2024 EFL Championship Winner Predictions

Although it’s quite early to make the final 2024 EFL Championship winner predictions, let’s take a look at the three favorites to progress to the top-tier league at the end of the season.

Leeds United’s progress is the best so far

The race for promotion in the 2023-24 Championship season saw a pivotal match on Friday night when second-place Leeds United overcame a deficit to defeat leaders Leicester City 3-1. This victory marked the sixth occasion this season where Daniel Farke’s team conceded the opening goal yet managed to secure a win, a feat not achieved by Leeds since the 1999-00 Premier League season.

After 79 minutes of Friday’s highly anticipated match between Leeds United and Championship leaders Leicester City, the Foxes held a one-goal advantage, seemingly poised to widen their lead to 12 points over their hosts. However, a late surge from Leeds saw them score three goals, completely altering the course of the game. As a result, the once heavily favored Leicester City, now at 1/3 odds at Bet365 to win the title, find themselves leading by only six points over both Leeds and Ipswich Town, with 12 matches left in the season.

Leeds has now become the second favourites at 7/2 odds, while Ipswich, amped up by their 3-1 victory over Birmingham City, have odds of 10/1 to win the Championship. Daniel Farke’s team has been in remarkable form, winning their last nine league matches and conceding only twice during that period. On the other hand, Leicester City suffered consecutive league losses for just the second time this season, falling to both Middlesbrough and Leeds.

Southampton still has a chance for promotion

Standing as formidable challengers in this pursuit are not only Ipswich Town but also Southampton, another relegated team. Southampton’s 2024 EFL Championship winner predictions and odds of securing promotion from the Championship though have now shifted to 11/10 at online gambling sites in the UK. This change comes as they find themselves trailing Leeds United and Ipswich Town by five points, following a series of three losses in four games. 

Previously enjoying a club-record streak of 26 games unbeaten across all competitions, Southampton, currently in fourth place, now lag behind leaders Leicester City by 11 points. Their recent defeat at home against Millwall (2-1) marked their second loss at St Mary’s Stadium in just five days, following a previous defeat to Hull City.

Leicester’s odds have slightly dropped

Despite their loss to Leeds, Leicester remains in a strong position for automatic promotion with a 95.4% chance at online sportsbooks in the UK, down only slightly from 98.1% before the match. Leeds’ chance of automatic promotion increased to 71.6%, surpassing Ipswich Town due to their superior form in recent matches.

Leeds’ impressive performance since the beginning of the year, securing all 27 possible points in nine matches, has significantly bolstered their promotion prospects. While Leicester remains the favorites for the Championship title with a 75.4% chance, Leeds’ chances nearly doubled following their recent victory.

Bonus: 2024 EFL Championship winner predictions by Opta

According to simulations by the Opta supercomputer, Leicester and Leeds are expected to finish with the highest average points totals at the end of the season. Ipswich and Southampton are likely to secure playoff positions, with Coventry City favored to join them ahead of Hull City and West Bromwich. This forecast provides Coventry City with the opportunity to redeem last season’s playoff heartbreak and potentially secure promotion to the Premier League.

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