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...

EXCITEMENT is rapidly building ahead of our mouth-watering EFL Championship Play-Off Semi-Final First Leg ties coming up on Sunday.

There really is so much at stake. Quite simply, the eventual Play-Off winners will pocket a minimum of £150 million even if they finish rock bottom of the Premier League table next year.

So thrills and spills galore are certain this weekend. But betting odds have been defied lately because all four participants strangely displayed patchy form in recent encounters.

Here is my comprehensive preview alongside considered score predictions to assist your Championship betting plans…

Norwich City v Leeds United

Sunday 12th May 2024, Kick-off 12 noon
Score prediction: Leeds edge a thriller 4-3.

leeds edge thriller

Norwich City v Leeds United

Correct Score - 3:4

100/1

BET HERE

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

2023/24 Head-to-head in the Championship

Saturday 21st October 2023

Norwich City 2-3 Leeds United

Wednesday 24th January 2024

Leeds United 1-0 Norwich City

Norwich City fact file

Final position in the Championship: 6th

Current form in the Championship: Norwich City completed the regular League season amassing three games bereft of victory – two draws followed by a defeat.

Last result in the Championship: Birmingham City 1-0 Norwich City

Norwich City went into this match requiring one point to mathematically guarantee Play-Off status. In the end, that wasn’t necessary since seventh placed Hull City lost concurrently.

At St Andrew’s, Paik Seung-Ho headed the decider from seven yards for Birmingham City on 55 minutes but his side were relegated to League One in light of results elsewhere.

Leading scorer: Josh Sargent – 16 goals in the Championship

Last appearance in the Premier League: 2021/22

Leeds United fact file

Final position in the Championship: 3rd

Current form in the Championship: Leeds United slipped out of the top two reckoning courtesy of registering just one win in their final six League fixtures culminating with two defeats.

Last result in the Championship: Leeds United 1-2 Southampton

Still maintaining a shout of attaining automatic promotion, Leeds United knew they had to overcome Southampton and pray second ranked Ipswich Town simultaneously capitulated at home to Huddersfield Town.

However the Tractor Boys comfortably won their match 2-0. As for Daniel Farke’s men, Joel Piroe supplied a fiercely stuck 21st minute goal which wasn’t enough against Southampton anyway.

Leading scorer: Crysencio Summerville – 20 League and Cup goals

Last appearance in the Premier League: 2022/23

West Bromwich Albion v Southampton

Sunday 12th May 2024, Kick-off: 2.15pm
Score prediction: Saints shade it 2-1.

saints march on

West Bromwich Albion v Southampton

Correct Score - 1:2

8/1

BET HERE

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

2023/24 Head-to-head in the Championship

Saturday 11th November 2023

Southampton 2-1 West Bromwich Albion

Friday 16th February 2024

West Bromwich Albion 0-2 Southampton

West Bromwich Albion fact file

Final position in the Championship: 5th

Current form in the Championship: West Bromwich Albion won their last League game thereby terminating a run of three straight defeats.

Last result in the Championship: West Bromwich Albion 3-0 Preston North End

Needing a point to be sure - due to superior goal difference - Albion rubber stamped Play-Off qualification in getting past Preston North End 3-0 at The Hawthorns.

Baggies marksmen were Alex Mowatt (penalty, 45+2 minutes), Kyle Bartley (61 mins) and Darnell Furlong (68 mins).

Leading scorer: Brandon Thomas-Asante – 12 League and Cup goals.

Last appearance in the Premier League: 2020/21

Southampton fact file

Final position in the Championship: 4th

Current form in the Championship: Similar to West Bromwich Albion, Southampton triumphed in their concluding League match after three back to back losses.

Last result in the Championship: Leeds United 1-2 Southampton

Fulfilling a possible dress rehearsal for the Play-Off Final itself, crisply delivered close range strikes via Adam Armstrong (18 minutes) and Will Smallbone (35 mins) settled matters for Saints.

Leading scorer: Adam Armstrong – 21 goals in the Championship

Last appearance in the Premier League: 2022/23

Second Legs to come:

Leeds United v Norwich City

Thursday 16th May 2024, Kick-off 8pm

Southampton v West Bromwich Albion

Friday 17th May 2024, Kick-off 8pm

The Championship Playoff Final

The EFL Championship Play-Off Final will grace Wembley Stadium on Sunday 26th May 2024… Norwich City or Leeds United versus West Bromwich Albion or Southampton

Already promoted

Leicester City and Ipswich Town filled the two automatic promotion slots as worthy champions and runners-up respectively.

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.