The EFL Championship has developed a reputation for being a fiercely competitive division where any number of clubs can challenge for promotion.
However, relegated Premier League teams have dominated in recent seasons, winning the Championship title in four of the past five years.
Burnley bucked the trend in 2022/23, although they were well backed by sports bettors. Having suffered relegation last term, the Clarets are fancied for another swift return to the top flight.
However, it may not be as straightforward as their recent triumph, especially with Leeds United itching to redeem themselves after narrowly missing out on promotion last season.
Leeds Top the Championship Betting
The bookmakers rate Leeds as the favourites to win the Championship this season. They amassed 90 points last term, which would have secured automatic promotion in each of the previous six seasons.
Leeds have lost Archie Gray and Crysencio Summerville this summer, but are now in a strong position to bolster their squad after recouping significant funds from those departures.
Blackburn Rovers’ forward Sammie Szmodics is top of the club’s wish-list. The Republic of Ireland international scored 27 goals last season to win the Championship Golden Boot.
His presence in the Leeds team would spark a flurry of betting activity on the Emerald Isle, with punters there extremely familiar with Szmodics’ goalscoring ability.
If the Rovers forward moves to Elland Road, the best betting sites in Ireland would be inundated with wagers on Leeds to win the Championship title.
The Whites’ current odds look tempting given the quality in their squad and would be guaranteed to tumble if they added the Irish international to their forward ranks.
Here’s a look at the latest Championship odds:
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- Leeds United – 3/1
- Burnley – 13/2
- Luton Town – 10/1
- Middlesbrough – 12/1
- Sheffield United – 12/1
- Coventry City – 14/1
- Norwich City – 14/1
- West Bromwich Albion – 16/1
- Stoke City – 22/1
- Sheffield Wednesday – 25/1
- Sunderland – 25/1
- Hull City – 28/1
- Queens Park Rangers – 28/1
- Portsmouth – 30/1
- Bristol City – 33/1
- Derby County – 33/1
- Swansea City – 33/1
- Watford – 33/1
- Blackburn Rovers – 40/1
- Cardiff City – 40/1
- Millwall – 40/1
- Preston North End – 40/1
- Plymouth Argyle – 66/1
- Oxford United – 100/1
The Promotion Race – Yorkshire Clubs Destined to Dominate
The 2024/25 Championship season is set to deliver a thrilling battle for promotion, with a host of ambitious clubs vying to climb into the Premier League.
With Burnley, Sheffield United and Luton Town fresh from their experiences in the top flight, the competition will be fierce as they try to secure a swift return to the promised land.
The Blades appeal as the club most likely to win promotion at the first time of asking after making several shrewd moves in the transfer market this summer.
Manager Chris Wilder has a point to prove at Bramall Lane and is fancied to guide his team into contention for automatic promotion.
The biggest threat to their hopes could be rival Yorkshire clubs, with Leeds, Hull City and Sheffield Wednesday tipped to enjoy a potentially productive season.
Leeds are worthy favourites with the bookies and should be firmly in the mix, while Hull could be competitive after narrowly missing out on the play-offs last season.
They have lost Jacob Greaves and Jaden Philogene, while high-profile loanees such as Fabio Carvalho, Tyler Morton and Liam Delap have also left the club.
New manager Tim Walter will need to hit the ground running, but should enjoy a successful season if the club strengthens the squad before the transfer window closes.
Several shrewd pundits have tipped Wednesday to take the Championship by storm this season after their fine finish to the previous campaign.
Manager Danny Rohl guided them out of the relegation zone into the calmer waters of 15th place and a play-off push is not beyond the realms of possibility.
Wednesday have bolstered the squad with some useful recruits, and much is expected from Rohl in his first full season at Hillsborough.
Norwich City and West Bromwich Albion are amongst a plethora of other clubs who will expect to be battling for promotion in the Championship next term.
