Championship 2025/26 Preview: Predictions and Betting Tips
Last updated: 6 August 2025 by Leon Marshall
The new Championship season is underway, and the latest odds across all the favourite markets are in. Below we break down the title, promotion, relegation and top scorer races,and give you our predictions using data from over 25 betting sites.
Championship Winner & Promotion Odds
Ipswich lead the outright winner market, with Southampton and Birmingham close behind. Sheffield United and Leicester are also in contention, while Coventry and Norwich sit at mid-range prices.
Why they lead the market:
- Ipswich are best-priced at 3/1 to win the title and 5/4 for promotion. They’ve retained key players and replaced Sam Morsy with Azor Matusiwa. Obvioulsy, loosing Liam Delap is a blow, but overall they look settled under Kieran McKenna.
- Southampton are 11/2 for the title and 7/4 to go up. Will Still will look to make an impression in England, and the squad looks strong across the board.
- Birmingham have shortened to 7/1 outright and 21/10 for promotion after a solid pre-season and some notable signings. The Brady backed boys are spending big, alongside Stansfield, Kyōgo Furuhashi could be key.
| Team | Winner Odds | Promotion Odds | Recommended Betting Site | Secure Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ipswich | 3/1 | 5/4 | bet365 | Visit Site |
| Southampton | 11/2 | 7/4 | Betfred | Visit Site |
| Birmingham | 7/1 | 21/10 | 10bet | Visit Site |
| Sheffield Utd | 8/1 | 9/4 | Spreadex | Visit Site |
| Leicester | 12/1 | 9/2 | NetBet | Visit Site |
| Coventry | 12/1 | 9/2 | Ladbrokes | Visit Site |
| Norwich | 16/1 | 6/1 | bet365 | Visit Site |
| Middlesbrough | 25/1 | 11/2 | Betfred | Visit Site |
| Wrexham | 33/1 | 15/2 | 10bet | Visit Site |
Championship Relegation Odds
Sheffield Wednesday are strong favourites to drop, with Oxford and Hull not far behind. Charlton and QPR are also priced close to the drop zone.
Teams at risk:
- Sheffield Wednesday are shortest at 7/20. They are currently in a mess, with only 14 first team players left, and questions as to whether they will even be able to start the season. They still have Barry Bannan though, so there is hope!
- Oxford come in at 13/5. They are expected to struggle this season, but Will Lankshear could change things.
| Team | Relegation Odds | Recommended Betting Site | Secure Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sheffield Wednesday | 7/20 | bet365 | Visit Site |
| Oxford | 13/5 | 10bet | Visit Site |
| Hull | 3/1 | Spreadex | Visit Site |
| Charlton | 10/3 | Betfred | Visit Site |
| QPR | 5/1 | NetBet | Visit Site |
| Preston | 9/2 | Ladbrokes | Visit Site |
| Portsmouth | 5/1 | bet365 | Visit Site |
| Blackburn | 6/1 | 10bet | Visit Site |
| Derby | 6/1 | Betfred | Visit Site |
Championship Top Goalscorer Odds
The Golden Boot market is a tight race, with Cameron Archer, Jay Stansfield and George Hirst all starting the season as joint favourites. Further back, Adam Armstrong and Sammie Szmodics represent each-way value.
Why they lead:
- Archer, Stansfield and Hirst are all priced at 10/1. All expected to be regular scorers. We like Stansfield, as Birmingham continue to buy quality players.
- Armstrong and Szmodics offer good value at 14/1 based on previous goal returns.
| Player | Odds | Recommended Betting Site | Secure Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cameron Archer | 10/1 | bet365 | Visit Site |
| Jay Stansfield | 10/1 | Betfred | Visit Site |
| George Hirst | 10/1 | 10bet | Visit Site |
| Sammie Szmodics | 14/1 | Spreadex | Visit Site |
| Adam Armstrong | 14/1 | NetBet | Visit Site |
| Haji Wright | 16/1 | Ladbrokes | Visit Site |
| Ross Stewart | 16/1 | bet365 | Visit Site |
| Kyogo Furuhashi | 16/1 | 10bet | Visit Site |
| Louie Barry | 17/1 | Betfred | Visit Site |
Our Betting Insight and Predictions
Below find our Championship football predictions for the season based on current odds and pre-season form.
