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English Championship also referred to as English Football League is the second-highest tier in England after the EPL (English Premier League). A new season is off where 24 teams will contest for the EFL title. Last year saw Norwich win the title after a spirited show in the second half of the season.
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Best Championship Betting Sites: Top Bets for 2024
With 94 points, the Canaries were able to clinch the title which also earned them a direct promotion to the EPL. Sheffield United came second with 89 points with Chris Wilder boys also securing a direct promotion to the EPL. Leeds came in the third position with Marcelo Bielsa’s men finishing with 83 points but did not win the playoffs after they lost to Frank Lampard’s Derby County on an aggregate score of 3-4.
EFL sets its playoffs between the 3rd position and 6th position where one team will be promoted to the EPL. Aston Villa was the lucky recipient with the team closing in as the last entrant in the EPL. On the other side, the relegated teams from EPL (Fulham, Cardiff, and Huddersfield) were dropped to the EFL. The bottom 3 teams in the last season (Rotherham, Bolton, and Ipswich Town) were relegated to League One with Luton, Barnsley, and Charlton all securing promotion to the Championship
With the new season just in the early stages, many questions linger on what to expect of this season. Is it the season Leeds United get back to the premier league after a 16-year absence? Will Cardiff and Fulham power up again? Who will get a direct promotion? Who will get to the playoff stages? Who will be relegated?
The championship is back with fans thrilled about nine-months of entertainment, emotions, competitions, and excitement. The bookies predict that the 2024 season is more open than ever before.
Championship Title Favorite – Leeds or Fulham?
As we approach the end of the season rather rapidly, many punters are claiming that Leeds will choke and that Fulham will rise, but we don’t like to just talk about predictions based on thin air – we look at the facts and identify the most likely occurrences.
When looking at the Championship table right now, we can see that Leeds are above Fulham by 5 points at the time of writing. There are just 12 games to go, and Fulham is hovering desperately close to the automatic promotion spot, which is currently occupied by Leeds in second. West Brom is actually in top spot, with 66 points, 4 above Leeds and 9 above Fulham, but we think there will be some fireworks in the home straight for this season.
We have a sneaky feeling that Leeds will pull it out of the bag this season, and proceed to bypass West Brom on their way to winning the title. There’s a few reasons why we are favoring Leeds over both West Brom and Fulham right now, as detailed right here.
To start with, they have several players that really do belong in the Premier League with their ability. Players like Bamford and Roberts have shown time and time again that they are capable of top-tier football, whereas we don’t see the same quality with Fulham. They also have other solid players like Pablo Hernandez and Helder Costa to bolster their midfield, and they look hungrier than ever this season.
Secondly, they came so agonizingly close last season to get that promotion, that we feel this time will be their shot. Football fans all over the country were simply amazed when they didn’t get promoted last season, ourselves included, but when a team gets so close, it either fires them up or sends them into disarray – but Leeds seem more pumped up!
Third and finally, the Leeds manager. Marcelo Bielsa has been at the top of the three in his managerial career, coaching international teams like Argentina, as well as Athletic Bilbao and Marseille before taking the helm at Leeds. He’s completely turned the club around since he took over, and the style of football that they are now playing thanks to their manager really does belong on a Premier League field.
At the Bottom
Things aren’t looking so hot for several teams at the wrong end of the Championship right now, and there are some extremely likely candidates to be looking at League 1 football next season. Here is how the most valuable bookies have it for who could go down this season:
- Luton – 1/16
- Wigan – evens
- Barnsley – 4/11
- Huddersfield – 11/4
- Middlesborough – 11/2
- Charlton – 10/3
The Championship Bet Types and Markets
Bettors will find dozens of bet types available on the Championship. Three of the most popular bet types are the match result bet, goals over/under, or both teams to score. However, there are many more bet types available online. Some major sportsbooks even offer punters the chance to build their own bets. It is a unique way for bettors to create the ultimate accumulator online.
Winner Odds
Sportsbooks offer odds at the start of each season on all 24 teams to win the league. Punters can find odds for their favourite team weighed against the club’s actual chances of winning the competition. Sportsbooks update the odds during the season and punters can still wager on outright winners well into the competitions. Odds will reflect how a team is performing.
Betting on the outright winner at the start of the season is a lot of fun. Bettors place a wager and then watch the action unfold for 46 matches. It can be a thrill when a football fan’s bet turns out to be a winner. Especially, if it is the team they support. Sports gamblers will find excellent odds at the start of each season. The unpredictability of the Championship means a bettor could wager on the league’s winner even if it is a longshot.
