The EFL Championship kicks off in August, beginning a long and arduous battle for 3 Premier League spots. Some hardcore soccer fans consider the second flight league their most favorite to watch, mainly due to the absence of the now-hated video replay system known as VAR. Burnley are favored to jump right back into the top flight, but odds are pretty open across the board. Read on to access expert betting on EFL Championship predictions and explore stats and breakdowns of EFL Championship odds.
- EFL Championship
- August 9, 2024 to May 3, 2025
- 46 matches between 23 clubs, each playing each other home and away
- Various locations across England
- ESPN+
Betting on EFL Championship Odds: Top Contenders
This year’s favorites to win the EFL Championship are former Premier League members Burnley, who were relegated last season. They are (+275) to secure the top spot and book their ticket back to the top flight. But Leeds United (+330) offer steep competition in the outright market. Dark-horse candidates include Middlesbrough, Luton Town, Sheffield United, Coventry City and West Brom. All other clubs are (+2500) or greater.
Championship Burnley +270 +275 +275 Leeds United +330 +330 +300 Middlesbrough +800 +1000 +1000 Luton Town +1200 +1200 +1200 Sheffield United +1200 +1200 +1200 Coventry City +1600 +1400 +1400 West Brom +1600 +1400 +1400 Sunderland +1800 +1800 +1800 Stoke City +2500 +2500 +2500 Bristol City +4000 +3300 +3300 Hull City +4000 +3300 +3300 Norwich City +4000 +3300 +3300 Sheffield Wednesday +2800 +3300 +3300 Watford +3300 +3300 +3300 QPR +4000 +4000 +4000 Swansea +6600 +4000 +4000 Blackburn Rovers +5000 +5000 +5000 Portsmouth +5000 +5000 +5000 Millwall +10000 +6600 +6600 Derby County +10000 +8000 +8000 Cardiff City +10000 +10000 +10000 Oxford Utd +20000 +10000 +10000 Preston +10000 +10000 +10000 Plymouth Argyle +20000 +10000 +15000
Want to better understand the 3-way moneyline (1X2) market? See our soccer betting tips and learn about soccer betting odds.
Leeds United Are a Must-Bet at Current Price
Leeds United made a valiant effort to return to the Premier League last season after what would have been a brief hiatus. A 3rd-place finish meant no automatic promotion rights, but instead a top seed in the playoffs. A loss to Southampton doomed their chances of playing in the top flight in 2024-25.
Now reunited with Brenden Aaronson, Leeds has built a deep roster that should be well-suited for the long haul. A pair of draws to begin the season has diminished their lofty expectations a bit. But in a 46-match season, there is plenty of time to get back to winning ways.
Leeds United’s expected goals statistics were amidst the top of the Championship last term. In fact, the side should have produced at least 101 points according to advanced analytics, meaning they were a full 11 points short. That bad luck is unlikely to continue in the future, and the club is likely only going to improve after retaining most of their roster.
I believe Leeds should be the favorite to win it all this season and would recommend a small bet on them to do so at the current price. Burnley were very poor in the Premier League and are now without their wunderkind manager Vincent Kompany, who departed for the head coaching position at Bayern Munich. I would put this line closer to (+250), so there is certainly value.
Are Recently Relegated Sides Overvalued or Undervalued in EFL Championship Odds?
As previously mentioned, Burnley were unable to stay in the top flight after a dreadful second half to the season. They joined Luton Town and Sheffield United in the bottom 3, earning the unwanted privilege of returning to the English Football League. All 3 sides are expected to be in the running to return to the Premier League, the highest of all being Burnley.
The Clarets appointed Scott Parker as manager over the summer following Kompany’s departure. Parker has overseen promotions to the top flight at both Fulham and Bournemouth, making him an ideal choice to guide Burnley back to the EPL. With Lyle Foster, Maxime Esteve and the newly-acquired Shurandy Sambo, they have no shortage of talent. But can the pieces fit together after a rocky past year? It may come down to a playoff for Burnley.
Luton Town was the talk of the 2023-24 soccer scene in England thanks to a rapid ascent through the ranks. Their Premier League appearance came so quickly they did not even have a proper stadium to account for it. With apartments overlooking the supporter gates, little Luton managed to make a good show for themselves. Yet a points deduction for financial sanctions did not help their case, and the Hatters went straight back down to the Championship.
Luton Town have not earned a victory in their first two matches, a possible symptom of the well-known “relegation hangover.” There is a Ross Barkley-sized hole in the midfield as well, with the player departing for Aston Villa in the midsummer. Returning manager Rob Edwards must find a way to right the ship and change the narrative of their side, who have become accustomed to playing the underdog role.
Betting on EFL Championship: Where does Sheffield United Finish?
Sheffield United was essentially the laughingstock of the Premier League last season, never looking particularly impressive in any game and getting shellacked in many. Their presence seemed unwelcome and undeserved, naturally leading to a last-place finish. But a strong attack was evident in some of their results, an advantage they certainly hope to maintain at the Championship level. They may need more help than just newly-signed Callum O’Hare though with such a long season to endure.
Oliver Arblaster is an exciting young talent worth keeping an eye on this season. The England U20 midfielder has captained for Sheffield United already. Showing signs of brilliance while on loan at Port Vale, Arblaster has the skill and opportunity to thrive now in the Championship.
Odds are accurate at the time of writing but are subject to change.
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