The English Football Championship, more commonly known simply as the Championship, is the second-highest division in English football. Made up of 24 clubs, each one is just one step away from making it into the Premier League. It is considered to be the richest non-top-flight football league in the world but revenues are still dwarfed by the Premier League. The top two teams in the Championship at the end of the season are automatically promoted, while third to sixth face each other in the play-offs with the Wembley winners securing the final promotion spot. That play-off final is often referred to as the richest match in the world due to the windfall that the Premier League provides to the promoted clubs.
It's a long, arduous season with 46 games played and possibly another three in the play-offs, two of which could go into extra-time. The three bottom teams end up being relegated to League One. The pride of the league combined with the financial incentive of promotion makes this league a bettor's delight. Between the quality of the football, the atmosphere in the stands and the passion of the players - what more could you ask for! Throughout the season, our team of betting experts will analyze the forthcoming fixtures and give their well-researched opinions on who are going to be the winners and the losers.
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Below we've compiled some of the most important statistics that should help you in your betting predictions. Note that the below figures are taken from the 2023/24 Championship season:
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Our prediction: Leeds United to be crowned champions!
Daniel Farke could be an inspired choice as the new manager of Leeds United having twice gained promotion to the Premier League from the Championship. The team will be licking their wounds after being favourites to win the play-offs last season but coming up short in the final at Wembley against Southampton. That can be used as a drive to make no mistake this season and get themselves promoted by winning the title and avoiding the lottery of the play-offs.
Leicester bounced straight back up to the Premier League at the first time of asking last season so but the teams who were relegated last season do not look to have that level of strength and have some questions to answer about their current abilities to get straight back down to business with a Championship campaign. Ipswich gained a second consecutive promotion last season so fans of Portsmouth and Derby County especially will be hoping that their clubs will be able to do the same with big odds available on the pair.
Odds taken from Bet365 correct as of 01/10/2024
Winner: Our 2023/24 tip Leicester won the Championship, returning to the Premier League. Ipswich will join them in the Premier League next season, just a point behind the champions after only losing six games all season
Play-offs: Southampton took the final spot in the Premier League courtesy of a win in the Championship play-off final against Leeds. Norwich and West Brom were the other two teams who made the play-offs.
Relegated: Burnley, Luton and Sheffield United were the three teams who were relegated from the Premier League.
Promoted to the Championship: Portsmouth won the League One title and along with Derby County and the play-off winners Oxford will be playing Championship football in the 2024/25 season.