With just a handful of games left, things are starting to hot in the EFL Championship. The battle for promotion and the scrap for survival promises to be as thrilling as ever. This Saturday, 11 games will take place on matchday 38.
The action gets underway in the afternoon when Brentford entertain Nottingham Forest. Later in the day, fierce rivals Swansea City and Cardiff City meet in a mouth-watering South Wales derby.
EFL Championship Matchday 38: Best Betting Football Tips
Brentford vs. Nottingham Forest: EFL Betting Tip
After letting a two-goal lead slip to draw 2-2 with Derby County last time out, Thomas Frank’s Brentford will be looking to return to winning ways this weekend. On Saturday afternoon, the promotion chasers welcome Chris Hughton’s Nottingham Forest to the Brentford Community Stadium.
Brentford have had a tough month or so, losing four of their last eight in the Championship. Although they have a game in hand on Watford, the Bees have slipped five points behind the Hornets in the race for second place.
Hughton has drastically improved this Nottingham Forest team, but the Reds have failed to win in five, losing three and drawing two. Forest find themselves in 18th place on 41 points, nine points clear of Rotherham United, who have four games in hand.
We can see Brentford returning to winning ways in style this weekend. Check out Unibet’s solid odds of 13/8 for the hosts to be winning at half time and full time.
Brentford 7/10
Draw 27/10
Nottingham Forest 9/2
* Bookmaker Unibet
Odds: 13/8 odds taken 1641 GMT, Friday 19 March
Barnsley vs. Sheffield Wednesday: Best Football League Betting Predictions
Yorkshire sides Barnsley and Sheffield Wednesday clash in Championship action on Saturday. The Tykes are in tremendous form, while the Owls are in the bottom three with ten games to play. The home team are the clear favourites in this one.
Valerien Ismael has done a stunning job at Oakwell since arriving. The Frenchman is a serious contender for Manager of the Year in the Championship, as he has taken the Tykes from relegation fodder to genuine promotion contenders. Barnsley have picked up a staggering 28 points from the last 30 on offer to fire themselves into fifth.
In contrast, Sheffield Wednesday are in a perilous position in the Championship table. Darren Moore’s men are nine points away from safety in 23rd. Before the midweek draw with Huddersfield Town, Wednesday had lost seven in a row.
Barnsley will be gunning for a tenth win in 11 Championship games this weekend. The hosts should secure a comfortable victory, and the Tykes are priced at 15/8 to win -1.
Barnsley 4/6
Draw 14/5
Sheffield Wednesday 9/2
* Bookmaker Unibet
Odds: 15/8 odds taken 1646 GMT, Friday 28 September
Watford vs. Birmingham City: EFL Betting Odds & Predictions
Xisco Munoz’s Watford entertain Lee Bowyer’s Birmingham City at Vicarage Road this Saturday. The Hornets, who are one of the form teams in the Championship, will be hoping to take another big leap towards the Premier League with three points this weekend.
Watford are in fine fettle, winning eight of their last nine. The Hertfordshire club have the best home record in the division, picking up an impressive 14 wins from 18. Since a shock 2-1 home reverse to Queens Park Rangers on 1st February, Watford have won four in a row at Vicarage Road.
Bowyer started life at St Andrew’s Trillion Trophy Stadium with a much-needed victory over Reading in midweek. Incredibly, that was only the Blues’ second home success since October. Away from home, City have picked up just one win in six.
Birmingham will be buoyed after the excellent 2-1 win over promotion chasing Reading, but Watford should have no problems in this one. Put some money on Munoz’s men to win both halves at 10/3.
Watford 11/20
Draw 3/1
Birmingham City 11/2
* Bookmaker Unibet
Odds: 10/3 odds taken 1657 GMT, Friday 19 March
Swansea City vs. Cardiff City: Best EFL Betting Tips on Matchday 38
On Saturday evening, rivals Swansea and Cardiff do battle at the Liberty Stadium. This South Wales derby is often a tight and tense affair, but the Swans eased past the Bluebirds in the Welsh capital in the reverse fixture. Can Swansea become the first team to do a league double in this fixture?
Swansea were abnormally poor in a heavy 3-0 defeat at Bournemouth in midweek. However, they are still in an excellent position in the league table, sitting third on 69 points. The Swans are tough to beat at home, with just Bristol City winning on their patch in league action since October.
Mick McCarthy has made Cardiff hard to beat since taking over at the Cardiff City Stadium. However, the Bluebirds could do with a win sooner rather than later after claiming only one victory in their previous five. Nevertheless, Cardiff are unbeaten away from home in 2021.
Swansea are one of the best home team’s in the Championship, while Cardiff have one of the best away records. With that in mind, we fancy the rivals to play out a draw at the Liberty on Saturday. Take a punt on the draw and both teams to score at 7/2.
Swansea City 33/20
Draw 41/20
Cardiff City 2/1
* Bookmaker Unibet
Odds: 7/2 odds taken 1707 GMT, Friday 19 March
