Latest Championship Odds: One Down, Two to Go

The relegation picture is offering us a lot, as it has all season. So, with the latest set of results done, we can look at the current state of affairs, and it is all getting very exciting.

Right to the Death

Neutrals will always hope to see an exciting title race in any league, but a Championship title fight normally has extra drama. That has been precisely the case this year, with Leeds United, Burnley, Sheffield United and Sunderland all fighting for the silverware at one point. Now, just two remain.

So, we'll start with the league leaders, Leeds, who tore Bristol City apart on Monday evening, scoring four goals at Elland Road. It is another display where the Whites have looked a class above, and they are rightly heading back to the Premier League.

Their goal difference, which did not need any help, now sits at +64, which is 13 more than second place. In other words, it would take a monumental screw up for the Peacocks not to return to the top flight as champions.

On the chase is Burnley, who have also been phenomenal, and this was proved again at the weekend, when the Clarets went to London and scored five. In any other season, they would already be champions, but that is the delight of the Championship.

It is maddening that 100 points may only be good enough for second place, a crazy, crazy season of football. More so, considering the tally would be enough to win the league in all but two of the last 15 years.

As Bad as Each Other

With two teams already confirming their place in the play-offs, we can look at the fight for fifth and sixth, and it is certainly an interesting picture.

Bristol City currently occupy fifth on 67 points, and anything but a win will leave them vulnerable on the final day. The 4-0 loss will not really affect morale, considering it was to be expected in a sense.

However, two losses on the bounce are not the most positive, but the bookies remain confident in their chances, with most pricing them at 1/9 or better.

Then, Coventry sit in sixth place as it stands on 66 points. Again, should they win, they would be in the play-offs, you feel. However, they also lost a second game in a row at the weekend, which may make some doubt their chances.

Sitting below them, Millwall, Blackburn and Middlesbrough are all looking to pounce on the chance of a slip-up, with Boro the bookies' favourites to leapfrog the teams and get into the top six at 7/2.

However, Millwall, who are seventh, are the least likely at prices of 7/1. To put it simply, this league always delivers, and it will be a phenomenal final day.

Going, Going, Gone

We're now at the bottom of the division, and things are not any easier to predict, with 18th to 23rd all still on the verge of the drop.

Cardiff's place in League One next season was confirmed during the weekend, and I said before the start of the fixtures that I would not be surprised if they finished bottom of the league (11/4), and this is still a possibility.

A draw to West Brom sealed their fate, and with a trip to Norwich on the cards, I think they will only be heading down at the bottom of the division.

Following them is Plymouth, who are as good as down as it stands. Whilst they can get to 49 points, which would be enough to stay up, they need at least a 14-goal swing, which pretty puts them down.

Finally, it gets interesting.

Hull currently sit in the final relegation spot after their 1-0 loss to Derby County, but they are not yet doomed. A draw on the final day, permitting other results go in their favour, could see them safe, given they have a better goal difference than Preston and Luton.

It is those two teams that we will go to next. Luton have won three on the bounce and sit on 49 points, whilst Preston have lost their past four and travel to Bristol City for their closing game.

Derby and Stoke, imaginably, are quite safe, but you cannot write off the Championship, and it would not be a surprise if we had one final shock to the league table.