EFL Cup Round 2 Bracket Prediction and Odds: Who Advances in 2024?

EFL Cup Round Two Bracket Prediction: 2024

The EFL Cup, or Carabao Cup as it is also known, is one of four domestic trophies up for grabs in English soccer. With the first round in the books, we look at the round two matchups and predict who will continue their journey. There are lots of great matchups to sink your teeth into, including two games featuring an all-Premier League contest.

Have all the intel you need? Free actionable info is one click away! Sign up for our daily newsletter.

EFL Cup Round Predictions

Middlesbrough (-130) vs Stoke City (+300)
Middlesbrough Win: In an all-championship matchup, Middlesbrough is good defensively, and home-field advantage will see them move on. 

Queens Park Rangers (+190) vs Luton (+125)
QPR Win: Both teams have stumbled to begin the season. Luton may still be feeling the effects of dropping to the lower division, and QPR has looked a little better. I got QPR winning.

Barrow (+390) vs Derby County (-165)
Barrow Win: Cup competitions are full of upsets, and I’m picking one here. Derby has a hard match against Watford just three days before. A bit tired and on the road means their cup run ends here. 

Grimsby Town (+450) vs Sheffield Wednesday (-195)
Sheffield Wednesday Win: Sheffield Wednesday has looked a little like Jekyll and Hyde to start the year, but the difference in quality is too stark, and Sheffield Wednesday’s manager, Danny Rohl, is good enough to push the advantage. 

Harrogate Town (+390) vs Preston North End (-165)
Preston North End Win: Neither team is setting the world on fire, with both failing to win a match in their respective leagues. Preston has more top-end talent, and their performance against Sunderland in round one showed their ability. 

Stay ahead of the game and elevate your sports betting experience with SportsGrid.

Coventry City (-175) vs Oxford United (+410)
Coventry City Win: Coventry has already beaten Oxford United in their second league match. Just 11 days later, they’ll play a rubber match in the EFL Cup. The result will be the same: Coventry will win and continue their quest for the cup.

Brighton & Hove Albion (-600) vs Crawley Town (+1100)
Brighton Win: Crawley has looked strong in their league so far, with two wins on the bounce. The draw was just unkind to them; Brighton is a strong team that just thrashed Everton. Brighton will make short work of Crawley. 

Walsall (+300) vs Huddersfield Town (-140)
Walsall Win: Walsall is joint top of the fourth level of the English football league system, while Huddersfield is joint top in the third. Despite their being a league of difference, I’ve liked how Walsall has attacked games. Being at home, I back them to win this match.

Everton (-340) vs Doncaster Rovers (+650)
Everton Win: Despite a bad loss to Brighton in the Premier League, Everton is still a top side with talent in the squad. They’ll be motivated to give a better account of themselves and this Cup game will be a platform.

Fleetwood Town (+210) vs Rotherham United (+105)
Fleetwood Win: When it comes to teams in the lower division, the home atmosphere provides a lot. It can galvanize a squad, or take a team completely out of the game. These teams are not too far apart in ability, so I’ll give the edge to the home side and go with Fleetwood Town.

Blackburn Rovers (-130) vs Blackpool (+300)
Blackburn Rovers Win: Blackburn has yet to lose a match, and Blackpool look far from their best. Playing at home, the Championship side won’t slip against inferior competition. 

Shrewsbury Town (+270) vs Bolton Wanderers (-110)
Bolton Wanderers Win: Both playing in League 1 this game should feel a lot closer than it does. Shrewsbury have been poor in the league, and needed penalties to advance in the EFL Cup. Bolton on the other hand have offered a lot more.

Millwall (-160) vs Leyton Orient (+370)
Millwall Win: Both teams are winless, but Millwall has a lot more firepower. In addition to the fact that they’ll be playing at The Den, the Lions will win for their home fans. 

Watford (-145) vs Plymouth Argyle (+340)
Watford Win: Watford is one of the best teams in the Championship, while Plymouth sits near the bottom. At home, Watford has already scored eight goals thus far and will add a handful to that here.

Leicester City (-340) vs Tranmere Rovers (+650)
Leicester City Win: Back in the Premier League after winning the Championship, the Foxes showed how dangerous they are against Spurs in their first league match. Jamie Vardy still loves a party, and the Rovers have no chance at the King Power Stadium.

Barnsley (+230) vs Sheffield United (-105)
Sheffield United Win: Two middle-table clubs in their respective divisions, Barnsley has not shown enough to believe that they’ll be able to close the talent gap that exists between them and Sheffield United. 

Birmingham City (+410) vs Fulham (-175)
Fulham Win: The London club has solidified itself as a Premier League club. With a great manager and exciting players, they are a tough team for even the elite to play against. Fulham will have no problem dispatching Birmingham City.

Crystal Palace (-195) vs Norwich City (+450)
Crystal Palace Win: Crystal Palace has a talented team. With the transfer window approaching, it is still up in the air who will stay, but they have a well-rounded roster that plays good soccer. At home, I don’t believe Norwich will give them more than they can handle.

Wolverhampton Wanderers (-145) vs Burnley (+350)
Wolves Win: Wolverhampton had a tough opening day against Arsenal. With a talented squad and a manager in Gary O’Neil, who is adept at setting up to win games, they should easily beat Burnley.

AFC Wimbledon (+500) vs Ipswich Town (-250)
AFC Wimbledon Win: Wimbledon would shock the world if they upset Ipswich Town. Ipswich has played expansive football to get to the top flight. They play Man City before this match, and their squad just may not have the juice. Meanwhile, Wimbledon will be at home and motivated. 

West Ham (+110) vs Bournemouth (+190)
West Ham Win: West Ham will be at home in one of the two all-Premier League matchups. Bournemouth lost their starting striker in the transfer window and will struggle to keep up against the Hammers. 

Colchester United (+800) vs Brentford (-370)
Brentford Win: Brentford just has too much quality, and it looks like Ivan Toney is going to stay. Manager Thomas Frank continues to get the best out of his squad and will have them set up for success. The Bees are too good to lose to Colchester. 

Cardiff City (+370) vs Southampton (-160)
Southampton Win: Cardiff has let in seven goals in the league and has yet to win a game. Even playing at home will not be enough to overcome a Southampton squad that plays in the league above them.

Swansea City (-175) vs Wycombe Wanderers (+410)
Swansea City Win: Swansea has shown a lethal attack, beating Preston 3-0, while Wycombe Wanderers have not won a game and have conceded six. At home, Swansea will pile on the pressure and cruise to a win. 

Nottingham Forest (+220) Newcastle (+100)
Newcastle Win: This is the second of the all-Premier League matchups. Both of these teams have seen new ownership turn their fortunes around in recent years. Newcastle has built a stronger base with a deep squad that will win this game.