Championship Predictions And Betting Tips for Saturday 22nd February 2025

With only 13 matches remaining in the 2024/25 Championship season, pressure is mounting for teams up and down the table.

Leeds and Sheffield United are sitting pretty in the automatic promotion berths, yet there’s a lot of congestion behind them, with seven points splitting fifth and 13th. The Championship top half finish odds are tight and it remains too close to call.

At the other end of the table, Stoke, Cardiff, and Hull are far from safe despite sitting outside of the bottom three at the time of writing. Only a few teams – five at most – have nothing to play for over the final two-plus months of the season.

Sunderland vs Hull

High-flying Sunderland are heavy football betting favourites over struggling Hull City for their Saturday lunchtime clash at the Stadium of Light. Defeat to Leeds last time out delivered an almost knockout blow to the Black Cats’ automatic promotion ambitions.

Prior to a 2-0 defeat in their last away matches, Hull had won three straight on the road. Their underlying numbers are better than their placing in the Championship table suggests.

Still, Sunderland are unbeaten at home this season and should win this at a canter.

Pick: Sunderland -1 at 19/10

Swansea vs Blackburn

Swansea have lost eight of their last 10 matches. Blackburn have won three of their last four in the Championship, climbing to fifth in the process. The Lancashire club are four points ahead of sixth.

Away form has been a weakness for Blackburn, with three consecutive road defeats before their win at The Hawthorns. Their expected goals on the road at below average, while Swansea have a +0.33 expected goal difference per 90 at home.

Still, the contrasting form makes Blackburn an excellent bet to get something from this match.

Pick: Blackburn to win at 19/10

Portsmouth vs QPR

Eight points separate Portsmouth and QPR even after back-to-back wins for the former. William Hill still prices Pompey as clear favourites for this Saturday clash on the south coast, however.

Portsmouth have taken 26 points from 16 home fixtures. QPR have been inconsistent away from home.

While neither side team can boast particularly impressive underlying numbers at either end of the pitch, we feel comfortable taking both teams to score. This bet has hit in over 55% of Portsmouth’s matches and 58% of QPR’s fixtures.

Pick: Both teams to score at 4/5

Norwich vs Stoke

Championship betting markets tab relegation threatened Stoke as massive underdogs for their trip to Carrow Road despite two wins in their last three.

Only six teams have a better expected goal difference than Norwich. Stoke are the second worst in the Championship by that metric with poor numbers in attack and defence. The Potters’ recent upturn is unlikely to be sustainable.

Pick: Norwich -1 at 9/5

Watford vs Luton

With only one home defeat to Luton since 1994, Watford are narrow favourites for the latest edition of the M1 Derby on Sunday afternoon.

Prior to a win over Middlesbrough last time out, the Hornets had one win in 11 across all competitions. They have lost five in a row at Vicarage Road, including a heavy defeat to Leeds in their last match in front of their own fans.

While Luton’s form is poor, there’s little to choose between the underlying numbers of these two teams. We think the visitors can get something here.

Pick: Luton to win either half at 21/20