Championship Promotion Betting
The race for promotion from the Championship is always a fascinating one. It is tough to call too, whether that be at the start of the season, midway through or just a few games from the end.
At this stage, anyone in the division will see a path to the play-offs at the very least. That’s just how the league works. You assemble a committed squad, you label your star man, and you strive for consistency. Then, who knows what can happen?
As with any league in world football, there are those expected to be in the mix. This may not be how it turns out of course, but for now it is worth looking at who the betting pundits fancy to reach the top flight.
A week or so away from the start of the new campaign and what should be another enthralling season, the front runners are Leicester City. The Foxes are available at 2/1 with the majority of bookies with many predicting this to be their year.
They didn’t even make the play-offs last season of course, but they have a strong squad and if they get off to a good start, they could take some stopping. Summer recruits include Zak Whitbread from Norwich as well as highly-rated young French midfielder Anthony Knockaert.
Nigel Pearson’s men have plenty of competition though, including Owen Coyle’s Bolton Wanderers who are 11/4 for promotion. Fresh from relegation last season, they have kept the majority of their squad together and there was definitely no panic when they were relegated.
They certainly have one of the strongest squads in the league – with the likes of Marvin Sordell, Kevin Davies and David N’Gog as attacking options – so they should be right up there.
You then have Wolverhampton Wanderers available at the same odds. Also relegated from the Premier League last season, they will have plenty of bets on them bouncing back straight away.
However, there is a great deal of uncertainty at Molinuex at the moment. Michael Kightly has already moved to Stoke City, while star striker Steven Fletcher has handed in a transfer request.
They also have a new manager who has no experience of English football, so it is anyone’s guess how well they will do. However, a good start and their passionate fanbase will get behind which ever players are left. Don’t write off Wolves just yet.
The next three clubs to talk about are all available at 4/1 – Blackburn Rovers, Cardiff City and Nottingham Forest. Blackburn will be hoping to bounce back from relegation of course, while Cardiff and Forest have been backed well in the transfer market.
In fact, should Cardiff secure the services of Craig Bellamy, expect their odds to shorten and there to be many a bet on them finally making it to the Premier League.
As ever in the Championship, there are then a large group of teams that will really fancy their chances with twelve teams available at 10/1 or less for promotion.
There are some really ambitious clubs amongst these teams too with Middlesbrough, Sheffield Wednesday, Leeds United and Blackpool all determined to make it to the big time.
Peterborough and Barnsley are the only two teams available at more than 20/1, but who would write them off?
It would be a shock of course, but this is the league for it. They are certainly capable of beating any other team in this league, that’s just how it works.
It will be good to assess this promotion race again in a few months time.