Content Editor at Free Super Tips, Alex was born in the shadow of Old Trafford and is an avid Man Utd fan. After graduating from university he combined his love of football, writing and betting to join FST and now closely follows goings-on in all of the top European leagues.
In The Mixer is FST’s weekly column where we catch up with our team of football betting experts and get their opinion on the hot topic of the week.
We are right at the business end of the season now and, while most key spots are done and dusted in the Premier League, there is still the small matter of the EFL play-off finals to contend with.
With all three finals scheduled this weekend, we’ve asked a team of experts for their three winners and combined the most common answers into a tasty treble with bet365, where new customers can sign up below to get £30 in free bets.
Back our 7/2 EFL Play-Off Final treble here!
Our experts are almost split down the middle in the Championship and League One play-offs, with Luton edging Coventry and Sheffield Wednesday edging Barnsley by four votes to three.
Things look more straightforward in the battle for promotion to the third tier, with five of our tipsters opting for Stockport to do the business over Carlisle.
Henry Hardwicke
Sports journalist for Racing Post
Hats off to Mark Robins for the job he has done at Coventry, but Luton look likely to be playing Premier League football next season. The Hatters have fantastic togetherness and that is married to plenty of endeavour and quality.
Sheffield Wednesday pulled off an amazing comeback against Peterborough on an incredible night at Hillsborough and I don’t see the Owls letting it slip now. Darren Moore’s men are a far superior side to Barnsley and they should return to the Championship.
I think Carlisle and Stockport will be tough to split and we could well see extra-time and penalties but perhaps the Cumbrians can edge it. Paul Simpson’s slide played well to turn their semi-final tie with Bradford around and they can complete the job.
Aaron Ashley
Sports journalist for Racing Post
Luton were too physical for Sunderland in the second leg of their Championship playoff semi-final and although it won’t be as easy to bully their way past Coventry at Wembley, I still fancy the Hatters to show why they finished ten points above the Sky Blues in the regular season.
Barnsley did a League One double over Sheffield Wednesday and the Tykes are a big price at 13-10 to achieve League One promotion at the expense of their Yorkshire rivals, who needed a miracle at Hillsborough to win their semi-final having lost the opening leg 4-0 at Peterborough.
In League Two, Stockport, who have lost only two of their last 22 fourth-tier matches, are worthy favourites to overcome Carlisle now that Paddy Madden, Will Collar and Antoni Sarcevic have shrugged off their injuries.
James Milton
Sports journalist for Racing Post
Luton and Coventry shared two regular-season draws and should be hard to split in the Championship final but Cov may just edge it after keeping clean sheets in both legs of their semi-final win over favourites Middlesbrough.
Barnsley are respected in League One but Sheffield Wednesday, who amassed 96 points in the regular season before their extraordinary semi-final comeback against Peterborough, should be too strong for the Tykes.
In League Two, Stockport can seal promotion against a Carlisle side who took just three points from eight matches against the teams above them this season.
Jack Ogalbe
Sports journalist for ICS
It is hard not to appreciate how far both Luton and Coventry have come in recent years. However, the Hatters were ten points better off after 46 Championship games and have the physicality to dominate the Sky Blues.
In contrast, Sheffield Wednesday’s ball players give them a real edge over Barnsley in the League One showpiece. Wednesday also carry incredible momentum into the game after overhauling Peterborough and should get the job done.
Finally, to League Two and while Carlisle did well to overturn a first leg deficit against Bradford, their mixed form heading into the playoffs is a real worry. In contrast, Stockport are eyeing a second straight promotion and should have enough to secure it.
Matthew Ireland
Sports journalist for Racing Post
Coventry and Luton drew 2-2 and 1-1 in the regular season and I can see extra-time being required in the Championship promotion decider. Mark Robins has done a remarkable job to take Coventry from League Two to the verge of the Premier League and they are such a resilient outfit, losing only one of their last 18 games. I can see them just prevailing.
Sheffield Wednesday will be full of confidence after their incredible semi-final turnaround, but Barnsley won both of their meetings in League One this season and the Owls put so much into their semi-final comeback which may count against them.
Carlisle did well to turn their League Two semi against Bradford on its head but they’ve won only three of their last 13 matches whereas Wembley foes Stockport have lost only once since the beginning of March.
Tom McGarry
Sports journalist for ICS
Coventry and Luton shared the spoils in both their meetings during the regular season and this has all the hallmarks of going the distance at Wembley. Do not be surprised if Premier League promotion is decided on penalties with slight preference for the Sky Blues.
Sheffield Wednesday completed the comeback of all comebacks against Peterborough in the playoff semi-finals, but Barnsley did the double over the Owls during the regular season and may just have the edge.
Carlisle rather limped their way into the playoffs, but Paul Simpson’s side raised their game against Bradford in the semi-finals and can edge past a Stockport team that are likely to carry the brunt of the expectation.
Aaron Rogan
Sports journalist for Free Super Tips
Luton finished 10 points clear of Coventry and that gap should be apparent when the pair meet at Wembley. The Hatters have won 15 of 27 league games under Rob Edwards and they have the second-best record in the division in 2023 so back them to ultimately claim promotion.
Barnsley had a much more comfortable time in their semi-final but the Tykes finished the season winless in four before edging past Bolton. Sheffield Wednesday should be on a high after their emphatic second-leg win and that should carry them to victory.
Stockport had the edge in their regular season meetings with Carlisle, while they finished the campaign in much better form. Carlisle lost all of their away trips to the top four this term and I’m backing them to also fall short at Wembley.
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