Football Season Handicap Betting 2026/27

Bookmakers have finally published season handicap betting markets for all four of the major domestic football leagues. You know what that means, right?!

This is now my sixteenth year writing about season handicap betting. It began with THIS POST in July 2010, in which I wrote about having a punt on the Premier League handicap market. The coverage has since evolved to the point where I write about my methods wagering on the top four divisions in English football.

Before I begin, it's worth explaining what season handicap betting is. Then I'll get to the method I currently use to secure my betting selections.

What Is Season Handicap Betting?

You may have seen a market called 'Season Handicap Winner' when you've browsed bookmakers' outright offerings for the Premier League right through to League Two.  

This genre of long-term market sees bookmakers giving every team in a respective league a fictional points start. Then, once the entire season has concluded, the fictional points are added to the actual points for each team to determine which side tops the season handicap table.

The strongest team in the league is often given zero points. Obviously the team with the longest odds of winning a regular outright season winner market gets a more generous offering of points.

How I Pick My Selections

I have a process where I work out what the average finishing points are per each position in a league table.

For example, in the Premier League, the division winners have accumulated an average of eighty-nine points since the 2004/05 season. On the other side of the scale, the team at the bottom of the table have only earned an average of twenty-five points across a regular Premier League year.

So, with the points per position knowledge for the Premier League through to League 2, I then have to sort each team in their predicted finishing order.

I've used a handful of different methods to work out how the actual league tables will finish BEFORE applying each teams' handicap points.

One of the earliest approaches was to buy the Racing and Football Outlook preview guides, work out where the newspaper's writers expected teams to finish and then work out a table using those predictions.

I've also simply ranked the team in the order bookmakers have the leagues priced up in their regular outright markets.

Most recently, I have began to use AI assistants to make their final prediction tables. 

What Happens Then?

I open up the spreadsheet, place the teams in the predicted order the AI assistant has given me. I then apply the handicap points next to each team. Once that's done, their handicap points and the average position points are added together allowing me to sort the table and work out which teams top the table. I focus on the top four because I place each-way bets which pay out to four places.

Premier League Season Handicap Predictions

For this year's season handicap post, I've asked ChatGPT to give me its predicted finishing tables for all four leagues. I did so by asking to come up with results using a 'Football Manager-style simulation'.

It guesses that the league will be won by Liverpool. It forecasts Arsenal, Manchester City and Chelsea to finish consecutively below them.

Liverpool have been given seven points. With that number added to average, their total is ninety-six. That was enough to have them sat atop of the predicted handicap table for the 2026/27 season.

Below Liverpool are Newcastle United (89 total), Arsenal (82 total) and Chelsea (80 total) for those thinking about placing each-way bets on any of the first four.

My selection: I'm going to play it 'safe', or as safe as you can be in a crapshoot concept like season handicap betting, by taking Liverpool.

Championship Season Handicap Predictions

ChatGPT has Burnley to be finish first in the Championship this coming season. Going by the regular outright market, The Clarets are third-favourites. In handicap wagering, the bookies have given them a nine-point head-start making a forecasted total of ninety-two.

Burnley's 92 points places them third in the predicted finishing table. West Bromwich Albion are on top thanks to a 26-point handicap plus a projected points haul of sixty-nine from finishing eighth.

West Ham United, who are favourites to win in the regular outright market, were also ChatGPT's pick to get immediate promotion. Ninety-four points is the average for finishing top of the division. The Hammers will kick off with a zero-point head-start because of how fancied they are.

Wolverhampton Wanderers finished joint-second in the predicted finishing table. ChatGPT had them being the second team to be automatically promoted to the Premier League. Finishing in second has an average points score of 88. Add on their six-point start and that positions them alongside West Ham - with 92 points apiece - in the projected table.

My Selection: I'm taking the 26 points with West Brom, but I am doing so reluctantly. I feel West Ham is the play, but I dislike not getting points. A 26-point cushion is more appealing.

League 1 Season Handicap Predictions

Reading are top of the projected table for League 1. ChatGPT has them finishing fifth in the actual league. That position has an average of seventy-nine points. Add on the 18 given by the sportsbooks and that takes the season handicap projection to 97.

The AI assistant predicts Leicester City will be the overall winner of League 1. That placement has an average of 96 points. As favourites, in the handicap market, the Foxes will have to rely on their actual points tally because they have a 0 handicap. They're in joint-second in the projected table. 

Sharing number two spot, beside Leicester, is the Luton Town selection. ChatGPT's simulation of League 2 has Luton finishing second. They have a seven-point head-start added to the 89 points for a second-placed finish.

Huddersfield have been given ten points by the bookies. Tallied up with their predicted finishing points of 84 - for finishing third - they are next on the season handicap predicted table with 94.

