Play-off final betting tips: All eyes on Wembley for promotion deciders
Published:
Spring Bank Holiday weekend is one of the highlights of the English football calendar as Wembley hosts the play-off finals in all three divisions in the EFL.
The stakes could not be higher with three promotion places to be decided and we have picked out play-off final betting tips for the season finale in the Championship, League One and League Two.
Coventry v Luton (Sat, 4.45pm)
These two teams were together in League Two as recently as the 2017-18 season and a fairytale return to the top flight will be complete for one of them this weekend in a Championship play-off final which conjures up memories of cup finals from the 1980s at the old Wembley.
Third-placed Luton ended the season 10 points above Coventry and came from behind to beat Sunderland 3-2 on aggregate, while the Sky Blues are yet to concede in the play-offs after edging out Middlesbrough 1-0 on aggregate.
Que sera, sera! 🏟️ pic.twitter.com/JsmPnQqknQ
— Coventry City (@Coventry_City) May 19, 2023
Both meetings during the regular season were drawn while these were the two lowest-scoring teams in the top six so a cagey contest can be expected, as is the norm with so much at stake.
The last 10 Championship play-off finals have only produced 15 goals while half of them ended 1-0 so under 1.5 goals in 90 minutes looks the value pick at 33/20 for our play-off final betting tips.
Punters looking for bigger odds can back Luton to win 1-0 at 6/1 or Coventry by the same scoreline at 7/1.
Barnsley v Sheffield Wednesday (Mon, 3pm)
The League One play-off final is a South Yorkshire derby and both sets of fans will be desperate to earn the bragging rights for the return journey back up the M1.
Sheffield Wednesday have already made play-off history, first by being involved despite amassing 96 points during the regular season, and then losing 4-0 in the first leg to Peterborough before producing a famous comeback to eventually triumph on penalties at Hillsborough.
THEY'VE DONE IT!!!!
IN THE 98TH MINUTE SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY COMPLETE THE COMEBACK 🔥 pic.twitter.com/hucn8yQLjR
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) May 18, 2023
Barnsley, who beat Bolton 2-1 on aggregate, finished 10 points behind Wednesday but did the double over their neighbours with a 2-0 win at Hillsborough in September and a 4-2 victory at Oakwell in March.
That makes them a tempting selection at 13/10 to be promoted while 12/5 to win in 90 minutes is added to our play-off final betting tips.
Carlisle v Stockport (Sun, 1.30pm)
It is fourth against fifth in the League Two showpiece after Stockport and Carlisle got past Salford and Bradford respectively, although both needed extra-time and County went to penalties.
Stockport finished three points above the Cumbrians and had the best goal difference in the division while they ended the regular campaign on a 13-match unbeaten run and with only one defeat in their last 20 games.
Inject it 💉💉
Was it ever in any doubt 🤷🏻♂️#StockportCounty pic.twitter.com/iGmji0FO6K
— Stockport County (@StockportCounty) May 20, 2023
That included a 2-2 draw at Carlisle while they were 2-0 winners in the reverse fixture at Edgeley Park so they look worthy favourites at 7/10 in the League Two play-off final betting.
Stockport manager Dave Challinor has become something of a promotion specialist with six in his 13-year managerial career and we fancy him to add to those successes with victory in 90 minutes at 7/5.
Only two of Carlisle’s 10 defeats this season have been by more than a one-goal margin though so a Stockport win by one goal at 29/10 completes our play-off final betting tips.
View the latest football odds
All odds and markets correct as of date of publication
