Football League expert @TonyIncenzo gives his best bets and Championship predictions ahead of a huge round of fixtures in the Football League...
REALLY cold weather is forecast in midweek but a sizzling round of EFL Championship action will certainly warm the proverbial cockles.
Here are the fixtures I am anticipating most accompanied by my usual considered pointers to assist your sports betting plans:
TUESDAY 28TH NOVEMBER
Cardiff City v West Bromwich Albion
West Brom moved up to fifth getting past high flying Ipswich Town 2-0 at the Hawthorns on Saturday. Darnell Furlong and Grady Diangana were dynamically on target.
The Baggies have won four of their last five games suffering just two defeats in 12 outings. On Monday morning, Albion secured additional finding via MSD UK Holdings Limited. They originally borrowed £20 million from the American lender in December 2022.
Correct Score - 1:1
Meanwhile, Cardiff City are seventh after edging matters 2-1 at Preston North End. Two late goals deep into added time through Karlan Grant and substitute Ike Ugbo sealed this one - both men capitalising as a result of right flank corners.
The Bluebirds now aim to build on a strong home showing which has yielded five wins across eight so far.
Score prediction: Cat and mouse 1-1.
Queens Park Rangers v Stoke City
QPR’s recently appointed head coach Marti Cifuentes seeks his first success at the fourth attempt having overseen two draws plus Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Norwich City.
Just one goal has been scored in Marti’s reign although their Carrow Road performance was positive achieving 62% possession. The second bottom Hoops nurse 12 winless fixtures thus slumbering six points adrift of safety.
Form on home turf is particularly dire featuring 13 matches lacking victory in all competitions since March including 10 losses. Staggeringly, Queens Park Rangers only hold one League and Cup triumph at Loftus Road dating back 13 months to October 2022.
As for 16th placed Stoke City, the 3-0 surrender versus visitors Blackburn Rovers made it three without maximum points whilst not scoring.
Score prediction: Joy for Rangers at long last 2-1.
WEDNESDAY 29TH NOVEMBER
Sheffield Wednesday v Leicester City
Rock bottom hosting clear League leaders. It would be typical of the topsy-turvy nature of our brilliant EFL Championship if Sheffield Wednesday prevailed here.
They are 10 points below that dotted relegation line on the back of just one win this season. In fact, a dismal 13 defeats within 17.
Correct Score - 1:0
Contrastingly, Leicester City’s 2-0 home canter over Watford opened up a three point gap at the summit.
Former England striker Jamie Vardy notched twice in the concluding 16 minutes to register his first goals beyond 7th October thereby arresting the Foxes’ two match losing slump.
Vardy found revitalised fortunes with a close range toe poke and a thunderous penalty he actually earned himself when tripped by goalkeeper Daniel Bachmann.
Score prediction: Owls defy the football odds 1-0
Ipswich Town v Millwall
Second placed Ipswich Town’s 2-0 reverse at West Bromwich Albion was only a second League defeat during 2023/24 curtailing the Tractor Boys’ 12 match unconquered run dating to 26th August.
It also shattered this division’s final unbeaten away record. Ipswich previously lost on their travels at Oxford United 10 months ago. But they remain the Championship’s foremost goalscorers on 36.
Looking ahead to Wednesday, the 11 games staged in all competitions at Portman Road have produced a staggering 51 goals at both ends. Next up, Millwall visit in 18th spot on just one victory from seven.
Score prediction: The entertainment extravaganza continues…Ipswich 5-3.
Leeds United v Swansea City
In third position, Leeds United saw a three match winning sequence end in meekly drawing 1-1 at managerless Rotherham United on Friday night.
Correct Score - 3:0
Crysencio Summerville expertly curled his seventh goal of the campaign leaving Leeds seven points behind the automatic promotion discussions.
They still protect the Championship’s only unbeaten home record. Upcoming opponents Swansea City lie 17th following three games bereft of victory.
Score prediction: Leeds in the ascendency 3-0.
Southampton v Bristol City
Fourth ranked Southampton drew 1-1 at Huddersfield Town to elongate an unbeaten stretch of nine matches.
Saints talisman Adam Armstrong supplied his 10th goal of 2023/24 courtesy of a deft finish consolidating second top status in the Championship’s leading marksmen chart.
Travelling down to the South Coast, 11th placed Bristol City enjoy a current return of two wins and a draw.
Mark Sykes grabbed their winner from an acute angle to cement an exciting 3-2 scoreline against Middlesbrough at Ashton Gate in Liam Manning’s inaugural home game as City head coach.
