EFL Championship promotion odds and prediction: Good value on the Foxes?

The 2025/26 Championship season is now underway, and although it is still far too early to be able to call who is going to win the league and who is going down, there have already been some interesting results. 

It has been an alarming start for Sheffield United, who have lost six of their opening seven matches. The Blades have been forced to re-hire Chris Wilder, who has been tasked with turning the club's fortunes around, and to be fair to him, he earned the club their first win of the season this weekend just gone.

On the other hand, it has been an unexpectedly brilliant start for Middlesbrough, who have picked up a total of 17 points from their first seven matches, and are currently sitting at the top of the table.

In this article, we will take a closer look at the main candidates for promotion based on the latest Championship promotion odds.

Best EFL Championship promotion odds

For clarity, the odds for EFL Championship promotion are totally different from the EFL Championship winner odds. Of course, these describe two different markets, as three teams gain promotion, while only one can win the league.

In any case, here are the latest Championship promotion odds:

A closer look at the top promotion candidates

Ipswich, Southampton, Leicester

Out of the three relegated sides, Leicester are performing the best so far, with 16 points from their first nine games. Unfortunately for the Foxes, many are expecting them to be hit with a hefty points deduction in the coming weeks that could scupper their promotion chances.

Ipswich are the favourites to go back up this season, and the Tractor Boys are doing okay so far with 13 points from their first eight matches.

Southampton are doing the worst of the three, and are only on 11 points after nine games. Pressure is beginning to mount on the flavour of the month, Will Still, especially now that Russell Martin is on the market.

Coventry

Meanwhile, Coventry – another of the teams that reached the play-offs last season – have already played in two match-of-the-season contenders. After drawing their opening match 0-0, the Sky Blues went away to Derby and won 5-3, and then thrashed QPR 7-1 at home.

Frank Lampard did an excellent job last season and will now be keen to push them one step further to promotion. Based on their early-season form, the Sky Blues will certainly be difficult to stop.

Middlesbrough

Middlesbrough are currently second in the table after picking up 18 points in total from their opening nine matches. Boro's early form will surely see them in contention for at least a play-off place come the end of the 2025/26 campaign.

Among the other teams fancied by the bookmakers at this early stage are Birmingham, West Brom, Stoke, Bristol City and Norwich. Sheffield United, who lost in the 2024/25 play-off final to Sunderland after accumulating a total of 90 points in the league season, are nowhere to be seen after losing all six of their opening games.

Surprise package for EFL Championship promotion possible?

Stoke are worth keeping an eye on after winning each of their first three matches of the season. Their opening day comeback win over Derby was particularly impressive, and Mark Robins has form for overachieving at this level.

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