- Title favourites: Ipswich – best priced at 3/1.
- Promotion hopefuls: Southampton, Birmingham, Sheffield United – we are backing Birmingham big time.
- Play-off contenders: Leicester, Coventry, Norwich.
- Relegation danger: Sheffield Wednesday, Oxford, Charlton.
- Top scorer tip: Jay Stansfield – 10/1, likely to be scoring for fun.
- Value punt: Adam Armstrong (14/1) – consistent finisher at this level.
Our Predicted Final Table
Based on the current betting odds and market sentiment, here is our predicted Championship 2025/26 final table:
| Pos | Club | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ipswich Town | Title favourites at 3/1, retained key players, short at 5/4 for promotion. |
| 2 | Southampton | Strongest squad on paper, 7/4 for promotion, 11/2 to win it. |
| 3 | Sheffield United | Good value in the promotion market (9/4), recent PL experience. |
| 4 | Birmingham City | Backed in outright and promotion markets, improved squad depth. |
| 5 | Leicester City | Quality side but uncertainty off the pitch has lengthened odds. |
| 6 | Coventry City | Solid 9/2 for promotion, could sneak into playoffs. |
| 7 | Norwich City | 16/1 for title, likely playoff contender, consistent at this level. |
| 8 | Middlesbrough | Just outside top six in most markets, priced at 11/2 to go up. |
| 9 | Hull City | Decent value, mid-table last year, priced for lower mid-table finish. |
| 10 | Blackburn Rovers | Stable squad, not fancied for promotion or relegation. |
| 11 | Millwall | Hard to beat, rarely involved in either race, should hover mid-table. |
| 12 | Stoke City | Likely to be inconsistent, but should stay clear of trouble. |
| 13 | Cardiff City | Little market momentum, squad lacks depth for top six. |
| 14 | Queens Park Rangers | 5/1 to go down, should have enough to survive comfortably. |
| 15 | Wrexham | 15/2 for promotion, not among relegation favourites. Should survive. |
| 16 | Derby County | Mid-table expected after promotion, minimal betting traction. |
| 17 | Preston North End | 9/2 to be relegated, likely to hover just above the drop. |
| 18 | Portsmouth | Bookies have them as a survival team, 5/1 to go down. |
| 19 | Swansea City | Little movement in any market, expected to struggle slightly. |
| 20 | Bristol City | No backing in promo or drop markets, expected to tread water. |
| 21 | Watford | 5/1 for relegation, declining squad, just enough to survive. |
| 22 | Charlton Athletic | 10/3 to go down, thin squad could be exposed. |
| 23 | Oxford United | 13/5 for relegation, bookies see them as likely to drop. |
| 24 | Sheffield Wednesday | Heavy favourites for the drop (7/20), due to turmoil off the pitch. |
Season Preview
The 2025/26 Championship season is shaping up to be another competitive campaign. Ipswich and Southampton enter as early favourites, while Birmingham and Sheffield United have both attracted interest in the promotion markets.
Ipswich return to the second tier with a strong squad and good continuity under McKenna. Their defensive record last time was solid and they’ve retained their spine.
Southampton fell short in the Prem last year but look well equipped to go again. Will Still will guide Adam Armstrong to provide the attacking threat and they’ve added depth across midfield.
Birmingham are seen as the best of the rest, with strong additions including Phil Neumann, Tommy Doyle, Kyogo Furuhashi, Demarai Gray, James Beadle, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Kanya Fujimoto, and Eiran Cashi. They’ll need to find consistency but could be a threat in the top six.
Sheffield United will be targeting automatic promotions. The squad still contains top experience, although squad turnover and injuries may test their depth – Louie Barry could be key.
Wrexham face a big challenge after back-to-back promotions. Their model has worked so far, but staying in the division will be the primary aim.
At the bottom, Sheffield Wednesday and Oxford are favourites for the drop, with Charlton, QPR and Hull also among the main relegation candidates. Avoiding poor home form will be crucial for all of them.
Key Fixtures: Ipswich v Southampton, Leicester v Birmingham, and Wrexham v Charlton could all have early implications on promotion and relegation outcomes.
Football League Previews: Full Coverage
We’ve previewed all three tiers of the English Football League ahead of the 2025/26 season. Check out our full breakdowns and betting predictions below:
Championship club previews: