Latest Championship Odds: Coventry are Premier League

After another interesting weekend of Championship action, we’re back for another Odds Watch piece to assess the changes at the top and bottom of the league, and what betting opportunities may now be there as a result. 

Promotion Done, Title Next?

The Championship title is very close to being wrapped up, but Coventry City could not complete the dream this weekend. A win at Blackburn would have all but confirmed that the league trophy was heading to the CBS Arena. 

However, they were held to a 1-1 draw. Of course, fans will not care much, though. Instead, the focus will be on the fact that after 25 years, they are finally back in the Premier League. It is massively deserved, too. 

They have had blips, yes, but everyone has this season. When push comes to shove, they have been a class above the rest of the division and they have been on this path for a few years now.

A testament to the work done by Frank Lampard, his team, his staff and the chairman, Doug King. 

For those who are keen-eyed, you will notice that Bet365 are already offering odds for their chances in next season’s Premier League. However, we’ll focus on the second division for now.

The only real challenger to Coventry’s waiting throne is Ipswich Town, but they will have to be perfect and hope for a Sky Blue slip-up. In other words, it is a speculative chance. Either way, we’ll look at it and the odds. 

Ipswich sit in second on 76 points and with 42 games played, so they are 10 points away from the leaders, with the potential to make it a seven-point gap, thanks to their game in hand. However, they would require the Sky Blues to be woeful for the final games of the season.

There is a reason why they are 150/1 to win the league. It just isn’t worth it. 

Hull Holding On For Now

With there only being a few games of the season left to go, you’d expect the top six picture to be a bit more closed. However, there are still a few battles to be fought. 

We start with Millwall in third, who sit nine points ahead of the challengers in seventh. Just a point in their final three games of the season will confirm their place in the top six. A win against QPR at the weekend has pretty much secured a spot in the play-off semi-finals. 

Southampton sit in a similar position of strength and with their recent form, you’d imagine them to be the favourites to go up in the play-offs. So, it is no surprise that they are ahead of Middlesbrough in the running. 

Right now, they are below Evens (19/20) to be a Premier League side next season. You’d honestly be better off just backing them to win the play-off games individually, it is a really unattractive price… 

Middlesbrough, on the other hand, are in serious bother. They have not won a game since the start of March. We’re almost at the end of April. To say they have crumbled in recent weeks is an understatement. 

If there was a time to hit form, it would have been a few weeks ago. But now would also be a good time, especially with them only six points away from the chasers. 

Finally, we have Hull, who occupy sixth. The Tigers drew against a difficult Birmingham City side at the weekend and it has not done their hopes of the play-offs much good. Whilst they are safe for now, they are certainly in a precarious spot. 

Sitting below them, Wrexham and Derby strengthened their positions this weekend with both teams winning. The former grabbed a 2-0 win against Stoke, whilst the Rams snatched a 1-0 win against Oxford United.

Wrexham have games against Middlesbrough and Coventry on the horizon, whilst their other is against the U’s. On the other hand, the Midlands outfit face Norwich, QPR and Sheffield United. It is likely to go to the wire. 

Sky Bet and Paddy Power have Hull at 8/13 for a top six spot, whilst Wrexham are 3/1. Finally, Derby are 11/2 for that final spot. For me, I think the Tigers are the best bet, with the Rams my second preference, just due to the price and their fixtures. 

If you think Wrexham are the most likely, it may just be an option to ladder bet (to win against Oxford, then place the winnings on them to win vs. Coventry and so on) their final games. You’ll get more value that way.

Another Team Joins Sheffield Wednesday

Blackburn have played 44 games, which means that the (relevant) bottom two have a game in hand against them. It would shake things up a little normally, but is this the case here?

Firstly, we go to Leicester, who have an eight-point gap to overturn in three games. If they do not beat Hull at the MKM on Tuesday, they will be a League One team next season. It is that simple, who’d have thunk it’d get to this point.

Even without their points deduction, they’d be in massive danger of dropping. Of course, it has probably played a part in their poor run mentality-wise. However, the facts are clear to see.

They look doomed and they are 1/16 to go down with StarSports and its sister sites.

Oxford United’s loss to Derby this weekend may have also almost confirmed their place in League One next season. They are only five points away from Blackburn, but they must play Wrexham, Sheffield Wednesday and Millwall. 

In other words, it will not be an easy feat to stay up. They will be expected to beat Wednesday, which puts the gap, hypothetically, at two points. However, they are reliant on results going their way and it will be difficult for them to go that way. 

At present, they are 3/10 to go down. I’d be surprised if that number went more towards Evens.