Championship promotion odds: The leading contenders
Published:
Championship promotion odds 2022/23
We are into the new year and the push for the Premier League is hotting up as we take a look at the updated Championship promotion odds.
The top two will be promoted automatically while the next four teams will contest the Championship play-offs in the thrilling end-of-season shoot-out.
Burnley
Championship promotion odds: 1/25
There were fears over how Burnley would cope back in the Championship after losing the likes of Nick Pope and James Tarkowski over the summer but the Clarets are the runaway leaders and firmly on course for an immediate return to the Premier League.
Former Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany has transformed the team’s playing style and Burnley have lost just two of their 26 matches to open up a five-point lead at the summit.
More importantly in terms of promotion, they are 14 points clear of third place so it seems only a matter of time until a top-two finish is secured.
December was fun 🤗 pic.twitter.com/h15OfgKsl9
— Burnley FC (@BurnleyOfficial) January 6, 2023
Sheffield United
Championship promotion odds: 1/6
United suffered more play-off disappointment last season and the best way to avoid a repeat is to win automatic promotion.
The Blades are firmly on track to do that with eight wins from their last 10 Championship fixtures pulling them nine points clear of third place.
Senegal forward Iliman Ndiaye has been one of the players of the season in the second tier and has nine goals, as does strike partner Oli McBurnie.
Paul Heckingbottom’s men seem to have the strength in depth to cope with the busy Championship schedule and look good for a return to the Premier League after two years away.
Middlesbrough
Championship promotion odds: 10/3
There looked to be no hope of promotion when Middlesbrough sacked Chris Wilder in October. The team were languishing in the relegation zone after just two wins from their first 11 matches.
The appointment of Michael Carrick in his first management job looked a gamble given his lack of experience but has proved a smart move.
When Michael Carrick took over Middlesbrough they were 21st in the @SkyBetChamp. Now they're up to fifth 📈👏@EFL | @Boro pic.twitter.com/B163ZpSGHK
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) January 2, 2023
Boro have surged up the table under the former Manchester United and England midfielder, with six wins from their last seven matches lifting them to fifth in the table.
Nottingham Forest went on a similar run last season before being promoted through the play-offs and Boro fans are dreaming of the same thing happening to them, especially if they can keep hold of the division’s top scorer Chuba Akpom in January.
West Brom
Championship promotion odds: 7/2
Another smart managerial change has had a similar effect on the fortunes of West Brom.
Much like Middlesbrough, the Baggies were struggling at the wrong end of the table under Steve Bruce but things have been very different under his successor Carlos Corberan.
The Spaniard is back in the Championship after leading Huddersfield to last season’s play-off final and Albion are flying with eight wins and seven clean sheets from their last nine league games.
West Brom have plenty of talent in their squad and with one of the best coaches around too, their odds continue to shorten in the Championship betting.
Team spirit. #WBA pic.twitter.com/GWmOCG38zk
— Carlos Corberán (@CarlosCorberan) January 2, 2023
Watford
Championship promotion odds: 4/1
Watford were one of the favourites for promotion at the start of the season having just come down from the Premier League.
Rob Edwards was brought in as head coach from Forest Green but, as is the Watford way, was given little time to settle in and was sacked in September.
He has been replaced by the more experienced Slaven Bilic but the Hornets are struggling for consistency, as shown by a recent 4-0 drubbing at Swansea which was followed by a 1-0 win at Norwich.
Watford are currently fourth but a lengthy injury list is hampering Bilic and he will need their fitness issues to improve if they are to achieve more than just a play-off place.
Norwich
Championship promotion odds: 5/1
Norwich are another of the leading promotion contenders to have changed manager. They were the ante-post favourites due to their history of returning to the Premier League at the first attempt but struggled under Dean Smith.
The former Aston Villa boss looked a good fit for the club but struggled to get a tune out of the Canaries and they are languishing in 11th place with the automatic promotion places already looking out of reach.
Time to get this show on road… 🇩🇪
Let's do this! 👊#NCFC pic.twitter.com/EUfang5RxS
— Norwich City FC (@NorwichCityFC) January 6, 2023
Smith has been replaced by David Wagner, who guided Huddersfield to promotion through the play-offs in 2017 and is now hoping to repeat that feat at Carrow Road in his first job in English football since leaving the Terriers.
Best of the rest
Blackburn are third in the table and look good value at 7/1 in the Championship promotion betting.
No team has enjoyed more home wins this season and incredibly Rovers remain without a single draw after 26 matches, although 12 defeats is the reason for the nine-point gap to Sheffield United in second.
Last season’s play-off semi-finalists Luton have coped well with the departure of Nathan Jones to Southampton and are 7/1 for promotion under former Watford boss Edwards, while sixth-placed Millwall are also 7/1.
Sunderland are just one point outside the top six with the best goal difference of all the teams outside the top two so catch the eye at 20/1 for a second successive promotion after winning the League One play-offs last season.
All odds and markets correct as of date of publication
