Latest Championship Odds: Burnley's Huge Win Sees Them Top

In yet another twist in the Championship season, we have a new league leader, and things are getting just as tight at the bottom of the division after some big results.

Don't Give Up on Burnley

I said a few weeks ago that the title race would be between three teams, despite the bookmakers feeling that it was Leeds United's to lose, and the past fortnight has proven me right. No longer are we looking at a stand-alone, but rather a race.

Now, the leader of that race is Burnley, and they were the only league leader to win this weekend. However, we'll get to them later; for now, let's focus on the Clarets.

I have often said in these Odds Watch articles that Scott Parker's team have been overlooked, possibly because they're not as 'interesting' as Vincent Kompany's title winners two years ago. However, they've been present throughout the season, and now they've been given the chance to pounce.

A 2-1 win against Coventry is a huge result, especially away from home. Parker's side are hard-working and honest, and picking up results of this ilk as regularly as they do is only a good thing, and there are no signs of them slowing down.

Sitting just behind them is Sheffield United, who were actually beaten this weekend by Oxford United, which could be huge at the bottom of the division. Chris Wilder will certainly be disappointed that they were unable to claim another three points, but it certainly is not a worst-case scenario.

The reason why they have the luxury of being able to afford a loss at the weekend is due to Leeds United's failure to win, and whilst they picked up a point in Luton (London curse again!!), they now sit in third.

In the past few weeks, there have been a number of faults in this Leeds squad, but now it feels like they are stacking on top of one another, and they are suffering massively as a result.

You'd surely still feel confident about their chances of promotion, but they could be cutting it really close if there are no improvements shortly.

Complete Switcheroo in the Play-Offs

As stated in last week's Odds Watch, Sunderland still sit in that purgatorial position, stuck between the battle for the title and the play-off race, and another win this weekend has only further proved that.

Had they avoided a poor spell last month, then they probably would have been involved in the title fight still, but it seems they're pretty much there for the play-offs. Especially considering they beat hopefuls West Bromwich Albion this weekend, away from home.

Then, seemingly from nowhere, Middlesbrough have recovered their season and now sit fifth, after being completely out of it seemingly a few weeks ago. Boro have put together an impressive string of results in the past month, and they are now very much back in the mix.

Before the season began, I felt really confident about Michael Carrick's side's chances this year. For their sake, let's hope they are on a road upwards again, rather than having a spell away from their inconsistencies.

Occupying the final spot in the play-offs is Bristol City, who got a big win against fellow hopefuls Watford this weekend, probably meaning that they are no longer in contention for a top-six spot. About the Robins, though, they have been in and around the play-offs all year, but have felt massively overlooked.

The two sides currently sitting fifth and sixth are certainly not safe, though, as seventh-placed Coventry have 59 points, whilst West Brom have 57 points, meaning there is certainly scope for further change this season.

One in Seven Lose at the Bottom

In recent months, the bottom of the division has been quite ill-contested, with three teams looking a lot more likely than others to be relegated. But, it seems like everyone is seemingly getting into a bit of a form, with only one of the bottom seven losing.

If there is an undesirable situation at the bottom of the table, barring the obvious, it would be failing to pick up a point whilst everyone ahead and behind you did.

We start at the bottom of the division, where Plymouth Argyle proved that there was still life in them yet, with a win against Norwich on Saturday afternoon. It has been a difficult month for the Argyle, so returning to winning ways now, after a draw last weekend, is certainly a way to begin the fightback.

Above them by a point is Luton Town, who drew against Leeds at the weekend. It is certainly better than nothing, and getting a point against the long-time league leaders shows there is still hope for Luton.

Cardiff, sitting two points ahead of Burnley, picked up their 10th away draw of the season this weekend against QPR, which is not a result to scream about, but it is still an important result nevertheless. They now sit on 41 points, level with Derby County.

It is the Rams where we go next, despite their recent run of good results, they were unable to continue it this weekend when facing Swansea. In fact, they were the only team from 18th and below to lose at the weekend, which is certainly an unfavourable time for a loss to come.

Stoke (43), Hull (44) and Oxford United (45) then finish the lineup to 18th place in the Championship, and with only eight points between them and the bottom spot in the league, it is all to play for still.