How have the fixtures fallen on the first week of Championship action?
The opening matches of the 2024/25 Championship season are now just a few days away but which teams are primed to make a winning start?
We’ve looked at the betting odds for all of the opening round matches and picked out a couple of outright selections favoured by the oddschecker community.
Championship Fixtures on Friday 9th August
Preston North End vs Sheffield United
Sheffield United finished bottom of last year’s Premier League table with a meagre 16 points. Survival never seemed likely after they sold one of their stars Sander Berge to rivals Burnley before the season had even started.
However, at a best priced 5/1, they are one of the favourites for promotion and they travel to Deepdale for their first game of the season. Recently relegated Sheffield United are the favourites for the win at 11/8 whilst Preston are priced at 21/10 for a home win. The draw is priced at 12/5.
Blackburn Rovers vs Derby County
Championship stalwarts Blackburn Rovers face newly promoted Derby County in a Friday night clash.
With Blackburn aiming to finally mount together a promotion push and Derby wanting to prove they're a team worthy of championship status, both teams have lots to prove.
Blackburn are priced up as 11/8 favourites with Derby 21/10 for the away win. The draw is the outsider of the three, priced at a best priced 5/2.
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Championship Fixtures on Saturday 10th August
Hull City vs Bristol City
Hull will fancy themselves this season after only missing out on the play offs by just three points last year. Nevertheless their 7th placed finish was more than encouraging and they host last year’s 11th Bristol City on Saturday.
The hosts are evens favourites to win the game with the draw available at 5/2. An away win for the Robins is the outsider of the three with prices of 3/1 available.
Leeds United vs Portsmouth
Leeds are a strong favourite for promotion this year and it's not hard to see why. They amassed an impressive 90 points under Daniel Farke last season and they will be strong in the hunt for a return to the Premier League.
The sale of Crysencio Summerville is a blow to the team but they'd be disappointed with anything other than a win against newly promoted Portsmouth.
The hosts are a very short 2/5 for the home win with the draw available to back at 4/1. Alternatively punters can back Pompey to pull off a shock away win at a shattering 7/1.
Middlesbrough vs Swansea City
Another team who will look to kick on is Middlesbrough under Michael Carrick. Boro did especially well to finish 8th given their lacklustre start to the campaign and their promise may better be identified from their Carabao Cup run to the semi-finals.
Carrick will be keen to get a promotion under his managerial belt and they look a dangerous team this season. They are a best priced 4/5 to beat Swansea City who had a poor mid-table campaign. The visitors are priced at 7/2 to take all three points whilst the draw is available to back at 14/5.
Millwall vs Watford
Watford have traditionally been a bit of a yo-yo club but they disappointed last campaign as they finished 15th. Millwall were three points above them up in 13th and it seems there is little to split the two sides again. The betting seemingly agrees with the Lions 27/20 to win, while both the draw and the away win are available at 12/5.
Oxford United vs Norwich City
Oxford United are in the championship for the first time in 25 years and they have no easy task in hosting Norwich in their opening game.
The Canaries enjoyed a successful season last year in finishing 6th and therefore qualifying for the play-offs. Although they were knocked out by Leeds in a stunning display at Elland Road, they will want to make amends this year.
The visitors are favourites for the win, despite being on the road, at a best priced 11/8. The draw is priced at 13/5 whilst punters can get a best priced 2/1 on the home win.
Queens Park Rangers vs West Bromwich Albion
After a sustained time in the Premier League, QPR are looking a bit stuck in the second division and they will need to improve on last year to avoid a relegation scrap. Marti Cifuentes only came in on Halloween last year but he will go into the season having his style of football clearly installed.
Perhaps that will help but West Brom were another play-off semi-finalist last season and they will be in the hunt for automatic spots this time around.
The market has the visitors priced at 9/5 for the win with QPR available at 33/20. The draw is the outsider of the three, priced at 23/10.
Stoke City vs Coventry City
Coventry fluffed any chances of play-off glory by losing four of their last five games last year but the Bluebirds will want to correct that as they travel to Stoke on Saturday.
Stoke recorded another poor year in 17th and something will have to change to see the Potters trouble the principles. Nevertheless, Stoke are 5/4 favourites for a home win on Saturday with Coventry priced at 21/10. The draw is the outsider of the three at 27/10.
Cardiff City vs Sunderland
Cardiff and Sunderland have pretty similar stories going into the campaign. Two ex-Premier league teams looking for a return to the big time but two teams also aiming to improve on mediocre season in 12th and 16th last year.
The Black Cats are the favourite on Saturday priced at 6/4 with Cardiff available at 21/10 for the home win. The draw is available to back at a best priced 23/10.
Championship Fixtures on Sunday 11th August
Sheffield Wednesday vs Plymouth Argyle
Plymouth managed to survive the Championship by the skin of their teeth last campaign, or more precisely by a single point.
The Pilgrims will hope to have a less anxious time of it this year and travel to Sheffield Wednesday who were only two points ahead of them in 20th last season.
The Owls are the bookies favourites at a best priced 17/20 with Argyle the 7/2 outsiders. The draw is available to back at 13/5.
Championship Fixtures on Monday 12th August
Luton Town vs Burnley
The best game saved for the camera screens on the Monday with the two relegated teams battling it out. Luton surprised many last year in their sustained bid for safety and they did best of the promoted teams in 18th.
Burnley must recover from losing their manager Vincent Kompany but do have a more formidable budget at their disposal.
The Clarets are 37/20 to come away with all three points whilst Luton at 6/4 favourites for a home win. The price is 12/5 if you think both teams will share the spoils.
