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Championship Odds: Promotion and Relegation in 2nd Tier

Don Aguero

by Don Aguero in Soccer News

Updated Jan 17, 2018 · 9:38 AM PST

Bristol v Norwich
Nick (flickr) [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/]

Newcastle, Brighton, and Reading Huddersfield have escaped to the Premier League; Blackburn, Wigan, and Rotherham have been sent packing to League One; and Hull, Middlesbrough, and Sunderland will be joining the Championship after woeful seasons at the top.

Also, League One sides Sheffield United, Bolton, and Millwall enter the fray after a successful season in the third tier.

Where does that leave the Championship? Who are the favorites to win? Which teams will be promoted and which will be relegated? After you get your answers, check out our experts’ top ten betting sites so you’ll know which site best suits you when you’re ready to place a bet.

Time to take a look at the odds.


Odds to win 2017-18 EFL Championship

Aston Villa: 15/2

After their 13th-place finish in the Championship this year, you probably wouldn’t expect Aston Villa to be the favorites for the 2017-18 season. But the Villans just needed some time to rebuild after a disastrous 2015-16 season which led to their relegation.

Former English captain John Terry will lead Aston Villa into the new season, and hopefully guiding them back into the Premier League.

Middlesbrough: 17/2

After crashing out of the Premier League last season, Middlesbrough seems committed to spending as little time at the Championship as possible. For a club of their stature, they’re currently spending well beyond their means right now. They’ve poached Forest’s top goalscorer Britt Assombalonga for €17 million and outbid Brighton and Bournemouth for Toulouse striker Martin Braithwaite.

Middlesbrough knows as well as anyone how relegation can trap a club in the lower leagues, so they’re going all out to stop the bleeding.

Fulham: 10/1

Fulham had a shot at promotion last year but fell short against Reading during the playoffs. Apart from taking on Belgian midfielder Ibrahima Cissé, they’ve been pretty inactive over the transfer window. But without Newcastle and Brighton to contend with, Fulham has a better shot at the top spot this season.

Sheffield Wednesday: 10/1

With Burnley’s George Boyd added to the squad and Middlesbrough’s Jordan Rhodes now a permanent fixture, Sheffield Wednesday might finally escape the Championship after 17 long years away from the Premier League.

They came within reach of promotion last season but lost a playoffs shoot-out to Huddersfield Town. The Owls haven’t looked this strong in a long time and a chance as good as this is hard to come by.

Norwich: 13/1

For a while it seemed like Norwich were on their way to becoming a mainstay in the Premier League, but after being relegated once again in 2015-16, things don’t look so promising anymore. They finished in eighth place last year, barely in contention for a playoff spot.

THE FIELD

Wolves: 13/1

Derby: 14/1

Leeds: 18/1

Hull: 19/1

Sunderland: 20/1

Brentford: 25/1

Cardiff: 30/1

Sheffield United: 35/1

Birmingham: 40/1

Reading: 40/1

Nottingham Forest: 45/1

Bristol City: 50/1

Preston: 75/1

Queens Park Rangers: 80/1

Ipswich: 100/1

Barnsley: 150/1

Millwall: 150/1

Bolton: 250/1

Burton: 250/1


Odds to be Promoted/Relegated in 2017-18

Odds to be promoted:

Aston Villa: 12/5

Middlesbrough: 5/2

Fulham: 10/3

Sheffield Wednesday: 7/2

Norwich: 7/2

Come the end of the season, the top two teams and the winner of the Championship play-offs are promoted to the Premier League. With the additions both Aston Villa and Middlesbrough have made, they have the best chance. Fulham has the benefit of not having to contend with Newcastle and Brighton, which bumps up their odds, and Sheffield Wednesday are in the perfect position to make the jump.

Odds to be relegated:

Burton: 2/1

Bolton: 12/5

Barnsley: 5/2

Millwall: 11/4

Queens Park Rangers: 9/2

While Sheffield United had a great season in League 1 last season, the same can’t be said for Bolton and Millwall. Bolton finished a distant second after a mediocre season and Millwall scraped by with a playoff win after finishing sixth. It’ll be a struggle for either team to remain in the second tier.

Burton barely survived relegation this year and QPR ended the season by losing seven of their last eight matches. Both sides will be heading to League 1 unless they make some serious changes.

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