the highly competitive world of championship football is not for the faint-hearted, and this weekend’s set of fixtures promises to be as exciting and nerve-jangling as ever. here we bring you the latest betting odds for all the games as well as our betting tips as we try to help you make a profit from betting on some top football matches in england’s second tier.
there’s only one place to start this weekend, and that’s the west midlands derby between wolves and birmingham at molineux. under the guidance of kenny jackett, wolves have risen to third in the championship table after losing just one of their last 10 matches and posting good wins over middlesbrough and leeds in the last week or so.
birmingham’s fortunes, however, contrast dramatically to those of their near neighbours, after parting company with lee clark and then suffering a record 8-0 home defeat at the hands of bournemouth. gary rowett has been installed as the new boss and he will be looking for a positive reaction from his players in his first match in charge. the bookies can’t see it, however, and the home side are priced as the odds-on favourites to get the three points, ladbrokes offering the best betting odds of just 4/7.
birmingham are priced at 6/1 with bet365 while the draw is available at odds of 10/3 with boylesports, but our main betting tip for this derby is to back wolves to be winning at half time and full time at betting odds of 7/5 with ladbrokes.
there are plenty of other big matches being played in the championship this weekend, not least the friday night game between norwich and bolton at carrow road. the canaries haven’t really lived up to their early season success in recent weeks but they have steadily kept in touch with the top teams in the division and are currently in sixth position just three point behind leaders derby. neil adams’ men are without a win in five league matches, however, and though bolton have lost five of their last seven, it could be a tough match.
the bookmakers seem to think this will be a relatively comfortable win for norwich, with ladbrokes again offering best betting odds of 13/20. bolton are out at large odds of 11/2, but it is the draw that tempts us at 31/10 with 888sport as the trotters look to avoid defeat at all costs and just manage to grind out a point.
table toppers derby travel to mid-table brentford hoping to bounce back from their home defeat to wigan last time out, only their second defeat of the season. given derby’s position, it is perhaps surprising that they have only the ninth best home record in the division, but away from home they are almost unbeatable and we think steve mcclaren’s men will have more than enough to get the three points, especially after their morale-boosting victory at fulham in the league cup on tuesday. our betting tip for this one is for derby to win at very nice odds of 13/10 with coral.
the turmoil at leeds united shows no immediate signs of abating after the latest managerial dismissal, darko milanic having been shown the door after just 32 days in charge! former academy boss neil redfearn has taken the helm and fans are hoping for a period of relative stability, but a trip to cardiff is not the easiest start in the world and the welsh side are priced as the 17/20 favourites with betvictor to get the win. the only way is up for leeds, though, and we fancy the calming and assured presence of redfearn will have a positive effect on the players. as such our betting tip for this one is for the match to end in a draw, which is priced at best betting odds of 13/5 with be365.
bournemouth versus brighton is a south coast battle to relish, especially after the cherries’ 8-0 drubbing of birmingham and their fine 2-1 league cup victory over premier league side west brom on tuesday. as such eddie howe’s men have to be the favourites for victory over a brighton side who haven’t won in the league since august. backing the home side to win both halves is our betting tip for this one at very nice betting odds of 5/1 with coral.
wigan hope to follow up their victory over the league leaders when fulham make the trip up north, but this could be a very tough one to call. both sides are underperforming – wigan are in 19th position, fulham in 20th – and both managers will be looking for their players to put in a performance to kick start their season. wigan are the 5/4 favourites with coral, while fulham are out at 5/2 with bet365, but we fancy the draw at 12/5 with stan james as the sides cancel one another out.
blackburn and reading are sides who are looking to make it into the playoffs at least, and it is the lancastrians we fancy in this one after reading have managed only one victory from their last seven, and that coming against bottom side blackpool. backing rovers to win is our betting tip at best odds of 21/20 with betvictor, a very favourable price in our eyes.
speaking of blackpool, they face ipswich at home this weekend and will be looking for just their second victory of the season. ipswich have only lost once in their last 10 in the league, however, and we feel the best the home side can hope for is a draw, which would at least stop the rot. backing the stalemate is our betting tip here at a decent price of 5/2 with sky bet.
charlton versus sheffield wednesday is a tough one to call, but with wednesday without a win for over a month we have to opt for the home side at best betting odds of 15/8 with betvictor. we’re going with forest when they make the trip to huddersfield, however, stuart pearce’s men looking a good price at 9/5 to continue their push towards the top of the table.
rotherham – unbeaten in five – can earn a point against middlesbrough, we feel, and that’s exactly what we’re tipping in their clash, available to back at betting odds of 12/5 with 888sport. finally, watford versus millwall could be a feisty affair and our money is on over 2.5 goals at betting odds of 19/20 with william hill as both go all out for victory.
remember we have live betting odds comparison on every championship match this season, so always check your betting odds right here to ensure you get the best value every time you bet.