Championship Predictions & Betting Tips This Weekend

Football League expert @TonyIncenzo gives his best bets and Championship predictions ahead of a huge round of fixtures in the Football League...

OUR penultimate weekend of EFL Championship fixtures is approaching and the major issues are mighty close to being resolved.

Leicester City sit right on the brink of automatic promotion with Leeds United and Ipswich Town also in the frame. Elsewhere, merely four points span 17th down to 22nd sparking dramatic relegation fears.

Here are the upcoming pairings I am anticipating most alongside my usual considered score predictions to assist your betting plans…

Friday 26th April 2024

Queens Park Rangers v Leeds United

Leeds United are second – four points off the summit and a point ahead of third placed Ipswich Town who hold a game in hand. Monday night’s thrilling 4-3 success at Middlesbrough signalled a first maximum pointer in four outings for boss Daniel Farke. Championship player of the year Crysencio Summerville netted twice including a penalty to reach 20 for 2034/24. His delightful curling goal on 61 minutes turned out to be the winner.

QPR DEFY BETTING ODDS

Queens Park Rangers v Leeds United

Correct Score - 1:1

8/1

BET HERE

*Odds subject to change. Max stakes applies. T&C apply.

Furthermore this is a crucial engagement for homesters Queens Park Rangers too. The R’s hover four points beyond that dreaded dotted line in 18th spot following one victory across four matches. Score prediction: 1-1 to defy Championship betting lumped on Leeds.

Saturday 27th April 2024

Huddersfield Town v Birmingham City

A massive relegation dogfight as 23rd entertains 22nd. Huddersfield Town are three points adrift of safety after a solitary victory amid 10 encounters. Last Saturday’s dismal 4-0 home setback versus Swansea City saw all four goals conceded in the final 17 minutes.

REAL NERVE JANGLER

Huddersfield Town v Birmingham City

Correct Score - 0:0

9/1

BET HERE

*Odds subject to change. Max stakes applies. T&C apply.

Perched two points above the Terriers, Birmingham City reflect on two wins and a draw in five games. Score prediction: Nerves jangling 0-0.

Sheffield Wednesday v West Bromwich Albion

Fourth bottom Sheffield Wednesday are a point outside the relegation rungs due to four unbeaten incorporating two wins and two draws. Some 7,321 travelling fans enjoyed a 3-1 canter at Blackburn Rovers on Sunday moving out of the basement three for the first time since August.

WONDERFUL WEDNESDAY

Sheffield Wednesday v West Bromwich Albion

Correct Score - 2:1

9/1

BET HERE

*Odds subject to change. Max stakes applies. T&C apply.

Next up, Hillsborough’ capacity crowd anticipates the visit of fifth ranked West Brom fresh from two successive losses and one victory among six matches thereby reducing their cushion in the Play-Off zone to three points. Score prediction: Wonderful Wednesday 2-1.

Millwall v Plymouth Argyle

Occupying 20th position, Plymouth possess a two point buffer over the danger area. Last Saturday’s 3-0 capitulation at Stoke City terminated Argyle’s promising three match unconquered sequence amassing seven points.

LIONS ROARING

Millwall v Plymouth Argyle

Match Result and Both Teams To Score - Millwall and Yes

3/1

BET HERE

*Odds subject to change. Max stakes applies. T&C apply.

As for Millwall in 16th, previous relegation nightmares have been squashed courtesy of three wins on the spin. Score prediction: Lions roaring 3-1.

Hull City v Ipswich Town

Kicking off at 8pm on Saturday night, third placed Ipswich haven’t won in three games to drift five points beneath pole position. Nevertheless they’ve played one match less than the top two.

TRACTOR BOYS TURN IT ON

Hull City v Ipswich Town

Correct Score - 0:2

10/1

BET HERE

*Odds subject to change. Max stakes applies. T&C apply.

Contrastingly, hosts Hull City lie seventh and are now three points shy of Play-Off discussions. Wednesday evening’s 3-2 triumph away to beaten FA Cup Semi-Finalists Coventry City featured substitute Noah Ohio poke their decider 12 minutes before full-time emphatically capitalising on defensive hesitancy. The Tigers remain undefeated in five winning three of them. Score prediction: Tractor Boys turn it on 2-0.

Monday 29th April 2024

Preston North End v Leicester City

League leaders Leicester City are four points clear going into the weekend and need to win one of the two concluding matches to secure an immediate Premier League return. But they could actually be promoted as early as Friday night if Leeds United lose at Queens Park Rangers. The Foxes were so convincing in Tuesday’s 5-0 home destruction of Southampton where Abdul Fatawu notched a great hat-trick. I liked Fatawu’s somersaulting goal celebration whilst the jubilant fans chanted: “We are going up!” That was their second consecutive victory overturning two straight defeats. However, a word of caution prior to this Lancashire road trip because Enzo Maresca’s men surrendered the past three away games by the same 1-0 scoreline.

PROMOTION PARTY FOR FOXES

Preston North End v Leicester City

Correct Score - 0:3

10/1

BET HERE

*Odds subject to change. Max stakes applies. T&C apply.

Meanwhile, Preston fill 10th place in light of three back-to-back losses. I watched from the Loftus Road press box last Saturday when North End disappointingly registered just two shots on target during a 1-0 reverse against QPR. Score prediction: Leicester 3-0 prompting party time.

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.