We have another bumper weekend in the EFL Championship, with the action getting underway on Saturday afternoon with two tasty derbies. Bristol City host Cardiff City, and Nottingham Forest and Derby County meet at the City Ground.
Elsewhere, leaders Fulham travel to Stoke City this Saturday, while Blackburn Rovers and Middlesbrough lock horns at Ewood Park on Monday night. Check out the latest odds and best tips in our Championship preview.
EFL Championship Matchday 28: Best Betting Football Tips
Bristol City vs. Cardiff City: EFL Betting Tip
Severnside rivals Bristol City and Cardiff square off at Ashton Gate this Saturday. With the teams struggling at present, this is a massive game for both clubs. The Robins edged the reverse meeting at the Cardiff City Stadium back in August, and Nigel Pearson’s boys are the slight favourites here.
Bristol City currently occupy 16th position in the Championship table but are well clear of the bottom three. They head into this one having taken just four points from their last five league games, however. Last time out, Pearson’s boys crashed to a humbling 6-2 loss to Fulham at Craven Cottage.
Cardiff suffered another defeat in their last outing, losing 1-0 at home to in-form Blackburn last Saturday. Since beating Luton Town on the road in November, the Bluebirds have drawn two and lost three of five Championship games. Cardiff are just four points above the drop zone.
Despite their issues of late, Cardiff have been tough to beat on their travels since Steve Morison took over, losing just one away game. We are backing the Welsh outfit to leave Bristol with a point (23/10).
Bristol City 31/20
Draw 23/10
Cardiff City 7/4
* Bookmaker Unibet
Odds: 15/2 odds taken 1303 GMT, Friday 21 January
Nottingham Forest vs. Derby County: Best Football League Betting Predictions
Also on Saturday lunchtime, Nottingham Forest and Derby do battle at the City Ground in an East Midlands derby. Both sides head into this one in fine fettle, which should make for an even spicier affair. Forest are the favourites, but the Rams will be no pushovers at the City Ground.
Steve Cooper is doing a terrific job at Nottingham Forest, turning the Reds into genuine play-off contenders. Since his arrival, only Fulham, Middlesbrough and Huddersfield Town have beaten them. Forest are currently five points away from sixth in tenth.
Despite plenty of off-field issues, Derby are hanging in there. In fact, Wayne Rooney’s men are one of the form sides in the division, winning four and drawing one of their last five. After a 2-0 win over Sheffield United last weekend, County moved off the foot of the table.
Unfortunately for Rooney and his Rams, we can see Forest ending their unbeaten run this Saturday. This promises to be an entertaining derby, so check out the tempting odds of 13/5 for the home win and over 2.5 goals.
Nottingham Forest 10/11
Draw 9/4
Derby County 17/5
* Bookmaker Unibet
Odds: 13/5 odds taken 1306 GMT, Friday 21 January
Stoke City vs. Fulham: EFL Betting Odds & Predictions
Championship leaders Fulham travel to the bet365 Stadium this Saturday to face Stoke. The Cottagers have put their recent wobble behind them and got back on track in emphatic style since the turn of the year. Will the title favourites rack up another three points here?
Having picked up just one win from six Championship games, Stoke’s 2-0 success at Hull City last weekend was just what the doctor ordered. The Potters are one of several clubs with top-six ambitions, and Michael O’Neill’s boys are currently four points adrift of sixth after 25 games played.
Fulham have opened a five-point gap at the top of the Championship table after three stunning wins. They kicked off 2022 with a thumping 7-0 victory at Reading having drawn four and lost one of the previous five. The Cottagers then secured back-to-back 6-2 home wins over Bristol City and Birmingham City.
Fulham have scored goals for fun lately, netting a staggering 19 in their last three. This will be a tougher test for the Whites, but we fancy Marco Silva’s troops to get the job done. The away victory is available at 10/11.
Stoke City 17/5
Draw 23/10
Fulham 10/11
* Bookmaker Unibet
Odds: 10/11 odds taken 1309 GMT, Friday 21 January
Blackburn Rovers vs. Middlesbrough: Best EFL Championship Betting Tips on Matchday 28
One of the standout fixtures of the round will take place at Ewood Park on Monday, as in-form Blackburn take on rejuvenated Middlesbrough. Tony Mowbray’s boys will be hoping to get back to winning ways after their undefeated run was ended in midweek.
Before Wednesday’s 2-0 loss at Hull, Blackburn had won eight and drawn two of ten Championship matches. At Ewood Park, Mowbray’s troops have taken 16 points from a possible 18 since losing 7-0 to Fulham on 3rd November.
Chris Wilder is doing a stunning job at Middlesbrough, guiding the club to six wins and a draw from their last seven. Boro’s outstanding form has lifted them into the play-off positions. Can Middlesbrough keep their unbeaten run going on Monday?
Both sides will be looking for all three points, but a point apiece would not be a bad outcome for the pair. The 1-1 draw at the solid odds of 5/1 has caught the eye.
Blackburn Rovers 29/20
Draw 11/5
Middlesbrough 19/10
* Bookmaker Unibet
Odds: 5/1 odds taken 1312 GMT, Friday 21 January
