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...

THE antepenultimate weekend of EFL Championship fixtures for 2023/24 is rapidly approaching and major issues are yet to be resolved.

Our foremost three contenders are separated by merely two points. But could Southampton make a late bid to join the automatic promotion party after their midweek win? Elsewhere, just six points span 16th down to 23rd prompting fierce relegation battles.

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

SATURDAY 20th APRIL 2024

Leicester City v West Bromwich Albion

A 12.30pm lunchtime affair. With leaders Ipswich Town not in action this week, second placed Leicester City can reclaim pole position. The Foxes sit a point underneath top spot holding one game in hand. Significantly though, Enzo Maresca’s men have lost six of 10 ongoing EFL matches – the concluding two bereft of scoring.

BAGGIES DEFY CHAMPIONSHIP ODDS

Leicester City v West Bromwich Albion

Correct Score - 0:2

28/1

BET HERE

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

It won’t be easy against West Brom in fifth. Last Saturday’s 1-0 home setback at the hands of Sunderland represented Albion’s first defeat inside 11 outings. The Baggies look set fair for Play-Off qualification cavorting seven points clear of the chasing pack. Score prediction: Baggies 2-0 to defy Championship odds.

Cardiff City v Southampton

Fourth ranked Southampton’s 3-0 cruise over visitors Preston North End on Tuesday night took them within four points of the automatic promotion slots. Che Adams netted twice – both crisp finishes from near identical eight yard positions - to reach 17 for the season and 101 in his professional career. He bolstered a third straight victory cementing four matches unconquered. In fact, five wins and two draws amid eight.

SAINTS GO MARCHING IN

Cardiff City v Southampton

Match Result and Both Teams To Score - Southampton and Yes

15/8

BET HERE

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

Saints still face vital tips to Leicester City and Leeds United which should heavily influence denouement matters. As for Cardiff City in 11th, four losses punctuate six games. Score prediction: Saints march on 3-1.

Norwich City v Bristol City

Norwich City fill the final Play-Off rung in sixth boasting a six point cushion. It reflects one defeat across seven games incorporating five maximum pointers.

CRACKER AT CARROW ROAD

Norwich City v Bristol City

Correct Score - 3:3

50/1

BET HERE

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

Meanwhile, Bristol City remain unbeaten in five (three wins, two draws) but firmly mid-table lying 12th. Their current never-say-die attitude was encapsulated by Nahki Wells’ dramatic penalty equaliser goal 11 minutes into added time at the end of last Saturday’s 1-1 Ashton Gate draw versus Huddersfield Town. Score prediction: Brilliant entertainment 3-3.

Rotherham United v Birmingham City

Rock bottom, already relegated and 22 points adrift of safety, Rotherham United parted company with first team head coach Leam Richardson on Wednesday morning. Richardson endured an uphill struggle ever since his appointment two weeks before Christmas. Assistant head coach Rob Kelly has also departed. The Millers have only won four times all campaign. Steve Evans now returns as manager from Stevenage signing a contract until 2027. He was previously in charge at New York Stadium between 2012 and 2015.

NERVOUS AFFAIR

Rotherham United v Birmingham City

Total Goals Over/Under - Under (1.5)

9/4

BET HERE

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

Furthermore, this is a crucial encounter for 21st placed Birmingham hovering a point above that dreaded dotted line. Last Saturday’s very comfortable 3-0 home demolition of Coventry City followed eight reverses in 10 for Blues embracing a single victory. Score prediction: Nervous tension 0-0.

SUNDAY 21st APRIL 2024

Blackburn Rovers v Sheffield Wednesday

Kicking off at 12.30pm on Sunday, Blackburn are almost safe in 17th some five points ahead of the bottom three. However, I wonder where Rovers would be without the 30 goals chipped in by Championship chief scorer Sammie Szmodics. He grabbed the winner during last Saturday’s surprising 1-0 triumph at Leeds United. Blackburn had actually arrived in Yorkshire nursing a solitary success throughout 13 League and Cup contests including being hammered 5-0 at Bristol City the preceding Wednesday.

WONDERFUL WEDNESDAY

Blackburn Rovers v Sheffield Wednesday

Correct Score - 0:1

10/1

BET HERE

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

Contrastingly, Sheffield Wednesday slumber second bottom although just a point shy of the survival region. They are unbeaten in three drawing the past two games. Score prediction: Wonderful Wednesday 1-0

MONDAY 22nd APRIL 2024

Middlesbrough v Leeds United

Leeds United occupy third place registering two defeats among three winless matches. But only two points off the summit despite one victory from five.

LEEDS BOUNCE BACK

Middlesbrough v Leeds United

Match Result and Both Teams To Score - Leeds United and Yes

5/2

BET HERE

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

Next up is a 73 mile journey to Middlesbrough in ninth position. Boro are unbeaten in nine engagements. Score prediction: Leeds bounce back 2-1.

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.