Championship Promotion Odds: Predictions & Betting Tips for 2024/25 (Updated)

The race for promotion to the Premier League is hotting up with three sides beginning to pull away at the top, and several more behind them with eyes on the playoff places.

In this guide to the promotion battle, we take a look at the leading contenders for the top two, discuss their strengths and weaknesses, and reveal the latest Championship promotion odds.

*Odds are subject to change (Updated on February 25).

Leeds, Burnley and Sheffield United would’ve all been among the bookies’ favourites before a ball was kicked, and it now very much looks like it will be two from those three gaining automatic promotion. There is still, time, however, for Sunderland to re-enter the conversation.

Championship favourites to make it to Premier League in 2024/25

Three clubs will be celebrating promotion to the Premier League at the end of May. Who are the leading contenders to get out of the Championship this season?

⚽ Leeds United (1/20)

German manager Daniel Farke is on course to win his third second-tier promotion, and third title, according to the bookies.

The 90 points that The Whites amassed last season would’ve been enough for a top two finish in most Championship seasons, but such was the remarkable consistency shown by Leicester and Ipswich that they had to settle for third – ultimately losing the playoff final to Southampton.

Having therefore been the only side relegated from the Premier League in 2023 to miss out on making an instant return back to the top flight, the fervent Leeds fanbase are demanding promotion this time.

They are now heavy odds-on favourites having recently beaten Sunderland and Sheffield United in table-topping clashes.

🏆 Bet on Leeds United to win promotion at 1/20 with Sky Bet 🏆

⚽ Burnley (4/6)

Burnley are chasing a joint-record fifth promotion to the Premier League and despite a massive squad turnover and losing manager Vincent Kompany in the summer, they find themselves in contention to make the step up once again.

Kompany’s side, which won the Championship title in 2022/23, were hailed for their brand of football which saw them score the most goals in the division and finish on 101 points – one of the highest ever totals in the second tier.

This time, however, under Scott Parker, the approach has been a lot more pragmatic. They’ve already set an EFL record for most consecutive clean sheets and look certain to smash the record for fewest goals conceded in a Championship campaign.

It may not be enough for automatic promotion, however, with many of their clean sheets not resulting in wins. As of the end of February, Burnley have been involved in a staggering 11 goalless draws.

🏆 Back Burnley to win another promotion at 4/6 with BetVictor 🏆

⚽ Sheffield United (4/7)

Sheffield United have shaken off a torrid Premier League campaign in 2023/24 and now look likely of bouncing straight back up.

The Blades won just three times last season, collecting only 16 points, and conceding 104 goals – an unwanted top flight record. Their start to life back in the Championship was also far from ideal, starting on -2 points after the club defaulted on payments to other clubs during the 2022/23 season.

The Yorkshire side soon made up the deduction, and eliminated any fears of a relegation hangover, however – going unbeaten in the first nine games. The only blemishes on their season so far have tended to come against the fellow promotion chasers, having lost home and away to Leeds, and once to both Sunderland and Burnley.

The reverse fixture against The Clarets at Turf Moor in April could decide which of the two goes up automatically and who will have to enter the playoffs.

🏆 Bet on Sheffield United go back up at 4/7 with Betfair 🏆

⚽ Sunderland (13/8)

Few would’ve expected Sunderland to be in the mix with the parachute teams this season, off the back of a turbulent 2023/24 campaign where they changed manager twice and ultimately finished 16th.

Frenchman Régis Le Bris has proven to be an inspired appointment, however, and their recruitment has remained strong with Wilson Isidor arriving in the summer to fill the Ross Stewart-shaped hole in the striking department.

The Black Cats led the league throughout October and early November, and hadn’t lost a home game until the end of February. For some time, they have been in a cluster of four sides jockeying for the top two places – along with Leeds, Sheffield United and Burnley.

With recent defeats at Elland Road, and at home to Hull, however, the Wearsiders have fallen away from that pack slightly. Despite this, they have a very healthy buffer to the rest of the playoff contenders and will surely be competing for that final Premier League place at the very least. Finishing fourth would also provide a significant advantage in the playoffs – ensuring the second leg of their semi-final will be played at a packed Stadium of Light.

🏆 Bet on Sunderland to go up at 13/8 with Coral 🏆

⚽ Coventry City (10/1)

The decision to sack manager Mark Robins was not a popular one when it was made back in November. At the time, Coventry were slumping in 17th place having competed for the playoffs last season, while also reaching an FA Cup semi-final.

Robins was the third longest-serving manager in English football at the time, and a hero among Coventry fans having guided them out of the lower divisions with the club at its lowest ebb.

Few can argue, however, with the impact new boss Frank Lampard has made, having averaged just shy of two points per game – which many experts cite as ‘promotion form’ – in his first 17 games. As a result, the Sky Blues are now on the fringes of the playoffs and could be a threat if they were to make it in.

Under Robins, they were also just penalty kicks away from going up via the playoff route two years ago. The bookies have them as the most likely outside of the current top four to go up.

