So the dust has settled on another remarkable football season and now we know the 24 teams that will be lining up in the Championship next term. Josh Windass’ last second winner in the League One play-off final secured Sheffield Wednesday’s place back in the second tier and the Owls fill the one remaining spot of what should be a Championship jam-packed full of quality next term.
The final day of the Premier League saw Leicester City and Leeds United relegated alongside Southampton and with Plymouth Argyle and Ipswich breaking all the points records in League One, the division looks stronger than ever before. But it also means there is potentially money to be made, if you can pick the winner. Here’s how Betfred have priced up the Championship before any signings have been made this summer.
Championship odds with Betfred*
Leicester City - 7/1
Southampton - 7/1
Leeds United - 8/1
Middlesbrough - 9/1
Ipswich Town - 14/1
West Brom - 16/1
Norwich City - 16/1
Sunderland - 16/1
Stoke City - 16/1
Millwall - 20/1
Hull City - 20/1
Blackburn Rovers - 20/1
Coventry City - 20/1
Watford 20/1
Swansea City - 25/1
Sheffield Wednesday 25/1
Bristol City - 33/1
Preston North End - 33/1
QPR - 40/1
Huddersfield Town - 50/1
Rotherham United - 50/1
Cardiff City - 50/1
Plymouth Argyle - 66/1
Birmingham City - 66/1
Leicester City and Southampton have been instated as early favourites by Betfred, due to their Premier League pedigree. Despite the fact they only won the Premier League in 2016, I would stay well clear of Leicester until we see some solidity in terms of the manager and playing squad.
James Maddison, Youri Tielemans, Wilfried Ndidi, Kelechi Iheanacho and Harvery Barnes are all likely to leave, and although they will raise a huge amount of funds, it remains to be seen how they will spend them. Or which manager will be in charge to oversee the revival.
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Meanwhile Southampton, if they get Russell Martin in, are the most tempting of the three relegated sides. They have a decent young squad they should be able to retain the majority of, and in Martin a manager that could lead them to the title. Meanwhile Leeds are looking all over the show at the minute, and given they still need to appoint a manager, their odds look incredibly short.
Michael Carrick’s Middlesbrough are the most-fancied team that haven’t come down from the Premier League and if they can keep hold of Chuba Akpom, they could enjoy another positive season. They have stability on and off the pitch and look like they can have another solid season.
Elsewhere, the club that catches the eye in the betting are Ipswich Town, fifth favourites having got 98 points in League One last term. It wasn’t enough for the title, but under Kieran McKenna they play some wonderful football, and have a squad that can compete at this level with more sensible investment this summer.
They are going for back-to-back promotions, while West Brom, Norwich and Stoke are all hoping for improved seasons at 16/1. Intruigingly, Sunderland are also placed at that price having lost in the play-off semi-final to Luton Town, while the team the Hatters beat in the final, Coventry City, are out at 20/1 - with talisman Viktor Gyokeres expected to depart.
Also at 20s are Blackburn, Watford, Millwall and Hull City, all of whom will harbour hopes of making it into the top six, having missed out in different fashions in 2022/23. Meanwhile, other newly-promoted sides Sheffield Wednesday and Plymouth are priced at 25/1 and 66/1 respectively, with Argyle being written off again, despite beating both Ipswich and Wednesday to the title and smashing the 100 point mark. Steven Schumacher will be desperate to make a big impression at this level.
Early ante-post pick: Middlesbrough @ 9/1
Outside pick: Coventry City @ 20/1
*18+ | BeGambleAware