Furthermore, Taylor Gardner-Hickman’s stunning 25 yard effort in off the crossbar for the Robins was our best EFL goal dished up anywhere over the weekend in my opinion.
Score prediction: Hard fought 0-0.
Championship Betting Predictions
The Championship is the second tier of English football.
Each season, the top two teams automatically earn promotion to the Premier League, with teams placed between third and sixth entering the playoffs. The bottom three will be relegated to League One.
By far the most-watched non-topflight league in the world, the Championship is renowned for its competitiveness. While there are huge gaps between Championship salaries, there is no denying the level of parity.
Some huge clubs are involved each season, but that is no guarantee of success, even when taking on teams with much smaller budgets and stadia.
Reaching the Premier League not only gives a chance to go toe-to-toe with Manchester City, Arsenal and the other powerhouse clubs.
It brings unparalleled riches each season, which can completely change the fortunes of a club in both the short and long term. Stakes in the Championship are incredibly high.
The Championship was known as the First Division until 2004. Prior to the founding of the Premier League in the early 1990s, it was named the Second Division. The trophy has not been altered over that period, however.
Since being restructured in 2004, 56 teams have participated in the Championship. Cardiff City have the longest overall tenure with 18 seasons.
Of current teams, Birmingham City have the longest Championship active spell with 13 straight campaigns in the second tier.
There have been 13 different champions with six winning the title twice.
Championship Tips This Weekend
From analysis of the best teams in Championship history through to match predictions for tomorrow, 888Sport have you covered when it comes to the Championship.
Our experts provide year-round analysis of the division, including weekly match tips.
Wondering who is a good bet to be the Championship top scorer? Trying to find the teams to include in your Saturday afternoon accumulator? Whatever you’re after, 888Sport’s diverse selection of Championship articles can help you out.
The 2023-24 season sees three Championship stalwarts return in Plymouth Argyle, Ipswich Town and Sheffield Wednesday.
Leicester City, Leeds United and Southampton will be looking to bounce back at the first time of asking after suffering relegation from the Premier League.
When making your correct score prediction for the Championship, you have tonnes of information to weigh up. Injury news and head-to-head records are important, plus you can dive deep into statistics both traditional and advanced.
Championship Predictions For Today
Bettors can find Championship predictions on this page from the opening of the season in late summer through to the Playoffs.
All manner of markets will be covered beyond the standard match winner picks, including both teams to score, total goals over/under and goal scorer bets.
If it’s the latest round of midweek Championship fixtures or tips for this Saturday, 888Sport’s expert team of betting tipsters will have some wagers for you to consider.
Every punter wants some great free sports betting tips. Through our numerous prediction pages, 888Sport has a catalogue of expert predictions, such as football prediction.
Look out for today's Championship prediction pieces and our weekly Championship review articles.
Championship Outright Odds
Championship outright odds for 2023-24 tab the three teams relegated from the Premier League as the favourites for promotion.
Leicester are handed the shortest price of that trio, followed by Leeds, Southampton, Middlesbrough, Ipswich and Norwich.
Before the majority of transfer business has been conducted, Leicester are 11/8 favourites for promotion and priced at 5/1 to win the title. The Foxes finished atop the Championship table in 2013-14.
Leeds topped the league with 93 points in 2019-20 under the stewardship of the iconic Marcelo Bielsa, while Southampton finished as runners-up during their last Championship campaign in 2011-12.
When it comes to Championship relegation odds, Plymouth Argyle and Rotherham United are joint favourites for the drop at 7/4.
Rotherham only finished six points above the drop zone last season. Queens Park Rangers sit at 11/4, while Cardiff City are 3/1 after placing 21st in 2022-23.
Having lost to Luton Town in last season’s Playoff final, Coventry City are 7/4 to finish in the top six in 2023-24. Following a fourth-place finish last term, Middlesbrough are Evens for a top six berth.
Championship Teams 2023-24
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Birmingham City
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Blackburn Rovers
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Bristol City
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Cardiff City
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Coventry City
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Huddersfield Town
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Hull City
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Ipswich Town
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Leeds United
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Leicester City
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Middlesbrough
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Millwall
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Norwich City
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Plymouth Argyle
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Preston North End
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Queens Park Rangers
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Rotherham United
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Sheffield Wednesday
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Southampton
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Stoke City
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Sunderland
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Swansea City
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Watford
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West Bromwich Albion
*All of our 888 Experts picks and betting tips can be considered as a suggestion only.*
*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to Alamy*
