Championship Predictions

The English Championship is often described as one of the toughest and most competitive football leagues in the world. With 24 teams vying for promotion to the Premier League or fighting to avoid relegation, the stakes are always incredibly high.

Popular with punters despite its unpredictable nature, the Championship, while not the top division in English football, ranks as one of the ten most-watched football competitions in the world.

In this article, we'll take a comprehensive look at the 2024/25 Championship season, including promotion and relegation predictions, top goalscorer candidates, and insights on managerial changes.

Saturday. December 21

Date	Match	Team 1 to Win	Draw	Team 2 to Win
21.12	Hull City — Swansea City 2.6 3.38 2.85
	Portsmouth — Coventry City 4 3.75 1.9
	Sheffield Wednesday — Stoke City 1.76 3.85 5
	Burnley — Watford 1.75 3.75 5.5
	Cardiff City — Sheffield United 3.35 3.34 2.38
	Leeds United — Oxford United 1.17 7.7 21
	Millwall — Blackburn Rovers 2.38 3.15 3.4
	Plymouth Argyle — Middlesbrough 6.25 4.71 1.53
	Queens Park Rangers — Preston North End 2.63 3.1 3.05
	Sunderland — Norwich City 1.86 3.78 4.5

Sunday, December 22

Date	Match	Team 1 to Win	Draw	Team 2 to Win
22.12	West Bromwich Albion — Bristol City 2.15 3.36 3.5

Thursday, December 26

Date	Match	Team 1 to Win	Draw	Team 2 to Win
26.12	Blackburn Rovers — Sunderland 2.71 3.3 2.68
	Bristol City — Luton Town F.C. 2.53 3.52 2.7
	Coventry City — Plymouth Argyle 1.37 5.05 10.5
	Middlesbrough — Sheffield Wednesday 1.64 4.25 5.25
	Norwich City — Millwall 2.2 3.45 3.37
	Oxford United — Cardiff City 3.2 3.54 2.25
	Preston North End — Hull City 2.55 3.4 3.4
	Sheffield United — Burnley 2.23 3.3 3.4
	Swansea City — Queens Park Rangers 1.98 3.4 4.2
	Watford — Portsmouth 1.76 4.05 4.67
	Derby County — West Bromwich Albion 3.01 3.34 2.38
	Stoke City — Leeds United 5.2 4 1.67

Championship Promotion

Promotion to the Premier League is the ultimate prize for Championship clubs. The top two teams are automatically promoted to the Premier League while the teams finishing 3rd to 6th enter the playoffs, where one more team earns promotion.

To qualify for the playoffs, a team must finish between third and 6th in the league standings.

This season, the race is tighter than ever. Leeds, Burnley, Luton Town, and Sheffield United are among the betting front-runners for automatic promotion.

Leeds Tipped for Glory

Leeds United are the UK bookmakers' favourites to secure promotion from the Championship in the 2024/25 season. After narrowly missing out last term, with a 1-0 defeat to Southampton in the play-off final at Wembley, the pressure is on for Daniel Farke’s side to make a return to the Premier League.

Despite the departure of last season's leading scorer Crysencio Summerville, Leeds still boast one of the most formidable attacking lineups in the division, and should be expected to prove one of the sides to beat this season.

The Whites can be backed at 1.75 odds (available Nov 11th) to make a return to the Premier League next summer.

Burnley Backed for EPL Return

Burnley are another of top contenders backed for a swift return to the Premier League. As demonstrated by Leicester City and Southampton last season, relegated teams often have a financial edge in the race for Championship promotion.

The Clarets have retained several key players from their previous promotion-winning campaign and led by Scott Parker, who has a recent Championship promotion on his CV. They are currently available at odds of 2.75 (available Nov 11th) to return to the EPL next season.

Blades to bounce back

Sheffield United were also relegated from the top flight last season and although their transfer business was slow, they’ve made an outstanding start to the campaign. Chris Wilder is a savvy operator and they have a formidable midfield of Gustavo Hamer and Callum O’Hare. The South Yorkshire outfit are 2.1 (available Nov 11th) to secure promotion back to the Premier League.

Boro in the Mix

Middlesbrough’s slow start last season proved costly, as they narrowly missed out on the promotion play-offs. Injuries played a significant role, and if Michael Carrick’s team can maintain improved levels of fitness throughout this campaign, Boro could yet prove a formidable force - available at 2.25 odds (available Nov 11th) to claim Championship promotion.

Make sure to check out all of our EFL Championship predictions 24/25 throughout the season.

Championship 24/25 Promotion Betting Odds

Table with Championship 24/25 Promotion Betting Odds

September 24th, 2024
Leeds	1.36	1.33	1.36	1.36
Burnley	2.50	2.50	2.50	2.50
Middlesbrough	3.25	3.50	3.25	3.25
WBA	3.40	3.00	3.00	3.00
Luton	6.00	8.00	6.00	6.00
Coventry	8.00	9.00	8.00	10.00
Sheffield Utd	3.25	2.88	3.25	3.25
Sunderland	3.40	3.50	3.40	3.25
Stoke	15.00	21.00	15.00	15.00
Watford	13.00	10.00	13.00	11.00
Blackburn	13.00	8.00	13.00	13.00
Norwich	10.00	8.00	10.00	12.00

Championship Relegation

At the end of the Championship season, the bottom three teams are relegated to League One. Teams finishing 22nd to 24th in the league standings face the drop to the third tier.

