The English League Championship returns on August 9th, featuring 24 teams vying for promotion. This fiercely competitive division promises intense battles as clubs fight for a coveted spot in England’s top tier. Our 24/25 English Championship season betting guide considers potential outcomes for this league.
Following an intense 2023/24 campaign, the English League Championship embarks on its 33rd season under the current format on August 9th. This fiercely competitive division will see 24 clubs battle through 46 rounds of matches, with the regular season concluding on May 3, 2025. The playoffs will then take place, with the final to be scheduled between May 24 and 26, 2025.
Last season’s champions, Leicester, gained automatic qualification for the English Premier League, while Ipswich Town and Southampton also joined them. Conversely, the Championship welcomes relegated sides Luton Town, Sheffield United, and Burnley back to its ranks.
| ℹ️ Tournament: | EFL Championship Season 2024/25 (Sky Bet Championship 24-25) |
| ⚽️ Venues: | Stadiums Across England and Wales |
| 🗓️ Dates: | 9 August 2024 – 26 May 2025 |
The current 2024–25 EFL Championship winner odds on legal betting apps in England list the favorite teams’ chances of victory as follows:
A 24-minute Adam Armstrong goal in the promotion playoff final was enough to promote Southampton but keep Leeds in the English Championship this season. Now, they must fight again for a chance to play in the English Premier League. The Elland Road side finished third in the championship last season, securing 90 points from 46 games. They moved to the promotion playoff and secured passage to the final thanks to a 4:0 win over Norwich in the semi-final. However, they lost the final 1:0 to Southampton in the final. As the third-best team in the championship last season, Leeds are best placed to win the title. Historical records favor this outcome, as Leeds won the Championship in the 2019/20 season after finishing third in the 2018/19 campaign.
Burnley’s recent Premier League campaign was challenging, culminating in a 19th-place finish with five wins from 38 matches. However, the Lancashire club has responded decisively by appointing former Fulham and Bournemouth manager Scott Parker. The former West Ham player is a proven Championship specialist who has twice secured promotion to the Premier League. Bolstered by seven new signings, including marquee Mike Tressor, Burnley is now poised to mount a strong title challenge in the 2024-25 Sky Bet Championship. The Clarets are familiar with this challenge, having won the 2022/23 season championship.
Like Burnley, Luton Town confirmed the Premier League odds for relegated teams in the 23/24 season and left the top division prematurely. The Hatters lost 25 times, securing only eight draws and six victories. Despite their offensive output of 52 goals, a leaky defense that conceded 82 times proved to be their undoing. However, manager Rob Edwards remains at the helm amidst the disappointment of relegation. To bolster their squad for the Championship challenge, Luton has brought in Reull Walters and Shandon Baptiste on free transfers. Also, Dion Pereira joins on loan. Although their Premier League finish was a poor 18th, Luton demonstrated resilience and tenacity. With a focus on defensive improvement to reduce the number of goals conceded, they possess the potential to mount a serious title challenge in the Championship.
Middlesbrough’s recent Championship campaigns have been characterized by inconsistency. An eighth-place finish last season indicates the need for major improvement. The Boro are undeniably capable of exciting football, as evidenced by their impressive tally of 71 goals. Yet, defensive lapses often counterbalanced this attacking flair, leading to 17 defeats, 20 victories, and nine draws. They conceded 62 goals, ensuring they ended their season with a goal difference of just nine. That situation seriously highlights their need for defensive improvements. If Middlesbrough can solidify its defense while maintaining attacking impetus, the club can challenge for the title.
Sheffield United’s return to the Championship follows a dismal Premier League campaign marked by a porous defense that conceded a staggering 104 goals. With 28 defeats and only three victories, the Blades struggled immensely in the top flight. Now, they embark on a fresh challenge, aiming for an immediate return to the Premier League. Fortunately, Chris Wilder remains at the helm. His experience and success in the Championship will be invaluable as the club seeks to replicate their previous promotion-winning campaign. Like many other teams in this division, Sheffield United must balance attack and defense to compete for the top position. Sheffield has 2024–24 English Championship odds of 14.50 (27/2) to win the title.
