August marks the start of the EFL Championship and the protracted fight for three Premier League positions. Because the second division league doesn’t use the divisive VAR video replay system, some die-hard soccer fans think it’s the best league to watch. Although Burnley is the favorite to return to the top division right away, there are some very open odds. Continue reading to view our betting on EFL Championship preview and explore EFL Championship odds for 2024-25.
- English Football League Championship
- August 9, 2024 to May 3, 2025
- 46 matches for each club
- 23 clubs across England
- ESPN+
Betting on EFL Championship: Who do Bookmakers Favor?
Relegated last season, Burnley, a former Premier League team, is this year’s favorite to win the EFL Championship. They have to reserve their ticket back to the top flight and guarantee the top spot, which is (+275). However, Leeds United (+330) presents fierce rivalry in the overall market. The following teams are dark horses: West Brom, Luton Town, Sheffield United, Coventry City, and Middlesbrough. Every other club is at least (+2500).
Want to better understand the 3-way moneyline (1X2) market? See our soccer betting tips and learn about soccer betting lines in 2024.
Last season, Leeds United launched a heroic attempt to rejoin the Premier League following what would have been a temporary absence. Third place earned a top playoff seed rather than automatic promotion rights. But their aspirations of competing in the Premier League in 2024–25 were destroyed with a defeat to Southampton.
Leeds has assembled a strong roster that should hold up over time, now that Brenden Aaronson is back along with other key additions. Yet their initial two draws of the season have somewhat lowered their high hopes early on. However, with 46 games in the season, there is still plenty of time to resume winning ways.
Last season, Leeds United’s predicted goals stats were among the best in the Championship. Advanced analytics really showed that the team was a whole 11 points short of what they were supposed to accrue—at least 101 points. That run of terrible luck is not expected to repeat again, and the team will probably only get better if they manage to hold onto the majority of their personnel.
Leeds ought to be the front-runners for the entire season, in my opinion, and I would advise placing a small wager on them to win at the current odds. After Burnley’s dismal Premier League performance, their Wunderkind manager Vincent Kompany left to take up the head coaching job at Bayern Munich. They are the true favorites in my opinion, making a line of (+250) more accurate.
Betting on EFL Championship: Will Relegated Sides Bounce Back?
As was already mentioned, Burnley’s terrible second half of the season prevented them from finishing in the top division. They were awarded the unwelcome honor of returning to the English Football League, along with Luton Town and Sheffield United, who finished in the bottom three. Burnley is the most likely of the three teams to be in the running to return to the Premier League.
After Kompany left the Clarets during the summer, Scott Parker was named manager. Parker is the perfect person to lead Burnley back to the Premier League because he has managed promotions to the highest division at both Fulham and Bournemouth. They have plenty of skill with Lyle Foster, Maxime Esteve, and the recently signed Shurandy Sambo as well.
But after a rocky previous year, can the puzzle pieces come together? For Burnley, it might come down to a playoff.
Luton Town’s quick rise through the tiers made them the topic of the English soccer landscape in 2023–2024. Their rapid promotion to the Premier League left them without a suitable venue to accommodate them. Little Luton made a nice impression for themselves, with apartments facing the supporter gates. However, the Hatters’ efforts were not strengthened by a 4 point deduction for financial sanctions, and they were promptly eliminated from the Championship.
Luton Town’s lack of success in their opening two games may be a sign of the infamous “relegation hangover.” Aston Villa acquired Ross Barkley in the middle of the summer, leaving a gaping vacuum in the midfield. Manager Rob Edwards must figure out how to turn things around and alter the perception of his team, who are used to being the underdog.
EFL Championship Odds: How Will Sheffield United Perform?
Sheffield United was virtually the laughingstock of the Premier League the previous season, losing a lot of games and never really looking like they belonged. However, several of their results showed a formidable offensive, which is an advantage they undoubtedly aim to keep at the Championship level. With a lengthy season ahead of them, they might want additional assistance beyond the signing of Callum O’Hare.
This season, Oliver Arblaster is a promising young player to watch. The midfielder for England U20 has already led Sheffield United as captain. Arblaster, who displayed brilliance when on loan at Port Vale, possesses the ability and chance to succeed in the Championship right now.
Odds are accurate at time of writing but subject to change.
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