Sky Bet Championship odds update: Latest outright odds on promotion, top scorer and more
With the international break coming to an end, the Sky Bet Championship action returns, as we dissect the outright markets concerning both ends of the table.
We have brought together an odds update for the respective markets associated with those in line for promotion and relegation, taking a look at the specific teams involved with those betting markets, while coming to a conclusion on who might fall into each category after the last game of the season.
Sky Bet Championship outright
Leeds: 7/2
Norwich: 9/2
Middlesbrough: 5/1
Sheffield United: 5/1
The top four in the betting are unsurprisingly the top four in the table, albeit in a different order.
Daniel Farke has certainly made an impression on Norwich in just his second season in charge and they're top of the table, winning each of their last five Sky Bet Championship games. The response from the layers has been to make them 9/2 second-favourites.
Marcelo Bielsa and Chris Wilder have enjoyed respective impressive starts to the season, with the Elland Road faithful excited at the prospect of a top-flight return. Wilder has got Leeds’ Yorkshire rivals going once more this season, propelling the Blades to fourth position, with Billy Sharp as reliable as ever in front of goal, finding the net 10 times thus far.
It is no surprise that Tony Pulis’ Middlesbrough have the best defensive record, conceding a miserly eight goals and keeping 11 clean sheets in their opening 17 matches, having adopted five at the back on many occasions.
Despite this, the Riverside outfit have only managed to score 19 goals, much less than their promotion-chasing rivals, which will prove to be the difference between going up automatically and settling for a play-off-position.
It will be hard for Farke and Norwich to keep up the pace for the remaining two-thirds of the season, so it may well be Leeds and Sheffield United that earn automatic places in the Premier League.
At the prices, we'll edge towards the Blades in a Yorkshire one-two.
Sky Bet Championship promotion
West Brom: 6/4
Derby: 3/1
Aston Villa: 4/1
Brentford: 13/2
Nottingham Forest: 8/1
Stoke: 8/1
The chasing pack behind the leaders throw up some short odds to be promoted, likely via the play-offs.
Derby have enjoyed a resurgence under Frank Lampard’s tutelage, going unbeaten in six games before their recent defeat at home to Villa. Mason Mount earned a first call-up to the England senior squad after his performances this season, as did Harry Wilson for Wales, with Jack Marriott firing on all cylinders since his return from injury. Despite Derby’s drought in play-off ties over the years, this could be their time to shine on the big stage.
The two other Midlands sides, Aston Villa and West Brom, are also strong contenders to earn a play-off place if not better, especially after Darren Moore’s side staked a claim after dispatching Leeds with ease 4-1 last time out. Villa likewise with their 3-0 away win at Derby, under the fresh stewardship of Dean Smith and John Terry. The Baggies have hit the most goals in the Championship and show no signs of letting up, with Jay Rodriguez and Dwight Gayle racking up their respective tallies.
The other three sides in this list may throw up a surprise, but if there was one team to do it, it would have to be Nottingham Forest and Aitor Karanka, unbeaten in their last four and sitting one place and one point off sixth position.
There are various possibilities here but at the prices, Derby have enough about them to earn promotion. They could yet threaten the top two but look solid play-off contenders and there's little downside in taking the 3/1.
Sky Bet Championship relegation
Ipswich: 4/11
Bolton: 4/9
Reading: 10/11
Rotherham: 1/1
Hull: 7/2
Sheffield Wednesday: 11/2
Millwall: 8/1
Ipswich have registered two draws in as many games, which demonstrates their pattern of sharing the spoils on too many occasions this season, totalling eight already. They have only the one solitary win away at Swansea to their name, which is why they occupy bottom spot and sit five points from safety.
Bolton come in at second favourites for the drop, and there is little mystery as to why. Phil Parkinson’s team are without a win in four, losing all of those matches without registering on the scoresheet to underline their woes in front of goal. They've only scored 11 times this year, the worst record in the league.
Reading and Rotherham are surprisingly short in the betting but both can surprise.
Royals boss Paul Clement has been Carlo Ancelotti’s understudy for many years, which gives reason to believe he will get his side out of this rut, and out of danger consequently. Rotherham, meanwhile, have not tasted defeat in five matches, and have only lost once in eight matches, boosting them to 19th in the table.
Millwall are the team that will get dragged into a dogfight at the latter end of the campaign. The Lions score goals, so that is not the issue. The real issue is keeping them out. Neil Harris’ side have shed 29 goals, better than just two other sides in the league, while keeping two clean sheets all season, and may find themselves in Sky Bet League One next year.
Brentford striker Neal Maupay has struck 12 times in 17 matches for the Bees and is the new favourite. Although Brentford's form has not been the best as of late, it has not stopped their talisman from claiming three goals in his last six, each of them coming away from home.
Maupay should expect the West Brom duo to emerge as his rivals for the top goalscorer, with Dwight Gayle and Jay Rodriguez scoring a combined 17 in as many games, making up just under half of their team's total.
Billy Sharp is another front-runner in the top goalscorer market, netting 10 of Sheffield United’s goals. His undoubted finishing ability remains as strong as ever, and while the Blades keep up their momentum and charge up the table, do not expect that to change.
Odds correct at 1300 GMT (20/11/18)
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