The EFL Championship gets back underway this weekend after the final international break of 2020. All 24 clubs are in action, starting with Friday night’s clash between Coventry City and Birmingham City at St Andrew’s Trillion Trophy Stadium. With almost a quarter of the season already gone, things are starting to shape up nicely in the Championship. We preview the best four games of the weekend.
EFL Championship Matchday 12: Best Betting Football Tips
Bournemouth vs. Reading: EFL Betting Tip
Jason Tindall’s Bournemouth and Veljko Paunovic’s Reading meet at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday afternoon. These two sides, who both have Premier League ambitions, are separated by just two points. Who will prevail on the coast?
Bournemouth have been a tough nut to crack this season, losing just one of their opening 11 Championship matches. In fact, only Manchester City and Sheffield Wednesday have beaten them so far. After a narrow loss at Hillsborough, the Cherries beat Birmingham 3-1 on the road before the break.
Reading have lost three in a row, with their last two ending in 3-0 home defeats to Preston North End and Stoke City. Nevertheless, having won seven and drawn one of their opening eight, the Royals remain top of the Championship table.
Reading will be desperate to avoid a fourth consecutive defeat at the weekend, but we believe Bournemouth will be too strong for the visitors at the Vitality. You can get 17/10 for Tindall’s troops to be winning at half time and full time.
Bournemouth 3/4
Draw 14/5
Reading 15/4
* Bookmaker Unibet
Odds: 17/10 odds taken 1025 GMT, Friday 20 November
Middlesbrough vs. Norwich City: Best Football League Betting Predictions
Neil Warnock’s Middlesbrough and Daniel Farke’s Norwich City meet at the Riverside Stadium on Saturday. Boro are unbeaten in the Championship since losing to Watford on the opening weekend of the season.
Middlesbrough have made a steady start, winning four, drawing six and losing only one of 11 league matches. No team have lost fewer games, while Boro’s six draws is a league high. Can Warnock’s men start turning those draws into wins?
Norwich City will be looking for an instant return to the Premier League, and the Canaries have made a strong start to their season in the second tier. Since back-to-back 1-0 defeats to Bournemouth and Derby County, Norwich have won five and drawn two of their following seven to fire themselves up to third.
Norwich are in fine fettle, but Middlesbrough are extremely tough to beat under the experienced Warnock. Therefore, we are backing the pair to cancel each other out at the Riverside. The draw and both teams to score is available at 7/2.
Middlesbrough 8/5
Draw 12/5
Norwich City 17/10
* Bookmaker Unibet
Odds: 7/2 odds taken 1034 GMT, Friday 20 November
Millwall vs. Cardiff City: EFL Betting Odds & Predictions
Gary Rowett’s Millwall and Neil Harris’ Cardiff City go head-to-head in a tasty fixture at The Den this Saturday. The Lions are four points ahead of the Bluebirds in the current Championship standings.
Since racking up ten points from four league games, Millwall have failed to win any of their last three. After a shock 3-0 home loss to Huddersfield Town, the London side have drawn 0-0 with both Norwich and Sheffield Wednesday. So far, Millwall have taken 17 points from a possible 33.
Cardiff reached the Championship play-offs last term, but Harris’ boys have made a slow start to this season. City have won three, lost four and drawn four, sitting in 15th spot as a consequence. Before the break, Cardiff lost the Severnside derby on home turf, with Bristol City winning 1-0 at the Cardiff City Stadium.
This game could go either way at The Den. The Lions are not an easy team to beat on their own patch, while Cardiff are better on the road than they are at home. We can see City edging a tight affair in London. The away victory here is available at 2/1.
Millwall 31/20
Draw 11/5
Cardiff City 2/1
* Bookmaker Unibet
Odds: 2/1 odds taken 1045 GMT, Friday 20 November
Preston North End vs. Sheffield Wednesday: Best EFL Betting Tips on Matchday 12
Tony Pulis starts life at Sheffield Wednesday with a trip to Deepdale this Saturday to take on Preston North End. The Owls may be second from bottom, but Wednesday will fancy their chances in this one.
At the time of writing, Preston have the best away record in the league, winning four of six. However, they are the only team yet to take a single point at home. North End have been woeful at Deepdale, suffering five league losses and scoring just one goal.
After the sacking of Garry Monk, Sheffield Wednesday moved quickly to bring in the experienced Pulis. The Welshman’s first task will be to take the Owls away from the bottom three and up the Championship table. Their points deduction was cut in half recently, but Wednesday still only have six points to their name.
Preston will be desperate to finally put things right at home, but we can see Pulis getting off to a winning start as Sheffield Wednesday boss. Check out the tempting odds of 15/4 for the away team to win by one goal.
Preston North End 5/4
Draw 9/4
Sheffield Wednesday 23/10
* Bookmaker Unibet
Odds: 15/4 odds taken 1058 GMT, Friday 20 November
