Lewis Knowles: My best 2026/27 outright bet for each division

Betway’s PR Manager makes his outright selections for the football season ahead, with one best bet for each of the top four divisions.

The new football season always brings fresh optimism, bold predictions and plenty of value in the betting markets. Here are my four season-long bets that stand out ahead of the new campaign.

Premier League: Chelsea Top Four Finish – 10/11

Chelsea are now on their 10th permanent manager since the club last won the Premier League in 2017, and that instability has undoubtedly hurt the Blues in recent years, with just one top-four finish in the last four seasons. There are, however, genuine reasons for optimism at Stamford Bridge heading into this campaign.

Things didn’t work out for Xabi Alonso in Madrid, but he wouldn’t be the first manager to struggle with the pressures and politics of the Bernabéu. Judged on his success at Bayer Leverkusen, however, he looks an outstanding appointment.

The arrivals of Danny Welbeck and Jordan Henderson have been the subject of much ridicule from opposition fans, but sensible heads in the Chelsea dressing room are undoubtedly what is needed. Their leadership and experience could prove invaluable for what remains an incredibly young squad.

You can certainly question whether Morgan Rogers is worth the reported £117m Chelsea paid for him, but you cannot question his ability or potential. Alongside Cole Palmer and João Pedro, Alonso has plenty of firepower at his disposal in the final third.

The Blues can fully concentrate on the Premier League this year, with no European football to contend with, and with so much uncertainty surrounding many of their rivals, it is not beyond the realms of possibility that Chelsea could mount a title challenge.

This may well be a season too soon for that, but with Alonso at the helm and, hopefully, some much-needed stability at Stamford Bridge, a top-four finish looks well within their grasp.

Championship: Swansea Top Eight Finish – 11/4

“Mid-table mediocrity” is probably the most accurate description of Swansea’s recent fortunes, with the club finishing between 10th and 15th in each of the last five seasons. There has been very little to excite Jacks fans in recent years, but there are reasons to believe better times are on the horizon in South Wales.

Swansea’s form improved towards the end of last season once Vítor Matos had settled into the role, but changing a team’s style of play and philosophy midway through a campaign is never easy. With a full pre-season under his belt, the Swans could be a completely different animal this season.

Much will depend on whether the club can keep hold of last season’s Championship top scorer Žan Vipotnik, but Ross Stewart is a solid addition. The signings of Elijah Just, Joseph Opoku and Moussa Yeo should also add some much-needed flair and creativity to a side that too often lacked ideas last year.

The loss of promising midfielder Ethan Galbraith is a blow, but Swansea have done some smart business in the transfer market and should be capable of improving on last season’s 11th-place finish. They ended the campaign just five points outside the top eight, and the 11/4 available on them making that jump this time around looks too big to ignore.

League One: Leicester City to Win League One – 9/4

Even by Leicester’s standards, going from Premier League champions to the third tier of English football in the space of 10 years is quite an achievement. However, there are plenty of reasons to believe this will be only a brief stay in League One for the Foxes.

Russell Martin’s stock is admittedly low following a disastrous spell in Scotland last season, but having spent much of both his playing and managerial career at this level, he knows the division well and could prove to be a shrewd appointment by the Leicester hierarchy.

Martin’s possession-based style is no secret, and in Wes Burns and Liam Cullen he has added two players with real quality on the ball, along with a wealth of Championship experience.

The capture of Tommy Watson on a season-long loan from Brighton was another eye-catching addition, and the 20-year-old winger could simply be too good for League One at this stage of his career. Brighton paid Sunderland £10m for Watson last year, and after spending the second half of last season with promotion-chasing Millwall, he looks likely to possess far too much quality for many teams in this division.

With question marks hanging over both Sheffield Wednesday and Luton heading into the new campaign, there appears to be a lack of genuine contenders for the League One title. Leicester should simply have too much quality and firepower as they begin life in English football’s third tier.

League Two: Bristol Rovers to Win League Two – 8/1

If we’re talking about managers who know this level, look no further than Steve Evans. With a whopping nine promotions on his CV, the Scotsman will be hoping to add another by guiding Bristol Rovers back to League One this season.

Evans inherited a huge task last season, taking over in mid-December with the club sitting 23rd following a run of 10 successive defeats. Although the turnaround was far from immediate, the Gas eventually finished comfortably in mid-table after winning 10 of their final 12 league matches.

Momentum is clearly on their side, and many of the key players who sparked that resurgence remain at the club. As a result, Rovers supporters have every reason to feel optimistic heading into the new season.

The additions of Ciaran Kelly and Kofi Balmer to a defence that struggled for consistency throughout last year look like sensible acquisitions, while the abundance of attacking options gives the squad a strong balance heading into the campaign.

Salford appear to be everybody’s fancy for the League Two title following a number of high-profile signings. However, the appointment of an Australian manager with no experience of English football, let alone the lower leagues, makes them readily opposable at the prices.

Bristol Rovers, meanwhile, boast an experienced manager, strong momentum and a squad packed with quality for the level. As a result, the Gas look well placed to mount a serious title challenge this season.

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