England Championship predictions and odds

Although most punters often stick to top-flight national leagues and competitions, EFL Championship betting remains as popular as ever. It’s likely the biggest second-tier league in the world if we’re talking about football betting, and is more than worth your attention.

To that end, Betting Fellow is here with the best EFL Championship betting tips out there. We’ll also take a look at the state of the league going into the 2023/24 season – the favourites, top players, and most exciting showdowns we’ll be seeing over the next year or so.

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06/10/2023
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England Championship Predictions

04/10/2023

Coventry City - Blackburn Rovers

The online bookies marked Coventry City as the favourites, which makes a lot of sense. Still, we wouldn’t put Blackburn Rovers winning beyond them – not to mention that draws are a strong possibility in relatively balanced games.

The visitors are well aware of the challenge ahead of them. To defeat The Sky Blues on their home field would be a significant achievement, and it is never an easy undertaking.

The Sky Blues are coming off from an exciting victory against Queens Pa... read more

Betting tip (stake: 6/10): Over 3,5 goals 1 at 10Bet
Correct score prediction: 2:3
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04/10/2023

Leeds United - Queens Park Rangers

This match is somewhat one-sided, but not the most imbalanced clash we’ve seen. The odds are heavily in the hosts’ favour, who will likely walk away with 3 more points to the tally.

Considering what they’re up against, Queens Park Rangers can’t set their ambitions too high in this match. Playing as visitors at odds of 11.00 for an away win, calling them underdogs seems like an understatement.

The hosts are coming on the back of an abysmal HT/FT defeat at Southampton. B... read more

Betting tip (stake: 8/10): Home -1.5 Asian Handicap 1 at 10Bet
Correct score prediction: 2:0
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04/10/2023

Leicester City - Preston North End

Leicester City are seen as favourites to win this match against Preston North End. The betting odds indicate an easy win and anything but a home victory here would indeed be a big surprise.

If betting odds are anything to go on – and they are - The Lilywhites will likely get overrun by their opponents with little hope of winning. Considering how one-sided this matchup is, they may want to cut their losses and focus their energy elsewhere.

The hosts are coming on the back of a... read more

Betting tip (stake: 9/10): Home -1.5 Asian Handicap 1 at 10Bet
Correct score prediction: 3:0
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04/10/2023

Sunderland - Watford

Betting odds can be illusive at times and Watford are more than capable of pulling an upset. However, Sunderland should have a clear path to victory if they stick to the plan.

The matchup this Wednesday is rather one-sided, with Watford seen as the clear underdogs. Most bookmakers online have priced their victory at 3.80, which is enough to doubt such an outcome will happen.

Top online bookies and Championship betting predictions definitely favoured Sunderland as the winners of... read more

Betting tip (stake: 6/10): Over 3,5 goals 1 at 10Bet
Correct score prediction: 2:3
Deposit Bonus: Check 10Bet free bets

04/10/2023

Swansea City - Norwich City

The visiting team is cognizant of the task before them. A victory over Swansea City on their home field would be a noteworthy accomplishment, and it is never an easy feat.

Norwich City will need to bring their top form if they want 3 points from this matchup – and they do. The Swans are not easy pickings, although the visitors are widely seen as close favourites.

The Swans are flying high in confidence following their stellar performance in the previous round of the Champions... read more

Betting tip (stake: 8/10): Over 2,5 1.88 at Betsson
Correct score prediction: 3:1
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04/10/2023

Rotherham United - Bristol City

The hosts have everything stacking up against them in this match including the betting odds of 3.40. Rotherham United will indeed find it very hard to beat Bristol City here but nothing is impossible if you try hard enough.

Details can make a big difference in matches like this one. One way for Bristol City to reach their goal in this game is to stick firmly to their game plan and execute it flawlessly.

The Millers’s most recent 2:0 defeat at the hands of Cardiff City was ea... read more

Betting tip (stake: 6/10): Away 2.18 at Betsson
Correct score prediction: 1:2
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03/10/2023

Birmingham City - Huddersfield Town

The online bookies marked Birmingham City as the favourites, which makes a lot of sense. Still, we wouldn’t put Huddersfield Town winning beyond them – not to mention that draws are a strong possibility in relatively balanced games.

Huddersfield appear severely unprepared for a clash with Birmingham, to the point of being considered hard underdogs. We would consider even a draw a success, so the long 3.60 odds for an away win bit seem fitting.

