The Championship 2025/26 Outright Betting Tips
League One and Two are underway and now it's the turn of the Championship as 24 teams go into battle this weekend dreaming of Premier League riches.
Leeds United, Burnley and Sunderland all reached the promised land last term and 46 rounds of regular-season action plus the end of season play-offs will decide which three teams join the big boys next season.
Leicester, Ipswich and Southampton all succumbed to the drop from the top-flight and will be looking to bounce back at the first attempt, but the second tier is a notoriously-tough section from which to escape, so prepare for a rollercoaster of a ride over the next nine months.
Ipswich are favourites to go up as champions and the signs are good for the Tractor Boys, with the market leaders winning the Championship in five of the last six seasons, while first place has been secured by a team dropping down from the Premier League in three of the past four campaigns.
Tip 1 – Ipswich to win the Championship @ 3/1
Ipswich finished 19th in the Premier League last term, but they didn't deviate from their attack-based philosophy and that could stand them in good stead for their Championship challenge.
Kieran McKenna remains in charge at Portman Road and there have been few departures from their playing staff too. That continuity could prove key and Ipswich are fancied to top the table in 2025-26.
The Tractor Boys probably went up a season too early last time, but, having had a taste of top-flight action, they know better about what to expect and the experience should serve them well in the cut-throat league that is the Championship.
Recruitment has been good and history shows that teams dropping down from the Premier League recover well, so McKenna's men look the best to win the league.
Tip 2 - George Hirst top Championship goalscorer @ 9/1
With Ipswich fancied to enjoy a successful campaign it may also pay to stick with the Portman Road side when picking out a top goalscorer for the campaign and in-form forward George Hirst looks a good bet at 9/1.
Hirst managed three goals in five Premier League matches last term, but he has shown a clinical edge in pre-season, filling the void left by the departure of last season's top scorer, Liam Delap.
Delap joined Chelsea in the summer, but Hirst looks set to ensure that Town don't miss their former target man, and his tally in this summer's friendlies suggests a goal-laden campaign to come.
Hirst has scored three times this summer and, if he can hit the ground running in the new campaign, he could play a key role in Ipswich's push for promotion back to the Premier League.
Competition could come from the likes of Cameron Archer, Jay Stansfield and Haji Wright, but Hirst's position in a more settled side accustomed to this division could give him an advantage over the coming months.
Tip 3 - Sheffield United best Championship team in the north @ 6/5
Sheffield United were a whisker away from promotion last term, but they can quickly shake off the effects of their Championship play-off final heartbreak by featuring in the higher reaches of the division once again, and a bet on the Blades being the top Northern club should pay off.
United have to overcome Middlesbrough, Blackburn, Hull, Preston and Sheffield Wednesday for the bet to be a winner and several of those names can be quickly ruled out.
Wednesday and Hull have been dealing with off-field issues throughout the summer and are more likely to be fighting a survival battle rather than figuring at the top of the table, while Preston also look to have concerns away from the pitch and recruitment has been poor during the summer.
Boro could challenge the Blades but it remains to be seen how quickly they get to grips with the tactics of new manager Rob Edwards, while Rovers have plenty to do to narrow a 24-point gap between themselves and Sheff Utd last season.
United have been banging in the goals in pre-season and Ruben Selles looks to have garnered a favourable response from his players since taking over in the off-season.
Selles knows the division well and his side can be expected to feature firmly in the promotion picture again this season.
Odds correct at time of publication but subject to change
