The Championship season is in full swing, and it will be known fairly soon which teams will enter the play-offs or earn automatic promotion to the Premier League.
With things heating up, it’s about time punters learned how to make proper predictions and some tactical tips on how to bet on sports, in this case, the Championship. This article will allow you to forge your path on that journey; as we enter the crucial stage of the campaign, you will need every bit of knowledge you can get to make as informed wagers as possible.
Leicester City: An Almighty Fall Off?
Leicester City was the early favorite to get promoted back to the Premier League following a shock relegation from the top English flight last season. As things stand, they will likely gain promotion back to the promised land. However, a run of bad form has seen Leeds United and Ispwich makeup ground on the Foxes.
We’d still back the Foxes to gain promotion automatically and avoid the playoffs, though. They have too much star power at their disposal and have shown throughout this season that they are too good for the Championship. Anything can happen in English football’s weird and wonderful second tier.
Leeds United: Formidable Farke
Seasoned bettors will likely be holding Leeds United in their hands right now. Despite a tricky start to the season, they are looking formidable under the Championship vet guidance of Daniel Farke. The German’s almighty CV of Championship wins when managing Norwich has proven to be the secret sauce needed for things to succeed at Elland Road.
The Whites would be our automatic promotion pick right now, given Farke’s previous history and their current squad firing on all cylinders, especially Crysencio Summerville, who has notched up an impressive goals and assists tally. The West Yorkshire faithful will hope for an early promotion party as the usual grey clouds in the county lift for some early summer sunshine.
Ipswich: The Tractor Boys Keep Rolling
Every football fan loves an underdog story, and Ipswich Town has provided exactly that this season, playing some fantastic football to match. Given how easily they have settled into life in the Championship, it’s easy to forget that Ipswich was only promoted from League One in the summer.
They now have the chance to go one further and reach the dizzy heights of the Premier League. We think the automatic promotion spots may be a step too far for Ipswich right now. Nevertheless, their current points tally suggests they will be in it until the last day against the two sides mentioned above.
Southampton: Keep an Eye on the Saints
With a couple of games in hand and some good performances to match, the Saints are worth keeping an eye on to boost your wagers. Russell Martin has been trusted to take Southampton back to the Premier League and has done a good job in making the Saints real promotion contenders.
They currently sit adrift of Ipswich, Leeds, and Leicester, but anything is possible with their young and hungry squad. Right now, they are almost certain to make the playoffs and would be our favorites to take home that prize. However, with Adam Armstrong playing the best football of his career so far, a late charge on the automatic promotion spots wouldn’t be surprising.
West Brom: The Fallen Giant Rises Again
After the top four comes a host of clubs in and around the play-off spots, ones where wagerers must get their tips spot on to stand any chance of an entertaining evening indulging in some play-off action. The Baggies look fairly comfortable in fifth place right now, and the chance to be a part of play-off football once again will have The Hawthorns buzzing with excitement.
Shrewd bettors will have their fingers firmly placed on Carlos Corberan’s side to cause an upset and gain promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs, and neutral fans of the game will be very intrigued to see how the Spanish manager’s savvy tactics would fair against some of the world’s best in the Premier League too. That being said, Albion’s lack of firepower may be the factor that ultimately costs them promotion.
Norwich City: The Canaries Flying High
Among the top scorers in the Championship this season, Norwich’s all-out attacking style has gained many plaudits and delighted their fans. Nevertheless, their shaky defense is an area for concern that may cost them much playoff success. Bettors looking to cash in on some Championship wagers will likely want to stay clear of Norwich right now, whose mixed bag of form all season makes them too much of a risk.
Hull City sits just behind the Canaries and also deserves an honorable mention in this list. Their young side, managed by Liam Rosenior, could be the dark horses for the play-off title. However, a recent run of dull form full of draws might suggest the chance of Premier League glory has come a little too soon.
Founder of 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.