Birmingham returned home from... read more

Betting tip (stake: 6/10): Under 2,5 1.77 at 10Bet
Correct score prediction: 2:0
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03/10/2023

Ipswich Town - Hull City

If you’re looking for a relatively safe result bet, a home win at odds of 1.70 is a solid option. That said, Hull City may yet be able to pull off a surprise, maybe even in the form of a stalemate.

Considering what they’re up against, Hull City can’t set their ambitions too high in this match. Playing as visitors at odds of 5.00 for an away win, calling them underdogs seems like an understatement.

The home team failed to record anything better than a rather dull HT/FT dr... read more

Betting tip (stake: 9/10): Under 2,5 2.15 at Betsson
Correct score prediction: 1:0
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03/10/2023

Middlesbrough - Cardiff City

A home win should not be questioned in this game. Middlesbrough are seen as huge favourites to register an easy win against Cardiff City and we recommend you take the generous offer of 1.77.

At 4.60 betting odds, an away win would be a huge surprise and we’re positive Cardiff City are well aware of it themselves.

The Boro earned a standing ovation for the last round’s victory. The last Championship trip saw did not have them as firm favourites to win, on the contrary. They s... read more

Betting tip (stake: 9/10): Over 2,5 1.83 at Betsson
Correct score prediction: 2:1
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03/10/2023

Plymouth Argyle - Millwall

The hosts have everything stacking up against them in this match including the betting odds of 2.60. Plymouth Argyle will indeed find it very hard to beat Millwall here but nothing is impossible if you try hard enough.

The visiting team is cognizant of the task before them. A victory over Plymouth Argyle on their home field would be a noteworthy accomplishment, and it is never an easy feat.

It’s fair to say Plymouth Argyle demonstrated their character in the last Championship... read more

Betting tip (stake: 7/10): Over 2,5 1.8 at Betsson
Correct score prediction: 2:2
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03/10/2023

Stoke City - Southampton

The visitors understand the difficulty of the task at hand. To beat Stoke City on their own turf would be a major feat, and it is always a tough challenge.

Southampton will need to bring their top form if they want 3 points from this matchup – and they do. Stoke City are not easy pickings, although the visitors are widely seen as close favourites.

The Potters’s latest Championship outing was quite the spectacle. They went into the game against Bristol City as clear underdog... read more

Betting tip (stake: 6/10): Over 3,5 goals 1 at 10Bet
Correct score prediction: 1:3
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03/10/2023

West Bromwich Albion - Sheffield Wednesday

West Bromwich Albion are firm favourites in this matchup, and backing them may offer surprising betting value. It’s a very safe bet, though we suppose an upset is not outside the realm of possibility. We wouldn’t count on Sheffield Wednesday winning, though.

From the present standpoint, the situation is clear as day. Considering the strength of The Baggies and the 6.00 odds given to Sheffield Wednesday to win, it is easy to conclude that a victory for the visiting team would be a... read more

Betting tip (stake: 5/10): Draw 3.70 at bwin
Correct score prediction: 1:1
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16/09/2023

Cardiff City - Swansea City

Cardiff City have their work cut out for them if they want to beat Swansea City. They are widely considered to be the weaker team – though the difference is not huge, to be fair. Overall, it’s shaping up to be an exciting showdown.

Swansea City are coming into this match as underdogs, though the difference is not overwhelming. Even so, they’re not all that likely to win. An Away Win bet is priced at 2.76 with top online bookies, which could bring a decent profit.

The Blu... read more

Betting tip (stake: 9/10): Over 2,5 1.96 at Betsson
Correct score prediction: 2:1
Deposit Bonus: Check Betsson free bets

Championship Standings

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  • Last Five
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  • Millwall
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  • 11
  • -4
  • 11
  • L D W L D
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  • Watford
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England Championship Results

History and General Information

The full name of this competition is the English Football League Championship. Now, to those familiar with the history of England’s league system, its relationship to the Premier League will be familiar. However, we’ll go over because it may be confusing to beginners.

The main ancestor of today’s championship is the English Football League second division. The Football League was founded in 1888 to create a unified national league. The Football Association Cup existed before that, but the tournament format it has was an issue for many clubs. Namely, if a team was knocked out early, they would be left with no matches for the remainder of the season.

A round-robin competition was needed, but the EFL wasn’t the only fish in the pond. The Football Alliance was a rival league which existed for a few years towards the end of the 19th century. The short-lived competition consisted of 14 teams which weren’t part of the Football League. In 1892 the Alliance was merged with the main league, finally creating a central authority for English football.