One of the best tools a bettor can use is Oddschecker. The website compares the odds offered by major sportsbooks. Gamblers can find the best value available and bet with that particular website.
A tip for betting on a Championship outright winner is to let the Championship season begin before placing the wager. Bettors can see how the team they want to bet on performs. If they do poorly to open the season, the odds with grow longer, which could make for great value. Hopefully, once the wager is placed, the club will improve and win promotion thus winning the gambler the bet.
Other interesting odds
Promotion
Betting on the outright winner can be difficult due to the nature of the Championship. Due to the unpredictability, fans may wager on promotion odds instead. The popular market keeps punters excited until the final game of the season. If their team finishes in the play-off places, there is still the chance to win the bet.
The playoffs and the build-up to get there is exciting. Teams will do whatever they can to achieve promotion to the richest football league in the world. Betting on promotion is popular and major sportsbooks update their odds throughout the season accordingly. Sportsbooks not only offer promotion winner odds, but there are markets for top 2 finishers and top 6 finishers.
Relegation
Just like promotion odds and outright winner betting, sportsbooks give punters the chance to wager on relegation. The fight for survival in the Championship is intense as teams attempt to stave off the drop to the third-tier. When Championship sides get mired in a relegation scrap, it can see them stuck at the bottom of the table for much of the season.
Often, the teams recently promoted from League One are given the shortest odds. It is expected that these clubs will return to League One due to a lack of talent. Interestingly, some newly relegated teams from the Premier League get relegated in their first season in the Championship. Sunderland was relegated from the Premier League in 2016-17 and suffered a second straight relegation a season later. The club paid for years of mismanagement by the board and managers hired to correct the ship.
GoalScorer Odds
The race for the golden boot is another favorite betting market. It is the chance for punters to wager on the league’s top scorer and to sit back and watch him tally goal after goal. The last 14 seasons have seen the Championship’s top scorer plunder 20 or more goals. However, there is a caveat to the top scorer betting. Punters shouldn’t expect the top scorer to propel his team to the Championship title. It isn’t often the two items are connected.
The Championship Betting Tips
Everyone who bets on the Championship wants to win. However, many bettors believe they can simply look at the league table before making a quick betting selection. Bettors that win consistently base their betting on research, stats, and analysis. Bettors who win do their homework and spend hours compiling information.
Bettors should be specialists in the Championship. They should know the ins and outs of the league table and form table. By looking at teams in-depth, bettors can make educated decision when placing their bets.
Head to head stats, goals scored and conceded, and form over the last six games are fundamental areas punters should be familiar with. Goals for and against are vital stats to know if a bettor wants to specialise in goals over/under or both teams to score markets.
All major sportsbooks offer Championship betting odds. It is one of the most popular football leagues in the world and most watched. Online sports bettors can find a wealth of opportunities to bet on in the Championship. Many sportsbooks offer promos and bonuses throughout the year on Championship matches. Online customers can expect the playoffs to yield several promos in May.
Finally, shopping around enables football fans to find the best odds. Using an odds comparison website, punters can see the different odds offered by bookies. This enables customers to find value in the market they wish to bet on
The Championship is a unique football league. It is a marathon 46-game season that sees teams battle it out for Premier League riches. Its uncertainties make it a great competition to watch. Bettors don’t have to be uncertain about their Championship betting, however. Using betting tools and research, online customers can win when betting on the Championship all year long.
What is the EFL Championship?
The EFL Championship is the second-tier of English football. The league is a cut-throat combination of guts and guile. Twenty-four teams start out the Championship season all with their sights set on Premier League promotion. Winning promotion to the top-flight offers clubs vast riches beyond their wildest dreams. However, relegation from the Championship to League One is one of the most surreal, god-awful experiences a football team can have.
Betting on the Championship takes more than just research and analysis. Bettors need a little luck when placing wagers on the second-tier. The football isn’t always pretty and teams are much more even when it comes to talent and finances than in the Premier League. It isn’t uncommon to see favourites lose matches. The Championship is difficult to predict and even professional bettors have their issues picking winners week in, week out.
Despite the Championship’s unpredictability, it is still a great football league to wager on. In fact, some punters enjoy the challenge of betting on the Championship more than the straightforward Premier League.
