EFL Championship Odds With Three Rounds Remaining; Can Brentford Earn EPL Promotion?

• Giants Leeds United lead England’s second tier by three points from West Bromwich Albion
• Brentford in third on stunning run of seven wins while fourth-placed Fulham have won four on spin
• See all odds and best bets for EFL Championship; Promotion, top two finish and title victory

Leeds United are the leaders of England’s EFL  Championship and require only four points from their remaining three fixtures ahead of Matchday 44 to clinch automatic promotion to the Premier League.

After a 16-year absence, one of the country’s biggest and most historic clubs have 84 points and are set for a return to the top flight, probably as title winners.

West Bromwich Albion currently hold the second position with 81 points which will also likely deliver automatic promotion.

EFL Championship Promotion Odds

All odds taken July 13

Second Chance for Leeds

Leeds narrowly missed out on promotion last season when they were defeated in the playoff semifinals.

But on present form and with two of the final three games against struggling sides, they are rightly considered wide favorites to clinch the championship this time around at -800. WBA are then rated at +500 which actually offers better speculative value on the off-chance when comparing the two teams’ prices.

Third-place Brentford have 78 points and are at +2500 for the title with Fulham in fourth – with 76 points –  rated at +20000.

The two in-form London outfits Brentford and Fulham have already clinched playoff berths but could still challenge for an automatic spot.

The London derby factor could create an unpredictable outcome if Brentford and Fulham meet in the playoffs despite both teams’ current impressive mood.

Brentford are on a stunning run of seven straight wins and are rightly priced at -180 to gain promotion by any means with Fulham rated fourth at +225 following four consecutive victories.

The London derby factor could create an unpredictable outcome if Brentford and Fulham meet in the playoffs despite both teams’ current impressive mood.

We've scored first in 23 league games this season. 🆙

Won: 20
Drawn: 3
Lost: 0#FFC pic.twitter.com/El3kJdg9JK

— Fulham Football Club (@FulhamFC) July 12, 2020

Nottingham Forest in fifth are also likely to secure a playoff place with Cardiff City in sixth place and six teams below them still in with a mathematical chance of reaching the end-of-season shoot-out.

Enjoying a run of three straight wins after Sunday’s 1-0 win away at Swansea City, Leeds have won nine of their last 11 games, with only one defeat and one draw.

They led the division for much of last season but slipped out of the top two to finish third in a dismal late regular season run of three defeats and a draw.

Record 20 Clean Sheets

They have also set a club record of 20 clean sheets in this campaign which suggests they will not slip up defensively for a second time around.

Ironically, they were beaten 2-0 away at Cardiff in their first re-start game – following a prior run of five straight victories.

Since the setback in Wales, they have won four out of five with a 1-1 draw against lowly Luton Town the only hiccup.

In the six games since the resumption, they have conceded only four times while scoring 13; including a 5-0 thrashing of Stoke City.

🎙 "We're disappointed to lose the game. I didn't think there was a lot in it.

"But we didn't do enough in the penalty area, which is ultimately where games are won and lost."

Reaction from the #Bluebirds boss ➡️ https://t.co/1X7Ddx745f#CityAsOne pic.twitter.com/fsSwuIgCe7

— Cardiff City FC (@CardiffCityFC) July 10, 2020

They next meet current bottom club Barnsley at home on Thursday.

Then its playoff outsiders Derby County  on the road before a final game at home against relegation strugglers Charlton Athletic.

WBA’s 1-1 draw against Blackburn on Saturday allowed Brentford to narrow the gap between second and third to just three points.

Frustratingly, WBA have led the table for much of the season but after re-gaining top spot in mid-June, they have slipped to second despite three wins and a draw in the last four games.

Albion were beaten by local rivals Aston Villa in the playoff semifinal last year.

Their 1-1 draw against Blackburn on Saturday allowed Brentford to narrow the gap between second and third to just three points.

Slaven Bilic’s WBA now face a crunch match in the battle for automatic places on Tuesday at home against Fulham.

They then meet strugglers Huddersfield Town and a desperately out-of form QPR side on the final day.

Six Re-Start Wins for Brentford

Albion must be hugely wary of the challenge of Brentford who have remarkably won all six games since the re-start.

In that spell, they have scored 16 times and conceded only three goals.

After meeting playoff hopefuls Preston North End at home on Tuesday, Brentford have fixtures against 17^th-placed Stoke City and bottom club Barnsley so they can surely push all the way for a top two finish.

Next up: Swansea City 🔜 #NFFC pic.twitter.com/rRoqv6Vz6D

— Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) July 13, 2020

Fulham  will increase their hopes of a top two finish if they win at WBA this mid-week  – with winnable games against Sheffield Wednesday and Wigan Athletic to follow.

Cardiff are sixth with 64 points but are nervous after two straight defeats.

In fifth place on 69 points, Nottingham Forest have a six-point cushion to bolster their hopes of a playoff place.

Cardiff are in sixth place with 64 points but are nervous after two straight defeats.

The chasing pack battling them for a playoff place includes Swansea , Preston North End, Millwall, Derby County, Bristol City and Blackburn Rovers.

Picks:

Promotion: Brentford (-180)

Top Two: Brentford (+200)

Title Winner: West Bromwich Albion (+500)