However, the EFL already had the same number of clubs. Because of the competition’s round-robin format, it would be extremely difficult to organize enough matches to allow each team to play every other team twice. As such, the Second Division was formed to accommodate most of the Football Alliance’s member clubs. Notably, a few clubs still ended up in the First Division, replacing a few former First Division teams.

The system of relegation and promotion was immediately implemented as well and remains largely in place to this day. As time went on, more divisions were added – like the Third and Fourth – because of football’s rapidly growing popularity and the increasing number of clubs who wished to join the English Football League.

As the ‘70s and ‘80s came round, football in the country was at an all-time low. Despite notable successes in international competitions and massive fanbases, even England’s greatest clubs were financially weak and unstable. Those same clubs argued for a bigger cut of the profits due to bringing in more spectators, but these complaints ultimately fell on deaf ears.

All of this came to a head in 1992. In the ongoing fight to acquire better profits and TV broadcast rights, all First Division clubs simultaneously left the English Football League on February 20. This was a seminal moment in football history, and it also defined how the English football system would work. The Premier League was formed, replacing the EFL First Division as the top flight of English football. Though it is technically a separate entity, pretty much the entire format remained intact, including the system of promotion and relegation.

As a result, every team in the EFL was bumped up one league higher – at least in the name. The former Second Division became the First Division, even though it represented the second flight of football on a national level. If you feel this sounds a bit strange, you’re probably right.

That’s why the Football League was rebranded in the 21st century. In 2004, the Football League First Division was renamed to the Football League Championship, while the Third and Fourth divisions were rebranded as League One and League Two. Also, the organization was rebranded as the English Football League in 2014 (though we referred to it as such throughout this text to avoid confusion.)

The Premier League split did greatly impact some aspects of the Football League. For starters, its member clubs reported financial issues caused by reduced viewership because the country’s most popular clubs left. Today, however, those issues were smoothed out if the numbers are to be believed. Despite not being a top-flight league, the English Championship maintains an enormous following. Reportedly, it records higher attendance than ever France’s Ligue 1 or Italy’s Serie A, which are both members of the European Big 5.

Format

The Championship’s format shouldn’t be unfamiliar to anyone who’s ever seen a football league, except with 4 more clubs than what you might be used to. The 24 constituent teams of the Championship play against one another twice throughout a season, typically lasting from August to May of the following year. As always, one match is played home and one is played away, and points are awarded in the usual style of 3/1/0.

Despite being called the Championship, the winners of this league are not named champions. Instead, the two best-placed teams go on to the Premier League. Additionally, Championship play-offs are held to determine which team will take the third promotion spot.

Championship play-offs take the form of a mini knockout tournament. The third-placed team plays against the sixth-placed team twice, while the fourth-placed team plays against the fifth. The winners of these outings face off in single-match Championship finals, the winner of which earns a trophy and a promotion to the Premier League.

Conversely, the three bottom-placed teams are relegated to League One. League One has a similar structure to determine who gets a promotion to the Championship.


EFL Championship Derby Matches

M1 Derby

Though the noted showdown between Luton Town and Watford is long past its prime, it’s a storied rivalry going back more than a century. The relations between these two teams and their fans were very fiery in the 80s while both of them were in the top-flight. The teams’ fall from relevance eventually resulted in calmer showdowns, though it is still well known among football fans.

East Midlands Derby

It would be a misstep not to mention a rivalry involving Derby County, and the one with Nottingham Forest is perhaps the most notable. This is likely the fiercest rivalry outside the Premier League and dates back more than a century (though the clubs were admittedly more successful at the time.)

EFL Championship Best Stadiums

Hillsborough

With a capacity of just under 40,000, Sheffield’s home turf is the biggest venue in the Championship. Being one of the oldest football clubs in the world, Sheffield boast a very old and storied stadium. That said, one of those stories is the infamous Hillsborough disaster, which marked football history and changed the standards for stadiums forever. Currently, there are plans to further increase the capacity to 45,000.

Riverside Stadium

Built in 1996, Middlesbrough’s home ground is an impressive all-seater stadium with a capacity of just over 34,000. It was constructed to replace the Boro’s previous stadium after the Hillsborough disaster, which sadly means that it can’t hope to match the history and charm of some other Championship teams’ stadiums. Still, it boasts modern facilities and regularly houses fierce showdowns.