My selection: Laser-focused on the 18 point advantage, I'm picking Reading even though they're twelve in the actual outright markets.

League 2 Season Handicap Predictions

ChatGPT has given Exeter City a fourth-placed finish, in its simulation of the 2026/27 season for League 2. That position has an average score of 79 points. As for the season handicap - betting firms list Exeter in the middle of the pack and have assigned them 20 points. The 99 point total was enough to place Exeter at the top of my predicted season handicap table for this league.

Rotherham are currently a top price of 16/1 to win the league in the outright market for League 2. The AI assistant reckons they'll do so and, as a result, Rotherham's 9 point head-start is added to the 88 for a first-place finish leaving them with 97 and second behind Exeter in the projected season handicap table.

Crewe, who ChatGPT expects will finish fifth in the division, follow Exeter and Rotherham with 93 points via their 17-point handicap plus 76 for the finishing position.

Port Vale's 7 points was enough to see them fourth in the projected table. ChatGPT has The Valiants' 2026/27 campaign ending as runners-up. Teams which finish in second have done so with an average of eighty-four points.

My Selection: By now, I'm sure you won't be surprised to see I'm taking the double digits. I'm going with Exeter City +20.

Don't Forget (Plus a Cheap Plug)

One thing I make sure to point out every year, when I write these season handicap betting posts, is to reiterate that season handicap betting is a crapshoot. I've lost more times than I've won. I simply do these wagers as something to follow as the season is in progress.

Bet sensibly. Bet wisely.

Before I finish, I'd like to plug a book I've written for another kind of football.

Taylor's Pro Football Gambling Guide 2026 takes a look at every regular season game for the upcoming NFL season. As well as the week-by-week trends and stats, I have chapters covering other betting angles to consider from September through to January.

You can read more about it on THIS PAGE or purchase it from THESE BOOKSTORES.

Rhyfeloedd Seren (That's 'Star Wars' In Welsh)

There's been some really cool news for my country in the news over the past day.

Star Wars is being given the Welsh treatment. Yep, almost fifty years since the movie first came out, the OG Star Wars movie - 1977's Episode VI: A New Hope ('Gobaith Newydd) - is set to be dubbed into the Welsh language and will air on S4C over Christmas.

Matthew Rhys will lend his voice to that of Han Solo, originally played by Harrison Ford in the movies. Also cast are Aimee-Ffion Edwards (Princess Leia), Osian Morgan (Luke Skywalker), Mark Lewis Jones (Darth Vader) and Rhys Ifans (Obi Wan Kenobi).

Even though I don't understand Welsh, I will tune in on Christmas Day. I'd like to see - and hear! - how this will play out. 

I Try Cherry Pepper Schweppes

If you've visited the blog at any point within the past year, I'm sure you would have came across a post or two about cherry-flavoured Colas. I published a post about Coca-Cola's new Cherry Float flavour in March. It was just a few days ago when I wrote about Pepsi's Cherry and Vanilla offering.

It's from searching for those cherry drinks which led me to come across a Schweppes flavour which intrigued me.

Cherry Pepper!? It had to be done.

Buying Cherry Pepper Schweppes

I bought my Cherry Pepper Schweppes from Asda. As of August 4th 2026, the supermarket is selling a case of twelve 150ml cans. These cases are also available on Amazon through Morrisons.

Another option is to look for Schweppes in 200ml glass bottles. There are crates of twenty-four out there in the wild.

Sampling Cherry Pepper Schweppes

After popping open the can, the first thing which struck me was the drink's strong cherry aroma. It was reminiscent of Haribo Cherries. I'm sure I've compared other cherry drinks with those jelly sweets in the past. Apologies for recycling an old take, but that is exactly what initially struck me once the flavour was released.

With that said - after taking the first sip, I was no longer reminded of the Haribo sweets. I thought 'Cherry 7-Up'. That was followed by.... a sneeze! I doubt it had anything to do with the 'pepper', however. 

After following sip one with a couple more mini swigs, something dawned on me: I didn't sense much pepper. Cherry overpowered it.

It was only after finishing off the entire can when I noticed a mild peppery taste in my mouth. Seeing as I signed up for a mix of cherry and pepper,  but feel like the cherry's domination negated the peppery aspect of the drink.

I highly doubt I'd go out of my way to buy this flavour again. But, that's okay. Even though it can be served as a refreshing non-alcoholic pop, I believe Cherry Pepper Schweppes is best served as a mixer to alcohol or as a mocktail.

To close, I'll share a couple of cocktail ideas I have for this mixer flavour.

