Often lost in the shadow of its big brother, the Premier League, the EFL Championship is nonetheless one of UK’s most eagerly awaited annual football competitions. Twenty-four teams will play this season which starts in August and promises to entertain and amuse fans who want to see some good football, along with the hope of watching their team lift the trophy.
The weeks before the start of the competition is a crucial time for bookmakers and punters who want to earn some money from it. The bookies are busy right now, releasing early odds based on past performances, whereas punters are picking up amazing welcome bonuses to spread out their wagers. While it is a great idea to bet early, it is also essential that you invest some of your money on soccer predictions for individual games. Websites such as Forecastr are an excellent source of day-to-day football match information from around the world and publish tips that can give you an edge in making the right decision.
As for the EFL Championship, here are a few suggestions that you need to keep in the back of your mind, as the competition progresses.
Leeds – Winner
The 2018-19 season of the Championship saw some amazing gameplay by the top English football clubs. One reason for the fierce competition is the glory of lifting the cup, but the fact that the winner gets to play in the Premier League next season is the icing on the cake. Aston Villa won the cup last year, which puts Leeds as the favourite with the bookies, this time around. They have the team on 9/2 odds as the overall winner. However, with Fulham hot on their heels, it will be interesting to see how the first few games go to get a clearer picture of which team is likely to dominate this tournament.
Charlton – Relegation
No one likes to be last, especially when it comes with the added disadvantage of moving down to EFL League One. There are many reasons for this, from financial issues faced by clubs, to lack of any team dynamics. However, the fantastic aspect of football is to see teams fail and then rise again in the future and surprise everyone. Punters though can make the most of the up and downs associated with football by picking out the teams who will be kicked off the league. Charlton is a favourite, for lack of a better word, amongst the bookies to come in last with 5/2 odds. But Reading and Barnsley are also facing trouble and will have to give it all if they want to continue playing in the Championship.
Aleksandar Mitrovic – Top Goal Scorer
Fulham’s dream of joining the Premier League next season will depend significantly on how well Aleksandar Mitrovic performs. A slight hope of encouragement comes from the fact that bookmakers have the Serbian player pitted as the top goalscorer with 6/1 odds. As a punter, do keep a check on Neal Maupay and Patrick Bamford from Brentford and Leeds United respectively who are equally good with the ball and can end up scoring more this season.
