: Robins ready to challenge

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for League Two.

Best bets

Swindon to be promoted
2pts 15-8 general

Mansfield to finish in the top seven
1pt 4-1 bet365

League Two predictions

Forest Green have never been higher than League Two but after four seasons in the basement they are in a commanding position to make their way up the pyramid.

Rovers lead the way in fourth tier as we approach the halfway stage, holding a four-point cushion with at least one game in hand on their title rivals.

The inspired appointment of Rob Edwards, who left his role with the England Under-16 side to join, is paying dividends and there is no doubt that they warrant their place at the top.

With 43 goals scored in 20 games and only two defeats, the Gloucestershire club are making light work of what is normally a competitive division and are 4-7 to complete the job.

With two proven goalscorers in Jamille Matt and Matthew Stevens, that’s a fair reflection of their chances and bookmakers think the biggest danger could come from Northampton.

The Cobblers sit second after four straight wins and there is another four-point gap back to promoted Sutton in third, who are closer to Mansfield in 11th than they are to leaders Forest Green.

The problem for Northampton is they lack a regular source of goals - Sam Hoskins is their leading scorer with six - and injuries could derail them as they have a pretty settled 11 without much depth.

Even at this stage, it’s tough to see the free-scoring leaders coming back to the chasing pack and instead punters should focus on the promotion betting.

Swindon are outside the top seven but only three points off third and have at least one game in hand on those teams around them.

The Robins have recorded wins over Forest Green and Sutton this season and have lost only one of their six fixtures against teams above them.

When in the mood, Swindon have the potential to be the second-best team in League Two and at 15-8 they are worth backing to make an immediate return to League One.

There is also room for Mansfield, who have been transformed thanks to six wins in their last seven games, to throw their hat into the ring.

The Stags sit 11th, four points off the playoff spots, and now settled into their stride look too big to nail down a top-seven finish.

There is little juice in the relegation betting, with bottom two Scunthorpe and Oldham both rightly odds-on.

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