The English Championship is often described as one of the toughest and most competitive football leagues in the world. With 24 teams vying for promotion to the Premier League or fighting to avoid relegation, the stakes are always incredibly high.

Popular with punters despite its unpredictable nature, the Championship, while not the top division in English football, ranks as one of the ten most-watched football competitions in the world.

In this article, we'll take a comprehensive look at the 2024/25 Championship season, including promotion and relegation predictions, top goalscorer candidates, and insights on managerial changes.

Championship Promotion

Promotion to the Premier League is the ultimate prize for Championship clubs. The top two teams are automatically promoted to the Premier League while the teams finishing 3rd to 6th enter the playoffs, where one more team earns promotion.

To qualify for the playoffs, a team must finish between third and 6th in the league standings.

This season, the race is tighter than ever. Leeds, Burnley, Luton Town, and Sheffield United are among the betting front-runners for automatic promotion.

Leeds Tipped for Glory

Leeds United are the UK bookmakers' favourites to secure promotion from the Championship in the 2024/25 season. After narrowly missing out last term, with a 1-0 defeat to Southampton in the play-off final at Wembley, the pressure is on for Daniel Farke’s side to make a return to the Premier League.

Despite the departure of last season's leading scorer Crysencio Summerville, Leeds still boast one of the most formidable attacking lineups in the division, and should be expected to prove one of the sides to beat this season.

The Lilywhites can be backed at 1.67 odds (available Aug 29th) to make a return to the Premier League next summer.

Burnley Backed for EPL Return

Burnley are another of top contenders backed for a swift return to the Premier League. As demonstrated by Leicester City and Southampton last season, relegated teams often have a financial edge in the race for Championship promotion.

The Clarets have retained several key players from their previous promotion-winning campaign and look a solid bet at 1.91 odds (available Aug 29th) to return to the EPL next season.

Luton in Contention

Luton Town fought hard in the Premier League last season but ultimately fell short of survival. Despite the challenges, the experience gained has been invaluable, and the continuity provided by retaining Rob Edwards as manager is a major plus for the Hatters.

Luton have managed to keep their core squad intact, which should provide a solid foundation for their Championship campaign. The Hatters can be backed at 5.50 odds (available Aug 29th) to claim an immediate  return to the top flight.

Boro in the Mix

Middlesbrough’s slow start last season proved costly, as they narrowly missed out on the promotion play-offs. Injuries played a significant role, and if Michael Carrick’s team can maintain improved levels of fitness throughout this campaign, Boro could yet prove a formidable force - available at 3.50 odds (available Aug 29th) to claim Championship promotion.

Make sure to check out all of our EFL Championship predictions 24/25 throughout the season.

Championship 24/25 Promotion Betting Odds

Table with Championship 24/25 Promotion Betting Odds

August 29th, 2024
Leeds	1.67	1.57	1.67	1.67
Burnley	1.91	2.10	1.91	1.91
Middlesbrough	3.50	3.50	3.50	3.50
WBA	5.00	5.00	5.00	5.00
Luton	5.50	5.50	5.50	5.00
Coventry	5.50	5.50	5.50	5.00
Sheffield Utd	4.50	4.33	4.50	4.50
Sunderland	6.00	6.00	6.00	5.00
Stoke	11.00	11.00	11.00	11.00
Watford	11.00	11.00	11.00	11.00

Championship Relegation

At the end of the Championship season, the bottom three teams are relegated to League One. Teams finishing 22nd to 24th in the league standings face the drop to the third tier.

Oxford to Fight Expected Relegation

Oxford United have made solid preparations for their return to the Championship, with a focus on bolstering their squad to handle the increased level of competition. While their promotion-winning team remains largely intact, the additions of Will Vaulks and Idris El Mizouni should provide much-needed defensive stability.

The U’s may have enough quality on paper to stay in the division, but the reality of the Championship often proves more challenging. Players like Tyler Goodrham and Cameron Brannagan will be crucial in their survival bid.

Nonetheless, Oxford might find themselves fighting until the very end to avoid the drop, with many EFL predictions placing them just above the danger zone.

Ronney′s Plymouth In Survival Battle

Plymouth Argyle’s survival in the Championship last season was nothing short of remarkable, especially considering their modest budget and the mid-season departure of manager Steven Schumacher.

