With the regular season over for the Coca-Cola League One teams, and with the teams who were promoted automatically still celebrating, and you can bet all the attention turns to the playoffs where one more team will emerge victorious and claim their place in the Coca-Cola Championship for the 2008/09 season. The semi-finals are played over two legs and the winner from both ties play a one off final to decide the playoff champion. Both Betfair and Skybet are offering free bets that can be used throughout the playoffs including the first round of matches.

Southend United take on Doncaster Rovers in the first of the semi-final games and it promises to be a close fought encounter with both teams winning their respective home league games against each other. Southend won their home fixture against Doncaster 3-2 whilst Doncaster came out on top at their Keepmoat Stadium, winning 3-1. Southend have tasted Championship football before after they were promoted as League One champions in the 05/06 season but were relegated the following season. Doncaster will be hoping to make amends for their faltering end to the season where a defeat to Cheltenham on the final day of the season cost them an automatic promotion place allowing Nottingham Forest to be promoted in their place.

Leeds United take on Carlisle United in the second semi-final and the Yorkshire outfit have a point to prove after they started the season with minus 15 points which they fought all season to have reinstated. Their quest failed but if it hadn’t they would have been promoted automatically. Leeds won their home fixture in the league against Carlisle by three goals to two but it was Carlisle who took the points back at their Brunton park ground winning by a 3-1 margin. Carlisle had the best home record in League One and will be disappointed that they lost form towards the end of the season as they were in line for an automatic promotion spot until April and a draw on the final day of the season saw them finish their campaign end in 4th spot in the table. On paper Leeds are the in-form team with 5 wins and a draw from their last six games but with a place in the Coca-Cola Championship you can bet anything could happen as every player raises their game and the fans turn out in force to will their team to the next tier of English football.

Betfair and Skybet are offering free bets on the overall winner of the playoffs but also on the matches between the teams including first goalscorer, half and full-time scores, and many more options during each match.