Stockport County were beaten 3-1 by Luton Town in last season's EFL Trophy, but the beaten finalists look well-equipped for another long run in the competition and appear overpriced to win it for the first time in their history.
There is a wide-open feel to the 2026/27 EFL Trophy with only two clubs, 5/1 favourites Leicester City and 7/1 Sheffield Wednesday, chalked up at single-figure odds.
However, League One clubs have dominated in recent years and the trend continued in 2025/26 with eight third-tier teams making it through to the quarter-finals.
Luton have the opportunity to defend the trophy and follow in the footsteps of Peterborough United, who won the competition in 2024 and 2025.
EFL Trophy Tips Summary
Best Bet - Stockport to win the EFL Trophy @ 14/1
Alternative Bet - MK Dons to win the EFL Trophy @ 12/1
Alternative Bet - Bradford to win the EFL Trophy @ 20/1
EFL Trophy Prediction
Best Bet: Stockport to win the EFL Trophy @ 14/1
Stockport came up short on two massive Wembley occasions last season, losing 3-1 to Luton in the EFL Trophy final and 4-1 to Bolton in the League One play-off final.
The Hatters were forced into a change of manager when Dave Challinor stepped down from the role shortly after the play-off final defeat.
But they moved swiftly to snap up Jimmy McNulty from Rochdale and, at this stage, they must be delighted with their decision.
Stockport gave a superb performance in Saturday’s League One opener at Plymouth Argyle when cruising to a well-deserved 3-1 success.
McNulty made his mark at Rochdale by steering them back to the football league in impressive fashion.
His Dale side racked up 106 points in the National League, before clinching promotion via the play-offs.
McNulty was able to achieve consistent results with an attacking style of football and his philosophy is already having a positive impact with Stockport, who are playing with a clear identity
Stockport’s dominant weekend performance at Plymouth - one of the team’s widely tipped for promotion - has ensured McNulty an immediate buy-in from the club’s fans.
McNulty has assembled a strong squad with the ability to compete on multiple fronts and could be celebrating with some silverware by the end of the campaign.
Alternative Bet: MK Dons to win the EFL Trophy @ 12/1
MK Dons made their only appearance in an EFL Trophy final back in 2008 when they were 2-0 Wembley winners against Grimsby.
But the Dons have landed a decent draw - alongside Bromley, Crawley and Brentford Under-21s in Southern Group H - and they look ready to mount a sustained challenge.
The main priority for Dons manager Paul Warne is to get the club challenging for a second successive promotion.
But Warne won the EFL Trophy as Rotherham manager in 2021/22 and his Dons squad looks strong enough to mount a challenge this term.
MK Dons have been ambitious in the transfer market and their depth of resources was evident in Saturday’s 2-2 draw at Oxford United where their stacked substitutes bench included seasoned professionals Callum Paterson and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing.
Warne has built a group with significant competition for places and that should be key to mounting a strong EFL Trophy challenge.
Alternative Bet: Bradford to win the EFL Trophy @ 20/1
Bradford reached the EFL Trophy semi-finals as a League Two side in the 2024/25 campaign before bowing out with a 2-1 loss away to Birmingham City.
Last season, as a League One club, the Bantams lost 3-0 away to Bolton Wanderers in the round of 32.
Graham Alexander’s side look better equipped for this season and, while League One games will be their main priority, they are not to be taken lightly in the cups.
Bradford were losing play-off semi-finalists last season but have dispelled any notion of a hangover by posting back-to-back 2-0 home wins - against Rochdale in the EFL Cup and Peterborough in the third tier.
And the quality of their bench showed against the Posh with substitutes Adam Phillips and Nick Powell combining for the second goal.
Alexander is understandably delighted by his team’s start to the season and there is scope for his team to mount an EFL Trophy challenge alongside another push for promotion.
Key Tournament Stats
The last six EFL Trophy finals have all been contested by League One clubs
Of the teams competing in this season’s competition, three-time winners Peterborough have been the most successful
Salford were the last League Two club to get their hands on the trophy in 2020
Carlisle United have appeared in the most EFL Trophy finals (W2 L4)
Luton won this competition in 2009 and 2026
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