However, the appointment of Ian Foster as his replacement turned out to be a misstep, with Wayne Rooney now tasked with keeping Argyle afloat in what is expected to be another challenging campaign.

Despite the attacking talents of the much sought-after Morgan Whittaker, Argyle are expected to struggle under their often-maligned head coach.

The general consensus is that Rooney may struggle to inspire his new side. Uninspiring tenures at the helm of Birmingham and DC United offer little promise, and the Pilgrims could find themselves relegated by season’s end.

Portsmouth Can Compete

Portsmouth return to the Championship after winning League One with a stunning 97 points. Their return has been bolstered by key signings, including the experienced Josh Murphy, who adds significant firepower to their attack.

While most championship predictions often place newly promoted teams in the danger zone, Pompey appear to have the resources to comfortably survive their first season back.

With one or two more additions to their squad, Portsmouth are expected to avoid the relegation battle, showing the grit and determination that earned them promotion.

Derby Set to Struggle

Derby County’s return to the Championship is a bittersweet one. After years of turmoil on and off the pitch, the Rams are back in the second tier, but they face an uphill battle to stay there. The departure of key player Conor Hourihane leaves a significant void for the newcomers who look set for a long fight to avoid the drop.

The pace of Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, Corey Blackett-Taylor, and Kayden Jackson offers Derby a dynamic attacking option, but our expert EFL predictions indicate that the team may fall short in their bid to avoid the drop. The lack of that extra quality needed to grind out results could see Derby embroiled in a relegation scrap, with survival far from guaranteed.

All of the teams mentioned will need to punch above their weight to survive, but given the competitiveness of the Championship, will likely be involved in the relegation battle throughout the season.

Our Championship relegation predictions suggest a tight battle to avoid the drop, with Portsmouth given the best chance of survival. Among those likely to struggle, Oxford, Cardiff and Plymouth are tipped to return to League One next summer.

Championship 2024/25 Relegation Betting Odds

Table with Relegation Betting Odds

August 29th, 2024
Plymouth	2.25	2.25	2.25	2.25
Oxford	2.50	2.38	2.50	2.50
Cardiff City	3.50	3.50	3.50	3.25
Millwall	4.00	4.00	4.00	4.00
Preston	4.00	4.33	4.00	4.00
Derby	4.00	4.00	4.00	4.00
Portsmouth	4.00	4.33	4.00	4.00
Swansea	5.50	6.50	5.50	5.50
QPR	6.50	7.00	6.50	7.00
Bristol City	9.50	9.00	9.50	9.00

EFL Championship Winner

Burnley has made a positive transition following the departure of Vincent Kompany to Bayern Munich, with Scott Parker stepping in as the new man at the helm.

Parker’s track record of guiding Fulham and Bournemouth back to the Premier League at the first attempt gives plenty of optimism for Burnley’s prospects this season.

Burnley’s squad has undergone some vital enhancements that should strengthen their bid for the title. The addition of Shurandy Sambo provides a robust defensive option, complementing the permanent signing of Maxime Estève, who impressed on loan last season. These defensive reinforcements should prove crucial in a long Championship campaign.

The arrival of Andréas Hountondji boosts Burnley's attacking options, joining the likes of Aaron Ramsey and Jay Rodrguez in the forward positions. South African Lyle Foster adds further depth to Burnley’s attacking lineup.

Given the strength and depth of their squad and Parker’s leadership, I believe Burnley is well-positioned to secure the Championship title this season. With plenty of depth throughout their squad, and an experienced Championship manager at the helm, the Clarets could prove the team to beat in 2025.

Championship Winner 24/25 betting odds

Table with Championship Winner 24/25 betting odds

August 29th, 2024
Leeds	3.00	3.00	3.00	3.00
Burnley	4.50	4.50	4.50	5.00
Middlesbrough	12.00	12.00	12.00	12.00
Sunderland	15.00	15.00	15.00	13.00
West Brom	15.00	15.00	15.00	15.00
Sheffield Utd	15.00	15.00	15.00	15.00

Championship Top Goalscorer

The race for the Championship’s Golden Boot is always one of the most exciting subplots of the season. This year, several strikers are expected to compete for the top goalscorer accolade.

Among the contenders, Middlesbrough′s Emmanuel Latte Lath bagged 17 goals last season, and with Boro expected to be in the promotion fight, the Ivorian is a decent shout to break the 20+ goal barrier.