Oxford to Fight Expected Relegation

Oxford United have made solid preparations for their return to the Championship, with a focus on bolstering their squad to handle the increased level of competition. While their promotion-winning team remains largely intact, the additions of Will Vaulks and Idris El Mizouni should provide much-needed defensive stability.

The U’s may have enough quality on paper to stay in the division, but the reality of the Championship often proves more challenging. Players like Tyler Goodrham and Cameron Brannagan will be crucial in their survival bid.

Nonetheless, Oxford might find themselves fighting until the very end to avoid the drop, with many EFL predictions placing them just above the danger zone.

Ronney´s Plymouth In Survival Battle

Plymouth Argyle’s survival in the Championship last season was nothing short of remarkable, especially considering their modest budget and the mid-season departure of manager Steven Schumacher.

However, the appointment of Ian Foster as his replacement turned out to be a misstep, with Wayne Rooney now tasked with keeping Argyle afloat in what is expected to be another challenging campaign.

Despite the attacking talents of the much sought-after Morgan Whittaker, Argyle are expected to struggle under their often-maligned head coach.

The general consensus is that Rooney may struggle to inspire his new side. Uninspiring tenures at the helm of Birmingham and DC United offer little promise, and the Pilgrims could find themselves relegated by season’s end.

Portsmouth Can Compete

Portsmouth return to the Championship after winning League One with a stunning 97 points. Their return has been bolstered by key signings, including the experienced Josh Murphy, who adds significant firepower to their attack.

While most championship predictions often place newly promoted teams in the danger zone, Pompey appear to have the resources to comfortably survive their first season back.

With one or two more additions to their squad, Portsmouth are expected to avoid the relegation battle, showing the grit and determination that earned them promotion.

Derby Set to Struggle

Derby County’s return to the Championship is a bittersweet one. After years of turmoil on and off the pitch, the Rams are back in the second tier, but they face an uphill battle to stay there. The departure of key player Conor Hourihane leaves a significant void for the newcomers who look set for a long fight to avoid the drop.

The pace of Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, Corey Blackett-Taylor, and Kayden Jackson offers Derby a dynamic attacking option, but our expert EFL predictions indicate that the team may fall short in their bid to avoid the drop. The lack of that extra quality needed to grind out results could see Derby embroiled in a relegation scrap, with survival far from guaranteed. Furthermore, Paul Warne has previously struggled at this level and his sides tend to struggle on the road.

All of the teams mentioned will need to punch above their weight to survive, but given the competitiveness of the Championship, will likely be involved in the relegation battle throughout the season.

Our Championship relegation predictions suggest a tight battle to avoid the drop, with Portsmouth given the best chance of survival. Among those likely to struggle, Oxford, Cardiff and Plymouth are tipped to return to League One next summer.

Championship 2024/25 Relegation Betting Odds

Table with Relegation Betting Odds

September 25th, 2024
Plymouth	1.67	1.67	1.65	2.00
Oxford	4.00	3.50	4.00	4.00
Cardiff City	2.63	2.30	2.65	2.25
Millwall	5.50	7.00	5.50	4.50
Preston	3.75	3.50	3.75	4.00
Derby	4.50	5.50	4.50	4.50
Portsmouth	2.10	1.83	2.10	2.10
Swansea	9.00	15.00	9.00	7.50
QPR	11.00	10.00	11.00	13.00
Bristol City	11.00	13.00	11.00	11.00
Sheffield Wednesday	6.50	5.50	6.50	7.00
Hull	7.00	7.00	7.00	5.50
Stoke	10.00	8.50	10.00	11.00

EFL Championship Winner

Burnley has made a positive transition following the departure of Vincent Kompany to Bayern Munich, with Scott Parker stepping in as the new man at the helm.

Parker’s track record of guiding Fulham and Bournemouth back to the Premier League at the first attempt gives plenty of optimism for Burnley’s prospects this season.

Burnley’s squad has undergone some vital enhancements that should strengthen their bid for the title. The addition of Shurandy Sambo provides a robust defensive option, complementing the permanent signing of Maxime Estève, who impressed on loan last season. These defensive reinforcements should prove crucial in a long Championship campaign.

The arrival of Andréas Hountondji boosts Burnley's attacking options, joining the likes of Aaron Ramsey and Jay Rodrguez in the forward positions. South African Lyle Foster adds further depth to Burnley’s attacking lineup.

Given the strength and depth of their squad and Parker’s leadership, I believe Burnley is well-positioned to secure the Championship title this season. With plenty of depth throughout their squad, and an experienced Championship manager at the helm, the Clarets could prove the team to beat in 2025.

