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Best bet on the Championship:
EFL Championship betting is expected to be bigger than ever this season as three huge clubs have dropped down from the Premier League.
Leeds, Leicester and Southampton are all desperate to make this a one-season stay in the second tier, and football betting traders are convinced at least one of them will bounce straight back up.
It all kicks off on Friday 4 August when newly-promoted Sheffield Wednesday host Southampton. UK betting sites have released their Championship betting odds and we've sifted through them to pinpoint the best of the bunch.
It’s worth remembering, before we delve into the best Championship odds, that these prices are in constant flux. They haven't changed much in the build-up to the new season but once that first whistle goes the odds won’t stop shifting until May.
Who will win the Championship?
This is the biggest outright pick that unites the bookies in their EFL Championship betting odds. They’re all backing Leicester to win the title and secure immediate promotion.
Leicester have sold James Maddison to Tottenham in a £40m deal that, along with parachute payments, means they have plenty to spend on new players and can keep much of their existing squad intact. At 4/1 with 888 they’re the clear favourites to win the Championship.
Leeds and Southampton are second and third favourites respectively, according to most football betting sites. This makes sense considering they also have parachute payments to spend this summer. However, never have all three relegated teams secured immediate promotion back to the top tier. One of Leeds, Leicester and Southampton will likely have a bad season.
Our outside tip to win the Championship is Middlesbrough at 10/1 after they reached the play-offs last term having made significant progress under promising young coach Michael Carrick. Providing they can hang on to the former Manchester United midfielder for the entirety of the season, Boro should be right in the mix and 10/1 is a great price.
Who will be promoted from the Championship?
Middlesbrough are generally 3/1 to be promoted, which may offer more appeal to punters predicting another strong season from Carrick's side as it provides three potential routes to success. Norwich and West Brom are just behind Boro in the promotion betting.
Kieran McKenna’s newly-promoted Ipswich side are a good price to make it two promotions on the trot - this could be the best outside bet punters are searching for. There’s always a surprise contender for promotion from the Championship even if they don’t achieve it, and the Tractor Boys could well fill that role in 2023/24.
Who will be relegated from the Championship?
Neil Warnock worked wonders to keep Huddersfield Town afloat last season but there’s a 25 per cent chance the veteran takes them down this time, according to the odds.
The bookies reckon Rotherham and Plymouth are more likely to be relegated than Huddersfield, while QPR, Cardiff and Sheffield Wednesday are next in the pecking order.
This range of clubs shows just how difficult it is to predict relegation from the Championship. There’s always money troubles to be aware of too.
Reading, Wednesday, Derby and Birmingham are just some of the EFL clubs to have been docked points in recent seasons due to financial issues. Who would bet against another falling foul of the accountants?
Who's set for a bottom-half finish?
Punters seeking a high-value bet in the Championship should look at clubs tipped for the play-offs that will actually bomb.
Coventry had their chance to reach the Premier League last season and are 3/1 to make the top six this time, but there’s a feeling Mark Robins’ side might have blown their big opportunity.
Millwall were definitely a surprise to bookmakers when they challenged for the play-offs in 2022/23. That momentum may now be halted. They finished eighth last season but the latest odds predict they won’t get higher than 15th this time. Blackburn are also tipped for another middling season in the second flight after last year’s flirtation with the play-offs.
Championship bottom-half finish odds
- Rotherham – 1/7
- Huddersfield – 1/4
- QPR – 1/4
- Plymouth – 2/7
- Cardiff – 1/3
- Sheffield Wednesday – 4/11
- Preston - 1/2
- Hull – 8/15
- Birmingham – 8/15
Top London Championship club odds
There are only three London clubs in the Championship and Watford are 8/13 to outperform Millwall (13/8) and QPR (7/1). Millwall impressed last season but we expect them to fall away into mid-table this term, while Watford are likely to make a push for the top six.
Top Yorkshire Championship club odds
Leeds are back in the EFL after three years of Premier League football and no-one quite knows how they’re going to fare. New manager Daniel Farke has a big job on his hands but the expectation from supporters is that they will challenge for the title.
However, there are four other Yorkshire clubs in this division and each would love to get one over Leeds. Hull are possibly the best-placed to do that, while Sheffield Wednesday, Huddersfield and Rotherham could be scrapping down at the bottom.
Saying that, there’s no guarantee Leeds won’t be down there either. Bet365 have Hull at 9/2 to finish above favourites Leeds (8/11) which has caught our eye in particular.
Top Midlands Championship club odds
Leicester should finish as the top club in the Midlands even if they don’t win the league. At 10/11, bookies reckon they have a 52 per cent chance of winning this market.
However, Stoke have come in to 4/1 alongside West Brom as joint-second favourites. Stoke are also widely tipped to make the top six, so who knows? Don’t expect much from Coventry or Birmingham in this market though.
Top South West Championship club odds
Bet365 have Swansea as the 11/8 favourites to be the top South West club in the Championship, with Bristol City at 11/4. Our impression is that Swansea, Bristol City, Cardiff and Plymouth could all do really well this season or all be in contention for relegation. This is a true “roll the dice” market, which can often be wise to avoid.
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Last Updated: 14th March 2024, 07:22 AM
