League One outright predictions: Millers to make merry
- Birmingham favourites to go straight back up
- Play-off flops Bolton expected to go well again
- Recommended bet: Rotherham to win League One each-way
The new League One season is being seen as a stroll for Birmingham City but who are the other sides to challenge the St Andrews' giants for glory?
The Blues, in the third tier for the first time in 29 years, have been spending plenty of money on new players in a bid to make sure their League One stay is a brief one.
But fallen giants have a history of struggling to win instant promotion and new boss Chris Davies can expect a stiff challenge from a clutch of other clubs who fancy a challenge for the title.
Birmingham a short price for quick return
Birmingham have been installed 2/1 favourites with LiveScore Bet to win League One and as every expensive new player arrives at St Andrews this summer, it seems their price shortens again.
It was not a massive surprise that Birmingham were relegated in May — they had finished each of their previous seven seasons in the bottom eight of the Championship — but they are spending a small fortune making sure they are not in this division for long.
Of their first seven signings of the summer, four cost over £1m including Austrian defender Christoph Klarer and former Swedish Under-21 winger Emil Hansson.
The Blues were a shambles last year, illustrated by the controversial and seemingly unnecessary appointment of Wayne Rooney, a move which backfired horribly.
Birmingham fans will be hoping the good times return this season, albeit at a level they have not been involved in for a generation.
Bolton looking to bounce back from Wembley woe
Two very good teams — Portsmouth and Derby — pipped Bolton for automatic promotion last season but Ian Evatt's third-placed finishers were fancied to get it right in the play-offs.
After seeing off Barnsley they were then completely bossed by Oxford at Wembley, leaving them to lick their wounds and make sure they finish in the top two this time.
Regarded by many as the best team in League One last season, it is hard to see the 10/1 shots being far away again.
Millers merry with Evans at the tiller
There is a strong chance 11/1 shots Rotherham will give you a good run for your money, given the fact that on the three previous occasions they have been relegated from the Championship, they have gone back up the following season
Steve Evans, a man who has twice before won promotion with the Millers, is back at the helm to go for a hat-trick and more signings of the calibre of Jonson Clarke-Harris will make them a real danger.
Prediction
Hollywood side Wrexham will have their supporters at 12/1 with LiveScore Bet to follow up last season's promotion from League Two with the League One crown and 12/1 Huddersfield will also have interest given they were a Premier League side so recently.
But this is Rotherham's domain. The Millers are masters at getting promoted from this section and at the very least look a strong each-way shout to go up.
