Predicting League Two: Luton look set to tear up the basement

The new season is nearly upon us and we just can’t look past Luton when it comes to picking a League Two winner.

The Football League’s bottom tier is a bit of a basket case when you’re eyeing up an acca each week.

But over the course of the season, as the old saying goes, the cream will inevitably rise to the top.

And in this case it’ll mean John Still’s men will be at the division’s summit come next May.

Here’s our League Two season prediction…

Champions: Luton (6/1 to win League Two)

A late season collapse put paid to Luton’s play-off hopes last term but there should be no such mistake this time around.

The Hatters failed to score in six of their final 13 games of the season but with the likes of Josh McQuoid and Craig Mackail-Smith – re-united with former mentor Still – they should blast the opposition away.

Runners-Up: Portsmouth (8/11 to be promoted)

Ah, Pompey. The pre-season favourites in each of the last two campaigns have flattered to deceive.

But with former Chesterfield supremo Paul Cook at the helm they now possess a manager who knows what it takes to escape the basement.

Losing Jed Wallace to Wolves is a blow but the south coast club have recruited well and can finally go up if they improve upon last season’s paltry total of just three away wins.

Automatic Promotion: Cambridge (4/1 to finish in the top three)

Signing striker Barry Corr from Southend is a big signal of intent by Cambridge manager Richard Money.

His U’s outfit are many people’s dark horses this season and we’re smitten too, given the quality brought into the Abbey Stadium.

Play-Offs:

Oxford (9/5 to be promoted) have struggled to justify their pre-season hype in recent years but Michael Appleton has now had a full summer to mould his own team and there were signs late last term that United can finally gain some momentum.

Leyton Orient (12/1 to win the play-offs) have cleared their underachieving deadwood while Plymouth (4/1 to qualify for the play-offs) have also retained a strong core, including top marksman Reuben Reid.

Wycombe (2/1 to finish in the top seven) were a penalty shootout away from promotion in May. And despite their financial limitations, boss Gareth Ainsworth knows how to work the loan market and has brought in another crop of exciting youngsters, including Jason Banton from Plymouth and talented midfielder Luke O’Nien from Watford.

Relegation:

Accrington are often the bookies’ pick in this market but we think there are better alternatives.

Terry Butcher faces a mammoth task at Newport (4/1) with the south Wales club badly tailing off last term and their squad looks weaker on paper.

Mansfield (6/1) were toothless in attack in 2014-15 and we think they’re only heading one way unless Craig Westcarr and Matt Green can rediscover their scoring touch.

Top Scorer Best Bet: Matt Tubbs (6/1)

Defending Golden Boot holder Matt Tubbs bagged 21 goals playing for AFC Wimbledon and Pompey last term and while this isn’t an imaginative selection, it should reap rewards.

Tubbs will get plenty of service in a team of likely high-flyers and has proven pedigree at this level.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.

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