Serie B, everyone's chasing Palermo: the favorites for promotion

Alberto Dalla Palma

The Serie B season is all set for the start of Friday, August 22nd, with the match between Pescara and Cesena. The season is scheduled to conclude on May 10th, 2026, with playoffs and playouts to determine the third-placed team and the last relegation spot. So, let's find out the Serie B favorite odds.

Last season ended with direct promotions for Sassuolo, who won the league title, and Pisa, who were then joined by Cremonese, who made it through the playoffs. Now, the starting grid also includes the three teams relegated from Serie A, ready to battle for promotion: Venezia, Monza, and Empoli. But beware, because the bookies at major betting sites have one team clearly favored over their rivals: Palermo , led by Pippo Inzaghi, a promotion specialist, recently hired by Football City Group to advance to Serie A after last season's disappointment. Dionisi, in fact, failed to achieve this feat and has thus made way for the 2006 World Cup winner.

Palermo's Serie B title win is on the board at odds of 3.00 on Netbet , 2.75 on Starcasinò , and 2.50 on Betflag . The arrival of a new coach and the high-profile transfers have put the Rosanero in pole position, and their strength was also evident in the friendly against Guardiola's City in a sold-out stadium. The promise of a high-level season and great success is therefore in place.

Behind Palermo is one of the clubs recently relegated from Serie A that appears better equipped than the others. It's Giovanni Stroppa's Venezia , another top-flight specialist: in recent seasons, he led Monza and Cremonese to Serie A. The Venetians are trading at 4.50 on Netbet and Starcasinò, 5.00 on Betflag. Empoli , completely revamped by president Corsi, who raised money by selling all his star players, are trading at 7.00 on Netbet, 6.50 on Starcasinò, and 6.00 on Betflag.

Of the three teams relegated from Serie A, bookies predict Monza is the last one capable of winning the championship, despite the arrival of new American ownership: odds of 10.00 on Starcasinò, 8.50 on Netbet, and 8.00 on Betflag. The two Ligurian clubs are also being highly considered by bookies: Spezia is hovering between 6.00 and 8.00, while Sampdoria is placed between 10.00 and 12.00.