2019-20 EFL Championship Season Betting Preview
The 16th edition of the English Football League Championship starts with a game between newly-promoted Luton and Middlesbrough on August 2. The wealthiest non-top flight football division in the world and the second most-watched second tier on the planet is attracting a lot of attention. It is the most-competitive second league for years now, and 24 teams are ready to start with a long season.
Last season, Norwich City, Sheffield United, and Aston Villa earned promotion to the Premier League while Luton Town, Barnsley, and Charlton Athletic were promoted from League One. Cardiff, Fulham, and Huddersfield joined the circus following relegation from the EPL. Rotherham United, Bolton Wanderers, and Ipswich Town will be playing in League One.
EFL Championship – Winning Outright and Top 6 Finish
Once again, Leeds United are the biggest favourites to win the Championship after missing out on promotion last season. Marcelo Bielsa’s side suffered elimination in the play-offs semi-finals despite defeating Derby County in the opening leg. Even though they were at the top of the table for a big part of the season, the Whites were left empty-handed but will try to secure direct promotion this time around.
They haven’t spent a single pound so far this summer while they sold teenager Jack Clarke to Tottenham Hotspur. Spurs immediately loaned him back to Elland Road for the rest of the season. Leeds United did lose Pontus Jansson as he went to Brentford, and snapped Hélder Costa on loan from Wolves. Leeds United are 5/1 to win EFL Championship, and Coral provides the best odds. Also, SkyBet is giving the highest 8/13 odds on the Whites to make it to Top 6 teams in the league.
Fulham spent only one season in the Premier League, and although they had a solid team, on paper, they finished the last year in disappointing 19th position. Several players left the club as some returned to their parent teams while others were loaned out, like Jean Michaël Seri to Galatasaray and André Zambo Anguissa to Villarreal. Ivan Cavaleiro joined from Wolves, and right-winger Anthony Knockaert came from Brighton, both on loan.
Striker Aleksandar Mitrovic scored 11 Premier League goals in 2018-19, and he is the biggest candidate to win Top Goalscorer award. Multiple bookmakers are offering 6/1 odds on the former Newcastle United target man to top the goal-scoring chart. His team, on the other hand, is 7/1 to win the Championship. Manager Scott Parker probably has the best individuals in the league. In case you’re not convinced they can win the Championship, backing them to secure Top 6 at 5/6 odds is a good deal.
Cardiff City also returned to EFL Championship after only one year among the elite, and they are 10/1 with William Hill to win the league. Aden Flint from Middlesbrough and Will Vaulks from Rotheram are new arrivals while the Bluebirds earned nearly £10 million on sales of Kenneth Zohore and Bruno Ecuele Manga. Neil Warnock’s men will face a tough challenge to get back to the Premier League considering the stiff competition. However, they should make Top 6, and you can find the best 6/5 odds with Paddy Power.
West Brom are also at 10/1 to win the EFL Championship, but they will have to do it without Salomón Rondón, Craig Dawson, and Jay Rodríguez who all left the club. The Baggies got striker Kenneth Zohore from rivals Cardiff City; Romaine Sawyers joined from Brentford while Filip Krovinovic will spend a season on loan from Benfica. New head coach Slaven Bilić will try to get West Brom back to the top tier after they were stopped by Aston Villa in the play-offs semi-finals last season. They are 6/5 to stay in Top 6.
These four teams are the most serious candidates to reach the Top 6 and reach the play-offs, but Brentford, Stoke City, Derby County, Middlesbrough, and Huddersfield Town are also in the mix. Brentford are 2/1 to finish the season among the best six sides while their top scorer Neal Maupay, who scored 25 goals in 2018-19 and ended behind Teemu Pukki on Top Goal-Scorers chart, is 12/1 with Betvictor to top the league in scoring this year.
- Over 40 sports depending on the season
- Far ahead in the odds comparison
- Unique long-term bet
- Over 40 sports depending on the season
- Far ahead in the odds comparison
- Unique long-term bet
EFL Championship – Relegation
Charlton Athletic beat Sunderland in League One play-offs final to make it to Championship, but they are the biggest candidates to relegate at 9/4 with Betfred. Igor Vetokele and Joe Aribo moved to Westerlo and Rangers, respectively, while forward Chuks Aneke came from MK Dons. Lee Bowyer perhaps has the weakest side in the league, and it will be tough to keep them in Championship. Still, other teams should be worried about relegation as well.
Barnsley were League One vice-champions in 2018-19, but they are also viewed as one of the teams who will battle relegation next season as multiple bookies giving 9/4 odds to return to League One. The Reds sold a pair of centre-backs Ethan Pinnock and Liam Lindsay while they bought young winger Luke Thomas and Danish defender MadsJuel Andersen.
Reading snapped up experienced midfielder Charlie Adam on a free transfer and loaned defender Matt Miazga from Chelsea for the second straight campaign. Adam left Stoke City after seven years, and his experience will be highly valuable in the upcoming season. Jose Gomes has some good players in the squad such as midfielder John Swift and defenders Chris Gunter and Liam Moore. Striker Sam Baldock is expected to produce better performances this year after scoring only five goals in 2018-19. The Royals are 16/5 to be relegated.
Millwall finished the last season with four points above the relegation zone, and another relegation battle is on the cards for them. Although they have a solid chance to escape it once again, Coral is giving the best odds 7/2 odds if you believe the Lions will go down this time around. It looks like Neil Harris doesn’t have a squad depth big enough to make it through a tiring, long campaign. That’s why seeing Millwall in League One in 2020 is not impossible.
2019-20 EFL Championship Season Betting Tips & Odds
Queens Park Rangers, Wigan Athletic, Luton Town, and Birmingham City are all at 7/2 to drop to League One. Birmingham City sold forward Che Adams to Southampton and right-winger Jota to Aston Villa, and considering Adams’ 22 Championship goals last year; he will be missed. The Blues did buy talented midfielder Ivan Sunjic from Dinamo Zagreb and brought attacking midfielder Dan Crowley from Willem II, but missing a striker of Adams’ profile could be a problem in 2019-20.
QPR are facing similar problems after selling probably the best player they had – Luke Freeman, who left for Sheffield United. Right-back Darnell Furlong and midfielder Jordan Cousins went to West Brom and Stoke City, respectively, so it’s going to be a long season for the Hoops.
The EFL Championship is one of the most unpredictable leagues in the world, and anything could happen over the next ten months. Our advice is to go with your favourites while the odds are higher as the league starts in a few days.
- Over 40 sports depending on the season
- Far ahead in the odds comparison
- Unique long-term bet