Norwich, while not mentioned as a promotion contender, boast plenty of attacking firepower in the shape of US forward Josh Sargent. The 24-year-old scored 16 goals in Norwich′s unsuccessful run to the playoffs last season.

Mateo Joseph of Leeds United is another name to watch. The young forward is tipped for a long career at the top, and if he can stay injury-free, could be one of the surprise contenders to emerge this season.

Championship Top Goalscorer Betting Odds

Table with odds for Championship winner

August 29th, 2024
Haji Wright	9.00	9.00	9.00
Emmanuel Latte Lath	8.00	8.00	8.00
Josh Sargent	10.00	10.00	10.00
Mateo Joseph	12.00	12.00	12.00
Kieffer Moore	14.00	14.00	16.00
Josh Maja	16.00	16.00	16.00

Next Championship Manager to Be Sacked

The Championship is notorious for its high turnover of managers, and this season is unlikely to be any different. As we head into the new season, Plymouth Argyle boss Wayne Rooney is the favourite to be the first managerial casualty of the season.

Following a 4:0 defeat at Sheffield Wednesday on the opening day of the season, Rooney, who has endured less than successful spells at DC United and Birmingham, is already under pressure and is priced at just 2.1 odds (available Aug 29th) to be the next Championship Manager to be sacked.

Turkish boss Errol Bulut of Cardiff City is another manager under scrutiny, with odds of 2.40 (available Aug 29th) to be sacked first. Another side who could find themselves in danger of the drop, a quick start will be needed by the Bluebirds to avoid the pressure heaping on the former Fenerbahce boss.

Derby′s Paul Warne, available at 3.0 odds (available Aug 29th) to be sacked first, is another who could find himself in the firing line. Expected to struggle, County could pull the trigger on the former Rotherham boss should the Rams struggle on their return to the division.

Other managers who might find themselves in trouble include Tim Walter of Hull City and Tom Cleverley of Watford, both priced at 7.0 (available Aug 29th) to leave their post first.

Next Championship Manager To Be Sacked Odds

Table with odd for the Next Championship Manager to be Sacked

August 29th, 2024
Wayne Rooney (Plymouth)	2.10
Errol Bulut (Cardiff City)	2.40
Paul Warne (Derby)	3.00
Tim Walter (Hull)	7.00
Tom Cleverley (Watford)	7.00
Daniel Farke (Middlesbrough)	16.00
Paul Heckingbottom (Preston)	31.00

Championship match predictions are typically released two to three days before each fixture. This timing allows tipsters and analysts to consider the most up-to-date information, including team news, injuries, suspensions, and recent form.

By releasing predictions close to the matchday, punters can make informed decisions based on the latest developments.

It’s essential to keep an eye on these predictions as they can provide valuable insights into potential outcomes, especially in a league as volatile as the Championship.

We offer a wide range of Championship betting tips to satisfy different preferences and strategies. Our favourite EFL betting tips and bets include:

• Over/under 3.5 goals: Predicts whether the total number of goals in a match will be over or under 3.5.
• Both teams to score (BTTS): A popular market where you bet on whether both teams will score during the match.
• Win-draw-win (1X2): Predicts the outcome of a match — either a win for one team, a draw, or a win for the other team.
• Double Chance: This gives you two chances to win, where you bet on a team not to lose (ie win or draw)
• Correct Score: Involves predicting the exact final score of a match, offering higher odds due to its difficulty.

These Championship tips and favoured betting types are based on comprehensive analysis, including team form, head-to-head statistics, and other relevant factors.

Weekend matches in the Championship are always highly anticipated, often featuring several key fixtures that can shape the course of the season. Our Championship predictions this weekend are meticulously prepared, taking into account all relevant factors such as team form, injury news, and tactical setups.

Whether you’re looking to bet on a single match or include several games in an accumulator, our Championship score predictions are designed to boost your chances of success.

With insights into everything from Championship relegation predictions to the race for top goalscorer, MightyTips is your go-to resource for Championship betting.

Our team of expert Championship punters have extensive experience in analysing this unpredictable but hugely popular league. We provide detailed insights into every aspect of the game, from player performance and tactical decisions to managerial strategies.

Our expertise is invaluable for anyone looking to gain an edge in Championship betting tips, offering reliable EFL tips and predictions that can significantly improve your chances of making profitable bets.

For the best England Championship league predictions, EFL tips and betting analysis, stay tuned to MightyTips throughout the season.