Cocktails for Cherry Pepper Schweppes

The Dark Pepper Stepper

Ingredients: 50ml dark rum, mint leaves, 150ml can of Cherry Pepper Schweppes

Method: Clap the mint leaves over the glass to release the oils and drop them into the glass, add ice, pour in the rum and top up with the Schweppes

Garnish: Top with a sprig of the fresh mint

Cherry & Black Pepper Spice

Ingredients: 50ml Bourbon or rye whiskey, 150ml can of Schweppes Cherry Pepper flavour, fresh lime juice

Method: Fill a highball with ice, pour in the alcohol and lime juice, top with the Schweppes and stir

Garnish: Use a lime slice or cherries (not Haribo Cherries!)

Wales Takes A Stand Against Infantino

The Football Association of Wales is apparently the first to officially withdraw its support for FIFA President - Gianni Infantino. 

The move takes away one vote of confidence for the head's hopes of re-election.

More FAs are sure to follow suit. I'm actually both surprised and happy it's my own country's FA that did it first.

What Wales Has Stated About Gianni Infantino

The recent failures in good governance, processes, leadership, values, stakeholder management, communications and sound judgement have led us to a position where Mr Infantino has lost the confidence of the FAW to remain at the helm of world football

Failing to put the best interests of football first is a failure we cannot accept

Taysom Hill And The Broncos

In a short follow up to Thursday's post, it looks like Taysom Hill could be on his way to play for the Denver Broncos.

Upon reading that news last night, I immediately thought 'OF COURSE!' to myself.

Hill played under the Broncos' head coach - Sean Payton - for many years. It was so obvious that would be one of his potential next destination. If an agreement can be reached, of course.

I love the prospect of Taysom Hill coming in for plays on that offence. Definitely something to look forward to.

Speaking of 'looking forward' - it's now six weeks until the start of the 2026 regular season. From next Sunday we can start using one hand to countdown.

Buy Taylor's Pro Football Gambling Annual 2026

I Try Cherry & Vanilla Pepsi

The trilogy is complete!

In early July, I mentioned that Pepsi had released a trio of new sugar free drinks. The three flavours all have an ice cream theme. The first one I tried was Rasperry Ripple. That was followed by the surprisingly nice Salted Caramel. Cherry & Vanilla eluded me because it was unavailable on the two attempts.

Well, third time lucky. And all that.

As I've written in the past, I enjoy cherry colas. I also have a fondness for vanilla-flavoured Coca-Cola and even enjoyed Cherry Float Coke earlier this year. I felt that there was a good chance I'd enjoy Pepsi's take on a fruit and vanilla collision.

Unfortunately, even though I found the drink to be refreshing, it didn't live up to my hopes. 

The flavours didn't seem to complement each other in Pepsi's version as they do with the Coca-Cola variety. However, with all that said, there is something that might explain it.

After trying regular Cherry Float Coca-Cola earlier this year, I tried the zero sugar version a little over a week later.  I didn't find it to be as enjoyable as the fuller flavoured one. It's worth pointing out that these Pepsis are all sugar free as well, so maybe there's something to conclude from the two experiences.

It's possible I would have enjoyed a full fat Cherry and Vanilla Pepsi.

Now that I've tried all three, it's time to rank all three flavours. From worst to first. To be fair, if you've read all three posts, I'm sure you'd have worked it out already. 

Ranking the three new Pepsi flavours for Summer 2026

3. Cherry and Vanilla

2. Raspberry Ripple

1. Salted Caramel

The Stand

How Can Gianni Infantino and FIFA Get Out Of This One?

UEFA showed a lot of balls yesterday, when the football governing body stood up against FIFA's plans to offer up the World Cup to private investors. 

Such a proposal could bring around $20 Billion more to FIFA. 

The idea appears to have caught all of the football bodies off by guard. Many are evidently against the proposal but some might be tempted by the monetary reward FIFA's president - Gianni Infantino - has waved towards those whose okay he is looking to secure.

A lot of balls

UEFA has made it clear. No European team will be involved in anything relating to FIFA until such an enterprise is nixed.

Could you imagine a World Cup tournament without any European representation? To put it in current context: the 2026 World Cup had three of the four semi-finalists came from teams under the UEFA umbrella.

So far joining UEFA, in this stand against FIFA, are CONCACAF (The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football) and the Asian Football Confederation.

As well as that - in the midst of writing this post, news that someone high up at FIFA has resigned in protest at the move has filtered in.

Carlos Cordeiro - senior advisor to Infantino at FIFA - has left his post. In his resignation letter, he wrote 'As a senior advisor to the FIFA President, a former banker and lifelong football fan, I cannot stand by while FIFA considers selling a stake in the World Cup.'

The figurative rats are jumping ship. Let's hope the captain does the right thing.