With just a handful of matchdays to go, things are starting to hot up in the exciting EFL Championship. Fulham are the runaway leaders, but the fight for second and the battle for the play-offs is likely to go to the wire.
At the other end, Peterborough United, Derby County, Barnsley and Reading are all fighting for Championship survival. What will unfold on matchday 39 in the Championship?
EFL Championship Matchday 39: Best Betting Football Tips
Derby County vs. Coventry City: EFL Betting Tip
Derby County and Coventry City go head-to-head at Pride Park in a huge Championship fixture on Saturday afternoon. With the Rams fighting for their lives, while the Sky Blues still have eyes on the play-offs, both sides will be gunning for all three points from this all-Midlands affair.
Derby are running out of time to save their skin. They are second from bottom on 24 points, six points away from 22nd-place Barnsley. Wayne Rooney’s men have struggled of late, losing five of their past six Championship matches.
Mark Robins’ Coventry have blown hot and cold of late. After a stunning 4-1 win over in-form Sheffield United last weekend, which ended a run of a draw and two defeats, they were beaten at home by lowly Hull City in midweek. City are five points behind sixth.
Both teams are desperate for points for completely different reasons, but the pair could have to settle for a point apiece on Saturday. There is good value in 13/5 for the draw and under 2.5 goals.
Derby County 41/20
Draw 21/10
Coventry City 29/20
* Bookmaker Unibet
Odds: 13/5 odds taken 1312 GMT, Friday 18 March
Sheffield United vs. Barnsley Best Football League Betting Predictions
Yorkshire sides Sheffield United and Barnsley square off at Bramall Lane on Saturday afternoon. These two clubs are at opposite ends of the table and will want all three points. This promises to be an entertaining Championship encounter in the Steel City.
Paul Heckingbottom has done a remarkable job, turning Sheffield United into genuine promotion contenders during his time there. However, the Blades have had a little wobble of late, winning one, drawing two and losing two of the last five. Since thumping Middlesbrough 4-1, United have taken just one point from a possible six.
It has been a tough season for Barnsley, who reached the play-offs under Valerien Ismael last term. They have spent practically all season in the bottom three, though Poya Asbaghi’s men have shown signs of fight of late. The Tykes make the short trip to Bramall Lane having won four of their past eight.
Despite their improvement, this will be another stern test for the struggling Tykes. Sheffield United should get back to winning ways here, and there is good value in 11/8 for the hosts to be winning at half time and full time.
Sheffield United 11/20
Draw 14/5
Barnsley 23/4
* Bookmaker Unibet
Odds: 11/8 odds taken 1320 GMT, Friday 18 March
Huddersfield Town vs. Bournemouth: EFL Betting Odds & Predictions
Carlos Corberan’s Huddersfield Town and Scott Parker’s Bournemouth do battle in a mouth-watering Championship contest at the John Smith’s Stadium on Saturday afternoon. After losing their unbeaten league run in midweek, can the Terriers bounce back in this one?
Town’s incredible 17-game unbeaten run was ended by Millwall in midweek. Huddersfield were not their usual selves at The Den, and Benik Afobe’s brace won the points for the in-form Lions. That was the Yorkshire club’s first Championship loss since 27th November.
Bournemouth’s automatic promotion hopes have been dealt a blow of late after one win in four. Nevertheless, Parker’s men are second with 66 points to their name, three points above third-place Huddersfield with three games in hand. A win at the John Smith’s on Saturday would put them in a great position to secure a top-two finish.
Huddersfield will be eager to strike back with a win at the first time of asking, but Bournemouth will be no pushovers. With that in mind, take a punt on the draw and both teams to score at 7/2.
Huddersfield Town 19/10
Draw 23/10
Bournemouth 29/20
* Bookmaker Unibet
Odds: 7/2 odds taken 1333 GMT, Friday 18 March
Queens Park Rangers vs. Peterborough United: Best EFL Championship Betting Tips on Matchday 39
On Sunday, Queens Park Rangers and Peterborough United meet at the Kiyan Prince Foundation. QPR, who are 36 points and 18 places above Posh, are the strong favourites to get the win here.
Rangers have been in topsy-turvy form of late. After beating fellow promotion hopefuls Luton Town away from home last weekend, the London side lost at Nottingham Forest in midweek, which was their third defeat in four.
Peterborough’s stay in the second tier looks to be coming to an end after just one season, as Posh are rock bottom with a mere 23 points to their name. With nine matches to play, United are seven points adrift of safety. Peterborough have picked up just one league win since beating QPR in October.
Mark Warburton’s boys are in poor form themselves, but the home side should see off the league’s bottom team on Sunday. Put some money on QPR to win -1 at 7/5.
Queens Park Rangers 13/25
Draw 3/1
Peterborough United 23/4
* Bookmaker Unibet
Odds: 7/5 odds taken 1340 GMT, Friday 18 March
