Supercomputer issues fresh 2026/27 EFL League One final table prediction | OneFootball

How does Opta think the final League One table will look, just seven games in

We've hit the first international break of the season, and while not all League One sides are pausing for three weeks, it provides the first window of opportunity to reflect on the busy season thus far.

All teams, barring Reading and Oxford United, have played seven league games, providing us with a good sample size to judge them from.

That being said, this division has been as unpredictable as ever, so predicting what the final table will look like on May 8th after these seven games is nearly impossible. But what does Opta's supercomputer think?

Football League World has taken a look to find out.

24 ? ? Wigan Athletic

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After seven games, Wigan Athletic sit bottom of League One, and despite Opta's expected table stating they should be seventh, the supercomputer feels the failing of the underlying numbers won't rectify itself over the course of the campaign.

The Tics have failed to score in five of their seven league outings thus far, despite creating the fifth-highest expected goals tally. No side in the entire EFL has underperformed their expected numbers as much.

Wigan haven't been in the fourth division since the 1981/82 campaign, and unless they kick on from this slow start, they'll be staring down the barrel of that. Opta thinks that there'll be more frustration coming at the Brick Community Stadium between now and May.

23 ? ? Peterborough United

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Like Wigan, Opta believes that Peterborough United will be sitting in the same position come the end of the season. Posh have also won just one of their opening seven games, with the lowest goal tally in the entire division.

The most recent loss to Doncaster Rovers led to Luke Williams being sacked, just days after he cut the exact opposite of an impassioned figure following their EFL Cup third-round win against Barnsley - a decision many of the fanbase felt was coming off the back of that.

11 months ago, Williams was brought in to help Peterborough climb out of the drop zone after a disastrous start under Darren Ferguson. This time round, though, the supercomputer feels whoever comes in to replace the former Swansea City and Notts County boss won't have the same impact.

22 ? ? Bromley

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It's been a real up-and-down start to life in League One for the first time in Bromley's history. From a shock win on the opening day at Barnsley to shipping 12 across two games against Sheffield Wednesday and Leyton Orient, to then becoming the first side to hand Huddersfield Town a league loss last weekend.

That most recent result against the Terriers proved that Andy Woodman's side really aren't here to just make up the numbers, and their performances at Hayes Lane will still be strong and resolute, despite the 5-0 hammering against Orient.

However, despite that, Opta still fears the worst when it comes to their survival chances. It's been a spirited effort thus far, but whether they can maintain that across another 39 games is still to be seen.

21 ? ? AFC Wimbledon

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AFC Wimbledon are currently sitting seventh after seven games, but Opta doesn't think this strong start can be sustainable for Jonnie Jackson's side at all, and actually has them sliding down 14 places into the final relegation spot.

The Dons have kept five clean sheets in their seven outings, which is exactly what they need to do to avoid the drop as, going forward, they haven't created much, scoring five times all year.

They've been the beneficiaries of poor finishing from opponents in wins against Wigan and Doncaster, but even then, they're well organised and are showing signs of that defensive grit which was present in their promotion to League One, but was absent last year.

A good start can often provide a good enough barrier to stay afloat if results drop, but with just four points seperating them from 20th, a few poor games could see them sink.

20 ? ? MK Dons

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Being the side to finish above AFC Wimbledon to send them down would be pretty sweet for MK Dons. However, a 20th-placed finish after all the hype surrounding Paul Warne's side pre-season would be a massive disappointment.

Milton Keynes haven't gotten going at all yet. They're one of two sides in all three EFL leagues still yet to win, with the one positive being that at least they've only lost once. Indeed, six of their seven outings have ended level.

They aren't exactly blowing teams away in those draws, though, and while the expectations of the newly-promoted side are bigger than any normal League Two club, the quality of players on the pitch warrants that — hence the reaction thus far.

Some critics feel that it should only be a matter of time before things start to click. Opta thinks otherwise, but it won't be as disastrous as it would be if they were in the bottom four.

19 ? ? Barnsley

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Daniel Stendel's return to Barnsley has been a rocky one. The performance levels have been okay, but the massive inexperience throughout the side has meant that the results haven't matched that thus far.

The Tykes have spent more time in the opposition's box than any other side in the division thus far, but are around mid-table when it comes to creating chances, and near the bottom when it comes to scoring goals.

Defensively, it's not been as disastrous as it was last season, but Barnsley are still conceding more than the league average, and that 5-1 home loss against Stevenage is still lingering, too.

It's clear what Stendel's trying to do, but barring Reyes Cleary, he doesn't have the quality of personnel to put it off. 19th is a far cry from the 2nd-place finish he achieved at Oakwell during his last stint.

18 ? ? Notts County

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Despite currently sitting 20th, Notts County have done very well to amass seven points and lose just twice, given how tough their opening run of games has been. Consecutive losses over the past couple of weeks aren't ideal, but against Bradford City and Reading, they can be excused.

What's even more impressive is that Martin Paterson's side haven't scored first in any of their games so far. They've gone behind in all seven, but stayed in games and battled to win back points in five of those.

It doesn't get easier after this international break, either, but you get the feeling that, once Notts face some sides who are sitting a little closer to them in the table, they'll be able to have enough about them to pick up some more wins.

The supercomputer thinks so, at least, with a more than respectable 18th position in their first year back at the level since 2013/14.

17 ? ? Leyton Orient

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According to Opta's expected table, Leyton Orient currently reside in 23rd, with Bromley the only side posting worse underlying numbers.

Richie Wellens' side are overperforming their expected goals by a landslide. Their 13 so far this season have come from just 6.8 expected, with their 5-0 win at Bromley seeing them post just 1.67.

Ultimately, Orient's squad boasts a lot of top attacking talent. Only Jack Marriott has overperformed his personal xG more than Jaze Kabia has so far this season, and Yusuf Akhramrich looks a real handful out wide.

With underlying numbers like these, though, it's understandable why Opta have the O's in the bottom half. That being said, if Leyton Orient can continue to take the chances they create at such a high rate - which they could well do - they have all the scope to finish higher.

16 ? ? Blackpool

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You can't say Blackpool haven't been entertaining to start the season. Ian Evatt's side are a top-five goals-scored side, but a bottom-five goals-conceded side. They've created the sixth-most expected goals, but are marooned at the bottom of the xGA table.

Their place as the early pace setters with seven points from nine was largely down to good goalkeeping from Bailey Peacock-Farrell, especially in that away win at Stockport County, but those numbers are starting to catch up to them.

The Seasiders head into the international break on the back of a run of four games without a win, conceding 11 goals in the process. It's seen Ian Evatt's side slide to 15th, and Opta reckons they'll be around there, if not slightly lower, come May 8th.

15 ? ? Burton Albion

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Burton Albion continue to defy all odds under Gary Bowyer. If you had told Brewers fans, let alone critics, that they'd be sitting 12th at this stage, and that's with a run of one win in five, they'd have likely called you crazy.

They've needed to ride their luck at times. Like Leyton Orient, the Brewers outperform their expected goals by quite some way (scoring 12 from 6.4 expected), but it's worth noting that the chances they give up underperform their goals-against tally thus far, too.

So, the Brewers are as defensively organised as they ever have been under Gary Bowyer, while taking their chances at an impressive rate, too. If things continue as they have been, a 15th-place prediction seems pretty sound, even if something so high hadn't been thought of pre-season.