Championship Winner 24/25 betting odds

Table with Championship Winner 24/25 betting odds

September 25th, 2024
Leeds	2.50	2.50	2.50	2.20
Burnley	6.00	6.00	6.00	6.00
Middlesbrough	11.00	11.00	11.00	13.00
Sunderland	11.00	11.00	11.00	11.00
West Brom	10.00	10.00	10.00	9.00
Sheffield Utd	10.00	10.00	10.00	9.00

Championship Top Goalscorer

The race for the Championship’s Golden Boot is always one of the most exciting subplots of the season. This year, several strikers are expected to compete for the top goalscorer accolade.

Among the contenders, Middlesbrough´s Emmanuel Latte Lath bagged 17 goals last season, and with Boro starting to find form, the Ivorian is likely to get plenty of opportunities to improve upon last season’s tally.

Norwich’s Josh Sargent has made a decent start to the campaign, however, injury has intervened and the US international will be on the sidelines for a prolonged period. In Borja Sainz, the Canaries have an unexpected Golden Boot contender. The 23-year old has netted 11 times in his first 15 appearances and was awarded the EFL Player of the Month for October.

Coventry strike duo Haji Wright and Elis Simms should be able to hit the back of net fairly regularly despite the Sky Blues making yet another slow start to the season.

Championship Top Goalscorer Betting Odds

Table with odds for Championship winner

September 25th, 2024
Haji Wright	12.00	12.00	12.00
Emmanuel Latte Lath	10.00	10.00	10.00
Josh Sargent	17.00	15.00	17.00
Mateo Joseph	17.00	15.00	17.00
Kieffer Moore	17.00	17.00	17.00
Josh Maja	9.00	9.00	9.00

Next Championship Manager to Be Sacked

The Championship is notorious for its high turnover of managers, and we have already seen a number of head coaches leave their role. 

Ryan Lowe was the first manager to depart with the Liverpudlian having overseen just a single game in charge of Preston this season. He was followed by Stoke’s Steven Schumacher, who paid the price for a slow start. Cardiff Erol Bulut failed to get the best out of his Cardiff squad despite some impressive additions this summer. The Turkish gaffer was fired at the end of September. 

There are a number of managers under pressure (Nov 11th) with both Rob Edwards of Luton and Hull’s Tim Walter feeling the scrutiny of the supporters heading into the third international break of the campaign. 

The latter is the favourite for the axe at odds of 2.10 (Nov 11th) with the Tigers having failed to win 12 of their first 15 matches in the second tier. 

Despite making a decent enough start to the campaign, Wayne Rooney is a manager who is consistently under pressure. The Plymouth boss is second favourite in the betting at 3.0 (Nov 11th) ahead of Marti Cifuentes, Liam Manning and Tom Cleverley.

Next Championship Manager To Be Sacked Odds

Table with odd for the Next Championship Manager to be Sacked

September 25th, 2024
Wayne Rooney (Plymouth)	2.10
Rob Edwards (Luton Town)	3.00
Tim Walter (Hull)	2.40
Tom Cleverley (Watford)	7.00
Daniel Farke (Middlesbrough)	31.00
Paul Heckingbottom (Preston)	16.00
Liam Manning (Bristol City)	7.00

Championship match predictions are typically released two to three days before each fixture. This timing allows tipsters and analysts to consider the most up-to-date information, including team news, injuries, suspensions, and recent form.

By releasing predictions close to the matchday, punters can make informed decisions based on the latest developments.

It’s essential to keep an eye on these predictions as they can provide valuable insights into potential outcomes, especially in a league as volatile as the Championship.

We offer a wide range of Championship betting tips to satisfy different preferences and strategies. Our favourite EFL betting tips and bets include:

• Over/under 3.5 goals: Predicts whether the total number of goals in a match will be over or under 3.5.
• Both teams to score (BTTS): A popular market where you bet on whether both teams will score during the match.
• Win-draw-win (1X2): Predicts the outcome of a match — either a win for one team, a draw, or a win for the other team.
• Double Chance: This gives you two chances to win, where you bet on a team not to lose (ie win or draw)
• Correct Score: Involves predicting the exact final score of a match, offering higher odds due to its difficulty.

These Championship tips and favoured betting types are based on comprehensive analysis, including team form, head-to-head statistics, and other relevant factors.

Weekend matches in the Championship are always highly anticipated, often featuring several key fixtures that can shape the course of the season. Our Championship predictions this weekend are meticulously prepared, taking into account all relevant factors such as team form, injury news, and tactical setups.

Whether you’re looking to bet on a single match or include several games in an accumulator, our Championship score predictions are designed to boost your chances of success.

With insights into everything from Championship relegation predictions to the race for top goalscorer, MightyTips is your go-to resource for Championship betting.

Our team of expert Championship punters have extensive experience in analysing this unpredictable but hugely popular league. We provide detailed insights into every aspect of the game, from player performance and tactical decisions to managerial strategies.

Our expertise is invaluable for anyone looking to gain an edge in Championship betting tips, offering reliable EFL tips and predictions that can significantly improve your chances of making profitable bets.

For the best England Championship league predictions, EFL tips and betting analysis, stay tuned to MightyTips throughout the season.

If you find yourself looking for tips inbetween Championship fixtures or during the summer months, you can check out today’s football predictions which have been expertly compiled by MightyTips’ betting experts.