Carlisle United will have to overturn the odds if they are to get their season off to a winning start today.

The Blues kick off 2024/25 with a trip to Gillingham this afternoon.

Paul Simpson's side are 13/5 for victory with SkyBet and 12/5 with Bet365.

Gillingham are short-odds favourites to claim victory in the first game of the League Two season.

The Kent side, under new boss Mark Bonner, are 19/20 with Unibet and 10/11 with SkyBet.

The draw at Priestfield is 27/19 (BetVictor).

Carlisle are chasing a first away win over Gillingham since New Year's Eve 1994, when Dean Walling headed Mick Wadsworth's side to a 1-0 victory.

A repeat of that scoreline in the Cumbrians' favour is 10/1.

Simpson's side are 11/1 to chalk up a 2-1 victory and 45/1 to claim an emphatic 3-0 win.

United's last trip to Gillingham saw a 1-0 defeat in 2023 and the same outcome today is 13/2.

The Gills are 9/1 to win 2-0, while a goalless draw is 10/1.

Charlie Wyke will captain Carlisle in today's opener and the striker is expected to be a key goal threat for the Cumbrians.

The returning frontman is 8/1 to open the scoring this afternoon.

Luke Armstrong is 81/10, with Daniel Adu-Adjei 9/1 to mark his competitive debut with the opener.

Longer shots for the first goal in the Carlisle ranks include Dan Butterworth at 12/1, Jon Mellish 22/1, Harrison Neal 33/1, Josh Vela 22/1, Archie Davies 50/1 and Terell Thomas 50/1.

Gillingham's Jayden Clarke is 13/2 joint favourite to strike first, with fellow frontmen and summer signings Jacob Wakeling and Marcus Wyllie having similar odds.

Wales international Jonny Williams is 11/1 for the hosts to score the first goal, with former Accrington Stanley man Jack Nolan 15/2.

And their long-serving former Carlisle defender, Max Ehmer, is 28/1 to notch first.

Carlisle are 10/3 to keep a clean sheet on the road while Gillingham are 7/4 for a shut-out against the Blues.

Source: Oddschecker