the championship is notoriously difficult to predict (and from which to escape), with fast, frenetic football, bags of commitment and a hugely competitive nature making it great fun to watch but not always easy to bet on. we take a look at all 12 matches this friday and saturday and offer up our predictions and tips for each, with the best betting odds guaranteed thanks to our live odds comparison.
middlesbrough v bournemouth
there is only one place to start our preview and that is the top of the table clash that will take place at middlesbrough as bournemouth come to town. second host first and it should be a brilliant contest, the teams separated by just goal difference after 16 games. with just eight points separating a further six teams beneath this pair, maintaining momentum is everything as even a short bad run could see a side drop out of the playoff places, never mind the title race.
the home side are favourites, priced at betting odds of around 11/8 with sky bet and others whilst eddie howe’s men are out at 23/10 with betvictor but with the away side on a run of seven straight wins in all competitions we think they will take some stopping and our prediction here is the draw at odds of 12/5 with bet365.
bolton v wigan
a game that can perhaps rival our first match in terms of potential excitement is the lancashire derby that is being televised on friday night. both sides have started the season slowly, with bolton down in 23rd and wigan 19th but the home side are on the up. new manager neil lennon has them playing with a little confidence nine points from six tough games is a very good return. they are decent on home soil and at odds of 7/4 they look good here against a wigan side with just one win in 10.
derby v wolves
this is another huge game as fourth host sixth and the home side will hope to keep the pressure on the sides above them. derby are scoring – and conceding – a lot of goals at the moment and all of their last four have seen both teams score. with wolves also scoring quite freely our main prediction here is for goals but our betting tip is the home win in conjunction with btts at nice odds of 7/2 with bwin.
birmingham v cardiff
there is no love lost between these sides and this one is sure to be feisty. neither has started their championship campaigns well and this is a tough one to predict given it is sure to be played at 100 miles per hour. the bluebirds are yet to win on the road this term and with birmingham unbeaten in their last two we think the home side are just about worth backing here at 15/8 with betfred.
brighton v blackburn rovers
brighton welcome blackburn to the south coast this weekend and we predict an even game, despite the home side’s lowly position in the championship. backing the draw at half time should be the safe option at fair betting odds of 5/4 with bet365.
fulham v huddersfield
fulham have struggled to adapt to championship life after so many predicted they would go straight back up to the premier league. they sit 21st, six places and four points beneath the visitors and whilst the draw appeals we think fulham will edge it at odds of 23/20 with betvictor.
ipswich v watford
ipswich are clear favourites here at odds of 6/4 with ladbrokes but watford will give it a real go. fifth hosting third is always going to be a tough one to predict and given both sides have drawn a number of matches recently we’ll sit on the fence here: our betting tip is the draw at odds of 5/2 with betfair.
leeds united v blackpool
if there was an award for the championship side with the most off-field drama, this pair would be among the contenders. leeds boss (for now at least) neil redfearn will hope to get his first win as permanent manager here against a hapless and hopeless blackpool his side should deliver. the lancashire outfit have taken just one point from the last five games and so our prediction – and betting tip – here is the home win at nice odds of 5/6.
millwall v brentford
not one for the neutrals, this clash between two sides we expect to end the season in championship mid-table isn’t easy to call. on balance we have to go with the home side but our betting tip here is for both teams to score at 5/6 with betvictor.
nottingham forest v norwich
forest versus norwich looks a more entertaining contest on paper and both sides are firmly eyeing promotion to the promised land of the premier league, although both will have to turn around poor recent form. both may be a little low on confidence which could lead to a tentative game and we feel backing this one to be level at the break with forest clinching a much-needed win at full time is worth a punt at huge odds of 6/1 with betvictor.
reading v charlton
13th host 10th in another championship clash that is far from straightforward to predict. reading are very strong at home but charlton have only lost twice on the road, drawing five of eight and nine of 16 in total. the stalemate appeals at nice odds but we think reading will nick it and our tip is the home win at odds of 19/20.
sheffield wednesday v rotherham
this south yorkshire derby will be hard-fought and full of passion, not least because both teams will be desperate to put some distance between themselves and the relegation battle. wednesday are without a win in nine games and, moreover, have an awful home record and so at a nice price of 11/4 our betting tip here is the away win, whilst at shorter odds backing rotherham +0.5 also appeals.