Championship Tips & Odds – 1st December 2018
It has been a busy week in the Championship as there was midweek action that the clubs had to get through. The action returns in full force on the weekend and it kicks off early with a big top-five showdown of Sheffield United v Leeds. Both have the chance to take over temporarily at the top in that one. Saturday evening’s action rounds off with another fascinating showdown as Middlesbrough host Aston Villa.
Here are our predictions and tips for the Championship 3.00 pm kickoffs on Saturday, December 1st.
Birmingham v Preston
The Blues will have been delighted to have fired themselves out of their mini-slump (D1 L2) as they claimed an away win against the struggling Millwall on Wednesday night. That leave them still with five wins in their last eight games so it’s not bad from them. They have remained unbeaten at home this season and are W3 D3 against sides current beneath them in the league. They may not find Preston a pushover tough as they are unbeaten at W4 L5 in their last nine games. After losing their first five away games of the season they are W1 D3 in their last three.
Preston have been improving dramatically and have become so hard to beat, highlighted by their midweek draw against Middlesbrough. The draw in the match outright fits nicely at 12/5 odds* (betting odds taken on November 29th, 2018 at 5:37 pm)
Derby v Swansea
Derby have seen their consistency go out of the window with a W3 D1 L2 in their last six league games and the two defeats have happened in their last three games. They took a loss out Stoke in midweek so things are not quite clicking for them. That is largely down to their defensive frailties which are around at the moment. Swansea though have been in the same boat with their form having gone as well. They have lost three of their last four games and they have now shipped eight goals in their last four games. So this clash at Pride Park is going to be a battle for form.
We can only lean on home advantage in tight situations like this. The Rams are 4/5 odds on which isn’t the most appealing, but we don’t see another outcome* (betting odds taken on November 29th, 2018 at 5:37 pm).
Norwich v Rotherham
The Canaries are singing a pretty tune at the top of the Championship. They stayed there in midweek as they got a draw out a Hull, who are sat in the relegation zone. So that was points dropped realistically by the league leaders as second-placed Leeds closed the gap on them with a win. They have a good chance to extend their home winning form though do Norwich, as they face Rotherham on the weekend. The Millers aren’t too far away from the drop zone and despite going unbeaten in seven games, they have drawn six of them. They have lost four of their five away games at sides currently in the top ten though, failing to score in four of those.
Norwich to win to nil looks to be a really solid option in this one for 11/8 odds* (betting odds taken on November 29th, 2018 at 5:37 pm). It’s doubtful that the Millers have enough in them to cause an upset.
Nottingham Forest v Ipswich
You are not likely to see a crazier game this season than the one that Nottingham Forest were involved in during the weekend. They paid a visit to Villa Park and earned a point in a ridiculous 5-5 draw. That was a point for the Tricky Trees which extended their unbeaten form to six on the bounce (W3 D3). While they have been having trouble finding their winning touch against sides in the top half of the table, they have won four of their five against current bottom-six sides. Ipswich are stuck at the bottom of the pile and lost again in midweek. That’s just two points from their last seven league games and at least two goals conceded in all but one of those seven. They’ll probably be in danger once more on the weekend.
Nottingham Forest should be able to take full advantage of this comfortable-looking home game. Forest to win at both teams to score is at 3/1 odds* (betting odds taken on November 29th, 2018 at 5:37 pm).
Bolton v Wigan
Five losses in their last six games is what Bolton have managed and that’s it (D1). They are stuck down in the bottom two heading into the weekend but still with plenty of hope as they are only three points away from 19th placed Rotherham. The Trotters though need a win and they need one bad but they have found no solace whatsoever in their home games. They are on a four-match losing streak at home. Wigan’s Jekyll & Hyde season continues to haunt them. They have been superb at home but have a W1 L8 record in their nine away games. This will be their first road test against a side currently in the bottom three. They have lost three on the road against sides currently 17th and lower though.
Dreadful home form up against dreadful away form. How do you sort that out? We are suggesting under 1.5 goals as Bolton are without a goal in their last four at home and under 1.5 goals looks rock solid at 11/5 odds* (betting odds taken on November 29th, 2018 at 5:37 pm)
