As each week passes, the EFL Championship promotion odds chop and change. This provides opportunities to back some dark horses or shoot for the favourites throughout the season.
Speaking of which, we’ve provided our thoughts on who will achieve that goal. All will be revealed here, but to start with, here are the main contenders to reach the Promised Land next spring, and the longest odds currently against them.
Contents
Best EFL Championship promotion odds – top 10 favourites
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 will win the league.
Team | Odds | Last PL / 1st Div campaign |
---|---|---|
Leeds |
1/6 |
2022/23 |
Sunderland |
10/11 |
2016/17 |
Sheffield United |
7/4 |
2023/24 |
Middlesbrough |
6/4 |
2016/17 |
Burnley |
11/4 |
2023/24 |
West Brom |
4/1 |
2020/21 |
Norwich |
10/1 |
2021/22 |
Coventry |
12/1 |
2000/01 |
Bristol City |
16/1 |
1979/80 |
Millwall |
20/1 |
1988/89 |
Main contenders
Leeds
Leeds' unbeaten run continued over the weekend, and they remain favourites for promotion at 1/6. Excellent form from Joel Piroe and a successful return to the club for Brenden Aaronson have contributed to the West Yorkshire club's rise up the table, as they now occupy an automatic promotion spot, with 26 points from 13 games. 22 goals so far is also an impressive tally, as Daniel Farke has proved capable of implementing confident attacking football over the last two seasons. Consolidation of these results and continued consistency will be needed to realise Leeds' ambitions this season.
Sunderland
Bookmakers are convinced that newfound table-toppers Sunderland will overcome their competition and return to the top flight for the first time in eight years. Le Bris' side are currently second favourites, but lengthened to 10/11 over the weekend after a poor 0-0 stalemate against QPR. However, the Black Cats are the league's top scorers and are on a six-game unbeaten run, which should fill fans of the club with a lot of confidence going forward. Regis Le Bris has done an excellent job of moulding a group of talented individuals into an effective team, and they look well-placed to return to the promised land.
Burnley
Burnley have fallen to fifth favourites this week at 11/4 after their poor attacking stats were finally exposed as they lost 1-0 to a Millwall side who have risen to 7th. The Clarets display the league's second worst xG with 12.1, which indicates that there has been a great deal of fortune in the side currently sitting fourth in the league. A lack of attacking prowess is likely to catch up with Scott Parker's side in the near future, so unless they can improve going forward it would seem improbable that they make an immediate return to the top flight.
Sheffield United
Elsewhere, the league's best defence in Sheffield United proved steadfast again this week as they overturned Blackburn 2-0 to add to their clean sheet tally of nine this season. Fans are confident of a return to the Premier League for the Blades, and their odds shortened to 7/4 after their most recent victory. However, no strangers to the difficulties of the Championship, their good form cannot slip for a second if they are to keep the pressure on rivals Leeds and Sunderland, who have been in fine form themselves. Two goals in as many games from striker Tyrese Campbell have cemented wins from the side's competent defending.
Outside picks
Other teams with drifting chances of promotion include West Brom and Blackburn. However, Luton are perhaps the most prominent underachievers right now. They sit in 22nd place with only three wins from 12 games.
In turn, Rob Edwards is arguably the most under-pressure manager in the league right now, and his side’s odds of promotion have lengthened drastically after the Hatters started the season as a popular pick for promotion.
It currently appears unlikely that they will achieve the expectations set out at the start of 2024/25, with an astounding change in fortunes needed almost immediately if they are to revive their promotion hopes.
Our verdict on EFL Championship promotion
Leeds and Sunderland are the obvious picks to fill the top two automatic promotion spots. However, there may be opportunities to specifically wager on both of those teams going up automatically, which offers a greater potential reward.
And going even more niche, you may even have the chance to select the specific order in which they will finish (Sunderland 1st, Leeds 2nd or vice-versa).
As for the third promoted side, it's an exciting melting pot, and will be for many weeks yet. Even those not in the top 10 of expected promotion contenders still have a chance, and we've seen many teams start miserably in previous years, only to end up getting a top-six finish.
If you want an early pick to join Leeds and Sunderland in the 2025/26 Premier League though, our money is still on Middlesbrough.