🏆 Bet on Coventry City to win at 10/1 with Betfred 🏆

⚽ West Bromwich Albion (11/1)

West Brom are always “there or thereabouts” in the Championship, but have been facing an uphill battle to compete with the division’s top sides over the past couple of years due to financial constraints.

The club are at risk of breaching PSR rules (Profit and Sustainability), making the recruitment of new players – especially for fees – much more difficult. Any new signings this season have had to be sanctioned by the EFL.

Against an uncertain off-field backdrop, manager Carlos Corberán did an excellent job in guiding them to fifth last year, ultimately losing over two legs to Southampton in the playoffs. So impressive was his work though, that Spanish giants Valencia came calling in December with an offer he couldn’t turn down.

The club were quick to appoint Tony Mowbray for his second spell in charge and results have remained steady. The Hawthorns is still one of the toughest places for any Championship side to go, with only two having won there as of the end of February.

🏆 Bet on West Bromwich Albion to win at 11/1 with Betway 🏆

⚽ Middlesbrough (16/1)

Falling down the table recently, and out of favour with the bookies, have been Middlesbrough, having slipped out of the top six and all the way out of the top half following five straight defeats throughout January and February.

The slump has dialled up the pressure on Michael Carrick who, until the poor run, was gaining plaudits as one of the best up and coming managers in the EFL.

Boro were also one of the most active clubs in the January transfer window – adding Plymouth’s star man Morgan Whittaker as well as securing the loan signings of Bournemouth ‘keeper Mark Travers, and former Man City and Leicester striker Kelechi Iheanacho among others. They did, however, lose top scorer Emmanuel Latte Lath to MLS outfit Atlanta United.

The Teesiders still have one of the strongest squads in the division and would view finishing outside the top six as a failure. There is still time, but results need to turn around and quickly.

🏆 Bet on Middlesbrough to win at 16/1 with VBET 🏆

⚽ Blackburn Rovers (20/1) 

Blackburn would have been one of the pre-season relegation favourites having lost Championship Golden Boot winner Sammie Szmodics in the summer and given that, even with his 27 goals, Rovers only beat the drop by three points.

John Eustace had built a solid side though and, to the surprise of many pundits and analysts, have been sat among the top six spots for the majority of the season. He has recently left to take up the vacant position at Derby, however, and Rovers are still searching for their next permanent manager at the time of writing.

The bookies are generally not confident that they can hang on to their place, or win the playoffs should they be in there. Several clubs are within striking distance.

🏆 Back Blackburn Rovers to win promotion at 20/1 with bet365 🏆

⚽ Bristol City (20/1)

Bristol City are one of the few current Championship clubs yet to play in the Premier League since the top flight was rebranded in 1992 – yet everything looks geared towards making that step.

After spending several seasons in the middle and lower thirds of the table, Liam Manning’s Robins should be in for an exciting run-in at the end of this season. They will face West Brom, Sunderland and Leeds in the final month.

Anis Mehmeti is having a breakthrough season, having reached double digit goals for the first time in his young career. Strikers Nahki Wells and Scott Twine, who have both been promoted out of the Championship before, have also been chipping in.

🏆 Bet on Bristol City reaching the Premier League at 20/1 with Ladbrokes 🏆

⚽ Norwich City (20/1)

Another team who can always be described as “there or thereabouts” in recent Championship history are Norwich. Having been promoted from the second tier a joint-record five times, with two title wins as recently as 2019 and 2021, and a playoff appearance last season, The Canaries are once again in the mix this time.

David Wagner was relieved of his duties in the wake of their season-ending defeat at Leeds and was quickly replaced by young Dane Johannes Hoff Thorup. This season has somewhat mirrored Daniel Farke’s debut campaign in 2017/18 with some very polarising results and performances as the team attempts to develop a completely different style of play, and with several new faces in the lineup.

At their best, they’ve hit four, five and six goals past teams, but in other games they’ve really struggled to create anything. This season may be too soon for Thorup’s Norwich to break into the top six, but with the league’s top scorer Borja Sainz and the most in-form striker in Josh Sargent, they will be one to keep an eye on.

🏆 Back Norwich City to return to the Premier League at 20/1 with BoyleSports 🏆

Championship 2024/25 table

Here is the Championship table as things stand. Promotion will not be determined until all teams have played 46 games, or once a team in the top two cannot be caught.

How the Championship promotions work

The two teams that amass the most points over the course of the Championship campaign will be automatically promoted to the Premier League. The sides that finish between third and sixth will enter the play-offs and the winner of that end-of-season competition will also ascend to the top tier.

My Championship betting tips

Using the best odds from the bookies, these are my Championship promotion betting tips for the 2024/25 season, starting with the two teams I believe will go up automatically.

Watford to finish in the top six – 10/1

This looks to be a great value pick given The Hornets are only three points outside the top six as of the end of February and have some very winnable fixtures in March.