The Championship kicks off in early August and runs until May. It features 24 teams fighting to reach the Premier League. The 46-game season is a marathon and a losing streak doesn’t necessarily mean clubs are out of the running for promotion.
Two teams are automatically promoted to the Premier League. Meanwhile, the teams which finish in third place through sixth place qualify for the promotion playoffs. The four teams play knockout cup style football until one team is left. The promotion playoff final has been called the most lucrative football match in the world and clubs can be made by achieving promotion.
Due to clubs aiming for the Championship’s top six, teams can make a second half of the season run and still obtain promotion. In 2017-18, Fulham were as low as 19th after four games before finding themselves 12th on New Year’s Day. The club’s second half turnaround enabled Fulham to make the playoffs where they earned Premier League promotion. A lot can happen in the Championship.
The Championship Playoffs
The Championship playoffs see four teams qualify. The teams in third through sixth place following the league’s marathon 46-game season qualify for the postseason. Often times, the team with the best form going into the playoffs earns promotion to the Premier League.
The team which finishes third plays the sixth-place finisher in a two-legged, home and away series. Fourth place meets fifth place in a two-legged series as well. Scores are kept on aggregate and the teams that win face off in a winner takes all match at Wembley Stadium. The winner of the playoff final earns promotion to the top-flight while the loser must face another season in the depths of Championship Hell.
The Championship Relegation
While teams have their eyes on reaching the top six, they are all avoiding the bottom three. Finishing in the relegation spots means being demoted to the third-tier of English football. It is a place some Premier League teams have found themselves in after sliding down the slippery slope of failure. Not long ago, reigning Premier League champions Manchester City were stuck in League One. Wolverhampton Wanderers were in the division just a few short years ago as well.
While the bottom three head to League One, they are replaced by the top two sides in the third-tier. A playoff is played in League One just like in the Championship. The winner of the playoff final is promoted to the Championship.
*Odds are correct at time of publishing
Best Championship Bookmakers Summary
William Hill
William Hill is one of the most prestigious bookmakers in the UK, and they have a feeling of being a truly classic betting site. They offer tons of sports on their platform, but their Championship betting markets are top-notch. With William Hill, you can bet on who will be relegated, promoted, finish in the top 4, and other appealing betting markets.
If that wasn’t enough, as a new customer you can get a William Hill promo code offer, which you can also use to bet on a Championship market of your choice. Signing up takes literally minutes, and as soon as you have done so you can access all Championships that are currently available.
Bet365
Bet365 has been at the top of the game in the UK for quite some time. They offer loads of markets that are specifically for the Championship, including moneyline markets for each and every game, as well as spread and over/under betting. On top of this, the live streaming quality that they have to offer is just second-to-none. This can be used from either the desktop or mobile platforms, which leads us to the next point.
Their mobile app is just awesome, boasting a slick interface, quick cash-out capabilities and an easy download for both iOS and Android. You can also fund your account with just the push of a button, meaning that you’ll never be too far away from a decent Championship bet.
Ladbrokes
Ladbrokes has also been around for a considerable length of time in the UK, although they initially shot to fame and popularity through their many horse racing markets. These days however, Ladbrokes covers tons of Championship games, along with plenty of markets to give you both variety and excitement.
They have some cool features on their site too that you can use with Championship betting, such as bet boosts and boosted odds for both single and accumulator bets. These features give you a shot at a higher payout if you are able to choose correctly, without the need to wager more money. Ladbrokes promo codes are among the most competitive out there.
Betway
Betway may not have the same level of prestige or popularity as some of the other platforms mentioned here, but the quality that they serve up for Championship bettors is undeniable. Besides the chance for new customers to get £30 in free bets, they regularly offer up to 100 or more markets for each Championship game that is played.
With that in mind, spoiled for choice would be an understatement. You also have the added advantage of being able to build your own bets with this platform, as well as having easy access to statistics for each team that is involved in the game.
Paddy Power
Paddy Power was originally a top-level horse betting site, and it took quite some time before they were able to shake this reputation with UK punters. Paddy Power regularly advertises pre-made accumulator bets, and these do involve Championship games from time to time, so it makes placing multiples wagers super easy. They also have a Paddy Power welcome offer for first-time sports bettors, which is always a welcomed reward.
Paddy Power also produces exclusive offers on some games in the Championship, especially when the game involves two big teams, and with further features like early payouts, there’s much to love with Paddy Power.
last update : September 2024