The 2025/26 Championship season kicks off this week - who is the favourite to lift the trophy?
The 2025/26 Championship kicks off this week with Birmingham welcoming Ispwich to St Andrew's.
Relegated trio Ipswich, Leicester and Southampton bring Premier League pedigree but arrive with questions to answer, particularly Leicester, who face a potential points deduction that could derail their promotion bid before it begins.
At the other end, financial instability threatens the likes of Sheffield Wednesday and Hull, while newly promoted Charlton and Wrexham must prove they can cut it at this level.
Birmingham, fresh from romping to the League One title, are throwing their weight around in the transfer market, while the managerial merry-go-round has added fresh intrigue, with high-profile appointments like Frank Lampard at Coventry and Will Still at Southampton.
Let's take a look at who the bookmakers are predicting to dominate in the English second flight.
Championship Table Predictor 2025/26
| Position | Team | Title Odds | Promotion Odds | Relegation Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ipswich | 3/1 | 5/4 | 200/1 |
| 2 | Southampton | 11/2 | 7/4 | 80/1 |
| 3 | Birmingham | 7/1 | 2/1 | 66/1 |
| 4 | Sheffield Utd | 8/1 | 9/4 | 100/1 |
| 5 | Coventry | 12/1 | 9/2 | 50/1 |
| 6 | Leicester | 12/1 | 9/2 | 9/1 |
| 7 | Norwich | 16/1 | 6/1 | 25/1 |
| 8 | West Brom | 25/1 | 8/1 | 25/1 |
| 9 | Middlesbrough | 25/1 | 11/2 | 25/1 |
| 10 | Wrexham | 33/1 | 7/1 | 14/1 |
| 11 | Millwall | 40/1 | 10/1 | 8/1 |
| 12 | Watford | 40/1 | 10/1 | 9/1 |
| 13 | Bristol City | 50/1 | 10/1 | 12/1 |
| 14 | Stoke City | 50/1 | 11/1 | 7/1 |
| 15 | Derby County | 50/1 | 12/1 | 6/1 |
| 16 | Swansea | 100/1 | 12/1 | 7/1 |
| 17 | Blackburn | 100/1 | 20/1 | 6/1 |
| 18 | Portsmouth | 100/1 | 25/1 | 5/1 |
| 19 | QPR | 100/1 | 25/1 | 5/1 |
| 20 | Preston | 150/1 | 33/1 | 9/2 |
| 21 | Charlton | 100/1 | 33/1 | 10/3 |
| 22 | Hull | 150/1 | 25/1 | 3/1 |
| 23 | Oxford United | 200/1 | 40/1 | 5/2 |
| 24 | Sheffield Wed | 300/1 | 66/1 | 1/3 |
Championship Winner Odds
| Winner | Odds |
|---|---|
| Ipswich | 3/1 |
| Southampton | 11/2 |
| Birmingham | 7/1 |
| Sheffield United | 8/1 |
| Coventry | 12/1 |
| Leicester | 12/1 |
Who is the favourite to win the Championship?
Ipswich Town enter the 2025/26 Championship campaign as the team to beat at a best price of 3/1 with bet365.
Under the guidance of Kieran McKenna, whose high-pressing, possession-based style has become a trademark, the Tractor Boys look primed for an immediate return to the Premier League.
Retaining key players like Leif Davis, Omari Hutchinson and Nathan Broadhead has preserved the spine of a squad that proved it could compete at the top level, while summer additions like Ellis Simms add a new firepower.
A strong start, beginning with a tricky trip to Birmingham, could set the tone for another dominant campaign, but Ipswich must guard against the pitfalls of a post-relegation hangover and the pressure of expectation.
Championship Relegation Odds
| Relegated | Odds |
|---|---|
| Sheffield Wednesday | 7/20 |
| Oxford | 13/5 |
| Hull | 3/1 |
| Charlton | 10/3 |
| Preston | 9/2 |
| Portsmouth | 5/1 |
Who is the favourite to be relegated from the Championship?
Sheffield Wednesday face a daunting battle for survival in the 2025/26 Championship season, with bookmakers making them odds-on favourites for relegation amid financial turmoil, off-field chaos, and a threadbare squad.
With owner Dejphon Chansiri presiding over unpaid wages, multiple transfer embargoes, and growing fan unrest, the club enters the campaign severely underprepared.
The departure of manager Danny Röhl, the sale of key players like Josh Windass and Michael Smith, and a squad down to just 16 senior professionals leave new boss Henrik Pedersen with an uphill task.
While the loyalty of club stalwarts Barry Bannan and Liam Palmer offers a glimmer of hope, Wednesday could be heading for one of the worst points totals in Championship history, unless dramatic changes occur.