Tom Cleverley has performed well in his first managerial gig and despite recent rumours of the sack – which the club have quashed – he may become the first Watford head coach to survive a full season since Javi Gracia.

Bookies are perhaps wary of the Pozzos’ itchy trigger finger but Watford under Cleverley are a decent side and shouldn’t be discounted from the play-off race.

🏆 Back Watford to finish in the top six at 10/1 with LiveScoreBet 🏆

Joël Piroe to win the Golden Boot – 5/4 with Betway

Having scored the third in Leeds’ dramatic late win at Sheffield United, Dutch striker Piroe drew level with Norwich’s Borja Sainz at the top of the goalscoring charts.

Sainz, however, hasn’t scored since the end of November and has just come back from a six-game ban. Josh Sargent, having been absent himself for some time (due to injury), could soon overtake the Spaniard as Norwich’s top scorer.

In a race between the Piroe and Sainz from now on, there would appear to be only one winner. Josh Maja’s leg injury sustained in January have dealt his chances of landing the award a major blow.

⚽ Tip Joël Piroe to win the Golden Boot at 5/4 with Betway ⚽

Derby County to finish in the bottom three – 4/6

Despite a recent revival, Plymouth Argyle remain the overwhelming bookies’ favourites for the drop. Luton Town are also in massive trouble and could suffer back-to-back relegations.

On recent form, it’s also difficult to see Derby clawing their way out. The Rams, at the time of writing, haven’t won since Boxing Day and have picked up just two points in 11 games during that barren run. It also cost Paul Warne his job.

John Eustace, who finished his playing career at Derby, has come in having impressed during stints at Birmingham and Blackburn but hasn’t yet been able to reverse the slide.

⬇️ Bet on Derby County to go down at 4/6 with bet365 ⬇️

Teams promoted to EPL in the 2023/24 season

Leicester City had a wobble in the closing stages of last season, but they still did enough to win the Championship title and secure a return to the Premier League at the first time of asking. Ipswich Town also went up automatically, as the Tractor Boys returned to the top division for the first time since 2002. Finally, Southampton won promotion by beating Leeds United in the play-off final. 

• Leicester City
• Ipswich Town 
• Southampton

Teams most often promoted to Premier League

Leicester City’s promotion last season made them the most successful team in the history of the English second tier. Check out which other clubs have won promotion to the top flight most often.

• 13 – Leicester City
• 12 – Birmingham City
• 11 – Manchester City
• 10 – West Bromwich Albion
• 9 – Bolton Wanderers, Middlesbrough, Norwich City, Sheffield United
• 8 – Burnley, Sheffield Wednesday, Sunderland
• 7 – Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Derby County, Leeds United, Newcastle United, Nottingham Forest, West Ham United, Wolverhampton Wanderers

🔎 Read more about the 2024/25 football season

FAQ about the 2024/25 Championship season

Here are three key questions – and three important answers – ahead of the 2024/25 Championship season.

1. Which manager is likely to be sacked if they don’t get their team promoted?

Daniel Farke led Leeds United to the play-off final in his first season as the club’s manager and there was little talk of him being sacked after the loss to Southampton. This time around, though, the pressure has been on Farke. Had Leeds not have been in and around the top two all season, they may have made a change by now.

It’s unlikely Sheffield United or Burnley would move on from Chris Wilder or Scott Parker respectively given this is their first full seasons in the job. In Wilder’s case, it is his boyhood club who he has guided to the Premier League before, and Parker has two promotions on his CV. Should either fall short this time, both clubs should feel they have the right man in place for another tilt next season.

2. Which player is likeliest to get their team to EPL? 

Leeds have a very well-rounded squad and the likes of Ao Tanaka as well as Ethan Ampadu and Joe Rodon down the spine of the team have shown remarkable consistency.

Having lost a lot of goals and creativity in Crysencio Summerville and Georginio Rutter in the summer, however, an even greater onus has been put on Joël Piroe to plunder enough goals this season – and the Dutchman has 15 at the end of February.

For Burnley, their goalkeeper James Trafford and two centre backs – Maxime Estève and CJ Egan-Riley – have been ever-present throughout their historic run of clean sheets and are surely all likely be selected in the Championship Team of The Season.

Sheffield United don’t have a goalscorer on double digits, but several attacking players have stood out. Most notably has probably been Gus Hamer with his seven goals and five assists.

3. Which teams are likely to get relegated to League One?

The current bottom three are Plymouth Argyle, Derby County and Luton Town.

Plymouth have had a mini revival recently under Miron Muslić, including a famous FA Cup win over Liverpool. They will be facing Leeds on the final day of the season, which could be a blessing or a curse depending on whether Leeds have clinched promotion – and possibly the title – by that point.

After a steady start to the season, Derby have found life tough in the Championship, having spent two years away in League One. They’ve struggled to find the net of late too, having only scored four times in their first 10 games of 2025.

Luton were playing Premier League football last season, but have continued to slide in the Championship. The Hatters are winless this calendar year and are beginning to be cut adrift of safety.

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