EFL Championship Betting Odds & Predictions – Matchday 1

Odds & predictions from matchday 1 in the Championship

Pipa / Huddersfield Town ©IMAGO / Pro Sports Images 24.10.2020

The opening weekend of the new EFL Championship season is upon us, and we have several mouth-watering fixtures to look forward to across the weekend. It starts on Friday night when Huddersfield Town take on Burnley.

On Saturday, Cardiff City welcome Norwich City to South Wales, and Middlesbrough and West Bromwich Albion square off at the Riverside Stadium. The first round concludes on Monday night, as Watford take on Sheffield United at Vicarage Road. Check out our matchday one Championship predictions.

 

EFL Championship Matchday 1: Best Betting Football Tips

Huddersfield Town vs. Burnley: EFL Betting Tip

The 2022-23 Championship season gets underway on Friday night when Huddersfield and Burnley meet at the John Smith’s Stadium. The Terriers lost out on promotion in the play-off final last term, while the Clarets were relegated from the Premier League. Both teams have new managers, but who will come out on top in this season opener?

Huddersfield were the surprise package in the Championship last season, coming from nowhere to finish in third spot. With Carlos Corberan at the helm, Town racked up 82 points in the regular season and beat Luton Town in the play-off semi-finals. However, they lost out to Nottingham Forest at Wembley Stadium. Corberan has since left, with Danny Schofield coming in.

Our betting prediction:
Jay Rodriguez to score first
6/1

Bet at 22Bet

 

(odds taken 2010 GMT, Thursday 28 July)

 

Manchester City legend Vincent Kompany is the new man in charge at Turf Moor. Burnley’s six-year stay in the Premier League came to an end last season. The Belgian has a huge job on his hands, but the Clarets will no doubt be pushing for a top-six finish this term.

This promises to be a cracking Championship fixture to kick off the new season, and it really could go either way at the John Smith’s Stadium. However, our money is going on the stalemate. You can get 7/2 for the draw and both teams to score.

Huddersfield Town 41/20
Draw 21/10
Burnley 29/20
* Bookmaker Unibet
Odds: 7/2 odds taken 2015 GMT, Thursday 28 July


 

Cardiff City vs. Norwich City: Best Football League Betting Predictions

Steve Morison’s Cardiff and Dean Smith’s Norwich square off in an intriguing Championship fixture at the Cardiff City Stadium in South Wales on Saturday. The Bluebirds finished down in 18th last season, but they have a completely new-look team for this year. Can the Welsh side start with a win against the title favourites?

Cardiff had a miserable 2021-22 campaign, though they did manage to survive the drop comfortably in the end. The Bluebirds certainly improved under new boss Morison, who took over from Mick McCarthy after the club suffered eight defeats in a row. Can Cardiff be a dark horse in the race for promotion this season?

Norwich are back in the Championship after suffering yet another instant relegation from the Premier League. They are once again the pre-season favourites for promotion. The Canaries will need to find the winning habit again after picking up just five victories in the 2021-22 Premier League campaign

Norwich are fancied with the bookies to get the win in Wales, but we are backing Cardiff to hold the Canaries to a draw at the Cardiff City Stadium. We like the look of the 1-1 stalemate at 5/1.

Cardiff City 9/4
Draw 9/4
Norwich City 5/4
* Bookmaker Unibet
Odds: 5/1 odds taken 2020 GMT, Thursday 28 July


 

Middlesbrough vs. West Bromwich Albion: EFL Betting Odds & Predictions

On Saturday evening, Middlesbrough and West Brom meet at the Riverside. Chris Wilder almost guided Boro to the top six last term, while the Baggies finished in tenth. Both clubs will be looking to reach the play-offs at the very least this season.

Middlesbrough made a late dash for the play-offs but missed out in the end. They ran out of steam and had some bad results in the latter stages of the campaign, but Wilder certainly lifted the club after the popular Neil Warnock departed. Boro look likely to be in the promotion picture this time around.

West Brom were the biggest underachievers in the second tier last term. They were in the play-offs when Valerien Ismael was sacked in February, but Steve Bruce struggled to pick up the pieces. Nevertheless, the Midlands club are strong at this level and will be gunning for automatic promotion.

Boro were a tough nut to crack on their own patch last season, and we fancy Wilder’s troops to edge a tight affair on Saturday. Check out the solid odds of 14/5 for the hosts to win by one goal.

Middlesbrough 6/5
Draw 9/4
West Bromwich Albion 47/20
* Bookmaker Unibet
Odds: 14/5 odds taken 2024 GMT, Thursday 28 July


 

Watford vs. Sheffield United: Best EFL Betting Tips on Matchday 1

The final game from the opening round of fixtures is arguably the best on paper, as Watford and Sheffield United do battle at Vicarage Road. The Hornets dropped out of the Premier League after one unsuccessful season last term, and the Blades were beaten in the Championship play-offs.

Watford have yet another new manager in the Vicarage Road dugout for the start of this season. They have taken a different approach this time, recruiting Rob Edwards from Forest Green Rovers. Can Edwards guide Watford back to the top tier at the first time of asking?

After returning to the club in November, Paul Heckingbottom done an outstanding job at Sheffield United, taking the Blades from the bottom half to the play-offs. They lost out to Nottingham Forest in the semi-finals, but United are building something good under Heckingbottom.

Watford will want to make home advantage count here, but we can see Sheffield United returning to the Steel City with a massive three points in the bag. The away victory is priced at 9/4.

Watford 13/10
Draw 43/20
Sheffield United 9/4
* Bookmaker Unibet
Odds: 15/2 odds taken 2029 GMT, Thursday 28 July