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With 10 Goals, Brentford’s Ollie Watkins Now +550 Odds to Win EFL Championship Top Scorer

Josh Ricker

by Josh Ricker in Soccer News

Updated Mar 31, 2021 · 7:44 AM PDT

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The ball is seen during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Manchester City at Old Trafford Stadium, Manchester, England, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2015. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
  • Ollie Watkins is gaining ground in the race for the Golden Boot in the EFL Championship
  • His counterpart, Aleksander Mitrovic, is on top of the pack with a staggering twelve goals
  • Read below for the odds, analysis and pick to lead the EFL in goals this year

It is a very tight race for the Golden Boot this year in the EFL Championship, and Ollie Watkins is not making that race any easier with his 10 goals for Brentford. After 16 matches played in the Championship this campaign, there is hardly any separation between the top four goal scorers.

EFL Top Scorer Odds

Player Goals Scored Odds
Aleksander Mitrovic 12 +135
Ollie Watkins 10 +550
Karlan Grant 9 +800
Jarrod Bowen 9 +1100
Lewis Grabban 7 +2000
Nahki Wells 8 +2500
Patrick Bamford 5 +2500
Britt Assombalonga 6 +3300
Borja Baston 6 +4000
Jordan Hugill 7 +5000

Odds taken on Nov. 16th

It was always an easy bet to see Aleksander Mitrovic scoring so many goals for Fulham after being bumped out of the Premier League last season. His physical stature and willingness to attack the football makes him hard for any defender to contain, especially on set pieces. The Serbian striker bagged 11 goals in England’s top flight last season, and was truly one of the only bright spots in a revamped Fulham squad. Does this make him the best bet?

Who Else to Watch Out For

The Championship players are not just handing Mitrovic the Golden Boot. Throughout last year, Ollie Watkins only managed to score 12 goals in 45 games for Brentford, however he has almost amassed his total from last season in nearly a quarter of the matches. The English forward has been praised for his good performances this year, and his versatility, often switching from a number ten, into the team’s number nine.

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Further down the list is Huddersfield’s Karlan Grant on nine goals. After only scoring four in the Premier League last year, it seems as though the former Charlton Athletic forward is settling into his new role under manager Danny Cowley. But, Grant is not a wise decision, as it appears he could be off on a new move to the Premier League during the January transfer window.

Jarrod Bowen is also pushing the leaders, as he is at nine goals for Hull City. Bowen is another young English forward that looks to be filled with much promise, but could also be shuffled off in a Premier League move to Newcastle in the future.

Who’s the Best Bet?

Go with the underdog Watkins. The value is really tremendous and it is an easy bet that actually is much more likely to happen than people are projecting. While the goal tally chart is at a deadlock, there are at least two competitors that look to be off to new clubs in January. This means that even if they stay in the Championship, it could prove tough for them at a new club, with new teammates.

Even though Mitrovic is the odds-on favorite, you must not forget how hot he was for a while in the Premier League. The former Newcastle man is known for scoring goals in bunches, and then cooling off. Watkins has looked very exciting so far, and his versatility shows that he can score goals from various positions and in more than one way. It might not be a total lock, but if you want your money’s worth, bet on Watkins.

The pick: Watkins (+550)

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