The English Championship is the second-tier division of English football, positioned below the Premier League. The league comprises 24 teams that engage in a grueling 46-match regular season. The club with the most points at the season’s end is crowned champion and automatically promoted to the Premier League. The runner-up also secures an immediate ascent to the top flight.
Teams finishing in positions three to six participate in the playoffs. The third-placed team faces the sixth, while the fourth-placed team contends with the fifth. These two-legged semi-finals grant the higher-seeded team a home advantage in the second leg. The triumphant semi-finalists advance to the playoff final at Wembley Stadium, with the winner earning promotion to the Premier League.
Relegation is the fate of the bottom three teams in this league. They will be demoted to EFL League One. Conversely, the top two teams in League One gain direct promotion to the Championship. Additionally, the winner of the EFL League One playoff also secures a place in the Championship.
The Football League Championship was introduced in 2004, a rebranding of the previous Football League First Division. The latter was a transformation of the Football League Second Division, which existed before the Premier League’s inception in 1992.
Each season, the Championship’s victor is awarded the EFL Championship trophy—a historic prize once bestowed upon the English top-flight champion. The league encompasses English and Welsh clubs, making it a cross-border competition.
The last five winners of the English Football Championship look like the following:
Here are our season predictions for the English Championship 24/25:
1 (50%)
(50%) 1
We begin this 24/25 EFL Championship season predictions section by stating that Leeds are the top favorites to win the title. The club delivered impressive performances for much of last season’s Championship campaign, appearing destined for a Premier League return. However, a late-season slump denied them automatic promotion, and they ultimately fell short in the playoffs. Nevertheless, Leeds secured a commendable third-place finish, boasting a 27-9-10 record.
Their attacking prowess, exemplified by 81 goals scored, was evident, but they lost Archie Gray and can lose Crysencio Summerville, so you should keep in mind potential losses. However, defensive solidity proved a stumbling block. Strengthening this area could be pivotal in their pursuit of the Championship title this season. With experienced manager Daniel Farke at the helm, Leeds will be eager to challenge for promotion. Farke has experience winning the league after securing the title with Norwich City during the 2020/21 season.
2 (100%)
0
Having tasted Premier League football last season, Luton Town will be eager to return to the top flight swiftly. Luton stood out offensively among the relegated teams, netting an impressive 52 goals in 38 matches. To put this into perspective, Wolves and Everton, who finished 14th and 15th respectively, managed 50 and 40 goals throughout their entire Premier League campaigns. Had Luton been more defensively resolute, they might still be in the top division. However, after conceding 85 goals, they could not avoid the drop.
With these lessons learned, they enter the Championship as dark horses. Maintaining their prolific attacking form while bolstering their defensive capabilities could propel them to the Championship title. Under the continued guidance of Rob Edwards, Luton is poised to be a formidable force from the outset. They have football 24/25 season betting odds of 11.80 (54/5) to win the title.
2 (100%)
0
Middlesbrough kicks off their Championship campaign at the Riverside Stadium, welcoming Swansea City. Boro, known for their attractive playing style, will be hungry for an opening-day victory. They enjoyed success against Swansea last season, claiming a 2-1 away win at the Swansea.com Stadium before repeating the feat 2-0 at home. Michael Carrick’s men also finished the previous season above Swansea, securing an 8th-place finish compared to the Swans’ 14th. The season’s early stages can be unpredictable due to player adjustments. Yet Middlesbrough’s recent dominance over Swansea suggests they have a good chance of securing three points in this encounter.
Our best EFL Championship predictions for 2024/25 are:
Leeds are top contenders for this title, given their record in the league last season. You can leverage our 24-25 English Championship predictions and bet on sportsbooks that offer this market.
