The second half of the 2023/24 Championship season is poised to deliver a footballing spectacle as the race for promotion to the Premier League unfolds.
Fallen top-flight clubs Leicester City, Leeds United and Southampton are on the hunt for redemption, but they are walking a tightrope with several other prospects eyeing promotion.
The highly volatile nature of the English second tier makes it nearly unpredictable, but we will do our best to guide you on the most eye-catching betting tips in 2024.
Title Winners – Leicester City
The Foxes suffered a disappointing exit from the Premier League, but they quickly found hope of a swift return under the leadership of Pep Guardiola’s former right-hand man, Enzo Maresca.
They’ve enjoyed a massively impressive campaign under the Italian’s leadership, winning 17 of their 21 games in the second tier and are firmly on course for the Premier League.
Although there’s still a long way to go, particularly as only a solitary point separates them from title challengers Ipswich Town, their 1.44 odds of success suggest Leicester are primed for the title.
Automatic Promotion – Ipswich Town
High-flying Ipswich have been the talk of the Championship this season, defying the odds to go toe to toe with Leicester for the title. However, they could struggle to displace the Foxes at the summit.
Despite this, considering they’ve opened up a massive ten-point lead over third-placed Leeds, it’ll take a monumental capitulation for Kieran McKenna’s side to slip out of the automatic promotion slot.
They’ve been handed odds of 1.50 to secure a top-two finish, but there can be no room for complacency from the Tractor Boys, as there’s still ample time for Leeds to close the gap.
Play-offs – Leeds, Southampton, West Bromwich Albion & Sunderland
Leeds stumbled out of the blocks but they’ve clicked into gear under Daniel Farke’s leadership, although their rocky start has left them trailing the top two by double digits.
At 1.025 odds, Leeds have a better chance of securing a slot in the play-offs than finishing in the top two (2.37). Nonetheless, they’ll fancy their chances of an immediate return to the Premier League.
Leeds’ noble quest for a Premier League return will be challenged by three other sides vying for the final promotion slot.
After finishing the 2022/23 campaign at the foot of the Premier League, Southampton are back with a vengeance, although the odds for a quick return are firmly stacked against them.
Two points separate them from Leeds, and their recent 13-game unbeaten run (W8, D5) bolsters confidence in their 1.14 odds for a top-six finish.
Leeds and Southampton could be joined by West Brom in the play-off mix. The Baggies have transformed into concrete promotion contenders under Carlos Corberan, and their 1.83 odds for a play-off berth reflect their newfound solidity.
West Brom sit fifth in the Championship, boasting the division’s joint-second-best defence alongside Leeds after conceding 21 goals, with only Leicester shipping in fewer (14).
Sunderland (3.00) could snatch the final play-off place, but they will need to be wary of competition from several other sides including Hull City (4.00) and Blackburn Rovers (9.00).
They are perched precariously in sixth place, but the tides could turn against them in the blink of an eye, as just three points separate them from 11th-placed Norwich City.
Capitulation from the Black Cats opens the door for a potential underdog to replace them in the top six picture in the second half of the season.
Relegated – Rotherham United, Sheffield Wednesday & Queens Park Rangers
At the other end of the table, the battle for survival promises a thrilling finale.
Rooted to the foot of the table with a meagre 13 points to their name, Rotherham are staring down the relegation trapdoor, hand in hand with Wednesday, who share an identical points tally.
The odds predict their demise at 1.10 for Rotherham and 1.40 for Wednesday, and it would take a miracle for either side to evade the abyss.
However, a flicker of hope remains for QPR, who are teetering on the brink of relegation, with their demise predicted at 2.10 odds.
They are just one point adrift of safety but need a rousing run of results in 2024 to bolster their chances of avoiding the drop.
Top goalscorer – Sammie Szmodics
Republic of Ireland midfielder Sammie Szmodics has been in sensational form for Blackburn this season, emerging as bookmakers’ favourite to win the Championship Golden Boot.
Szmodics has racked up 14 goals in 21 league games, igniting the fervour of Irish bettors, who will be keen to profit off his astonishing form on betting sites in Ireland.
The 28-year-old is on course to clinch the Golden Boot but faces concrete competition from Southampton striker Adam Armstrong, who has notched 12 goals.
Szmodics is a best-priced 3.75 to finish top of the pile and he is fancied to keep Armstrong at bay to deliver a winning return to UK and Irish punters.
Founder and Editor-in-Chief at The Real EFL, Gary is a passionate Lincoln City fan with extensive content creation across the Championship and EFL. He also shares expert football betting tips.
