Championship Winner Betting Odds

Picking a winner of the Championship feels like it gets tougher every year. Look at last year: Ipswich Town could have been a shoo-in pick, but a poor start derailed any chance they ever really had.

Yet, that would be ignoring Coventry's fantastic season and I don't want to do that...

Nevertheless, I think it's between two teams here - maybe three - and it's the two major drops from the Premier League in West Ham United and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

However, I'm edging towards the Hammers.

Keeping Nuno Espirito Santos is HUGE and me putting that in capitals with bold on doesn't do it justice. He's been in the division before and done it, and whilst there have been changes in the Championship since, it means a helluva lot.

Then, there has not been too much turnover in the squad. Of course, the losses of Crysencio Summerville and Matheus Fernandes will be felt. Then, Taty Castellanos is likely to depart, too.

Past that, though, they've got a fantastic core of players who are above the Championship. Importantly, they also have a bit of cash to play with this summer in the case that anyone else leaves.

There's experience, young blood and quality throughout. With a fanbase that will demand an instant return to the Premier League, this should be a season stop in the second tier.

Oh, and they kept Jarrod Bowen. Nuno has already coached probably the best Championship player of all time in Ruben Neves; now he's going to do it again with Bowen, hopefully achieving the same outcome.

There can be no denying that Wolves have already recruited well and I think there will probably be a bit more to come for them to properly establish themselves as a title challenger.

Yet, I'm not as sold. Changes have been more frequent and the decision to step away from Rob Edwards was a strange one. I think they'll still challenge.

However, I think it's West Ham's title to lose.