England Championship 2021/22 Odds & Season Preview: Fulham 5-1 Favorites to Win Title

• Fulham are the favorites to win the Championship in 2021/22 ahead of West Brom and Sheffield United
• Playoff finalists last season, Swansea are +600 to be promoted
• Read below for a season preview of the 2021/22 Championship campaign

As is commonplace with the Championship, the teams relegated from the Premier League are among the odds leaders in 2021/22. Two teams went straight back to the top flight last season. Fulham, West Brom and Sheffield United will be hoping to repeat that feat. They are the three betting leaders to win the Championship this season.

Promotion odds are relatively congested ahead of the 2021/22 campaign kicking off. Bournemouth sit fourth at +330 to go up, while Cardiff, Middlesbrough and Nottingham Forest are tied at +500 before a ball is kicked. Despite a sensational run to the playoffs last term, Barnsley are out at +600 to go up and +1800 to win the division.

Championship 2021/22 Odds

Odds as of Aug 6 from DraftKings

Fulham Well Set

Fulham have kept most of their squad together from last season. Harry Wilson and Paulo Gazzaniga have arrived at the club, while Marco Silva has replaced Scott Parker in the dugout. Norwich showed in 2020/21 how to bounce back from relegation, and while they didn’t make a managerial change, Fulham are looking to follow that blueprint and return to the Premier League at the first time of asking.

Having needed the playoffs to go up in 2019/20, Fulham come into this season with a team that should be competing for the top two spots. They have the best squad in the league on paper. Aleksandar Mitrovic is lethal in the Championship, with 42 goals in 69 starts in the division. Their midfield should be able to control matches, while Wilson, Ivan Cavaleiro and Bobby de Cordova-Reid provide support for Mitrovic in the final third.

Silva on Mitro: "Mitro is a key player for us. He has proved that for the past." Says last year was difficult but he's proved himself in PL.

"We are here to support him and help him score important goals.
"I tried to work with him twice (before). He will be a key player for us."

— Peter Rutzler (@peterrutzler) July 29, 2021

The west London club are deserving of their favorites status, though there’s natural skepticism about Silva, who hasn’t managed since his nightmare stint with Everton.

Cherries Make a Push

With former Fulham boss Scott Parker in charge, Bournemouth are looking to build on their sixth-placed finish. The Cherries face some stiff competition in the shape of a Slavisa Jokanovic-led Sheffield United, Fulham and West Brom. Emiliano Marcondes was a great addition in the summer window, though,  and this squad still has plenty of Premier League quality.

Getting Lewis Cook back from injury will help. The defense should be able to provide enough resistance if the attack can continue to produce. Bournemouth finished with the third-most goals last season on the back of productive seasons from Arnaut Danjuma and Dominic Solanke.

🇬🇧: All set up for tomorrow, huge game and tough season ahead, we’ll need your support guys. Let’s get this! #afcb 🍒

🇧🇷: Tudo pronto pra amanhã, grande jogo e uma temporada difícil pela frente, precisamos de todo o apoio pessoal. Vamo pra cima! #afcb 🍒 pic.twitter.com/LLdFQEbarD

— Emiliano Marcondes (@EmilianoMarcon3) August 5, 2021

There’s value in backing the Cherries to win the division or to earn promotion. Parker has proven himself to be a good manager at this level, and there’s plenty in this Bournemouth squad to believe they can outperform West Brom and Sheffield United.

Surprise Candidates

Millwall and QPR are two teams to keep an eye on. Benik Afobe should add some goal-scoring punch to Millwall, who were held back by their poor finishing last season. QPR have gone down the veteran route up top, too, landing Charlie Austin, which should help an attack that ranked fourth in expected goals last season.

🎶 Perfect Symphony.

What. A. Goal.#Millwall https://t.co/r8urrDOhs2 pic.twitter.com/8sML2YuzbO

— Millwall FC (@MillwallFC) July 31, 2021

QPR were strong in the second half of 2020/21, and under Mark Warburton, their +550 price to go up is going to tempt some bettors. Consistency is the question with The Rs. They could beat anyone and lose to anyone last season, and having also ranked in the bottom three in expected goals against, Warburton has work to do to tighten up the defense.

Millwall’s underlying numbers were nothing special, but the signings of Afobe and George Saville are a notable boost to a squad that was on the fringes of the playoff race late into 2020/21.

Previous EFL Championship Winners

EFL Championship Best Bets

Fulham and Bournemouth are the best bets among the leading contenders. There’s a significant gap between the top four and the rest, with the teams from Cardiff down to Blackburn likely to challenge for playoff position at best.

Millwall and QPR are the standouts. They have good managers, and crucially have strikers who are proven at this level. It’s been a difficult few seasons for Afobe, but Millwall will be a real threat if he can regain his form from earlier in his career. QPR showed in the second half of last season just how competitive they can be.

Blackburn at +650 to go up are worth a wager, too. Tony Mowbray’s team was scintillating going forward last season. Despite not making any signings, they have kept hold of Adam Armstrong and could become a top six force if they can take a step forward defensively.

Best bets: Fulham to win the division (+500), Bournemouth to get promoted (+330), Millwall to get promoted (+750)