Championship Predictions & Betting Tips – Saturday 16th August 2025

Tony Incenzo previews the biggest EFL Championship fixtures on Saturday.

THE opening weekend of EFL Championship combat featured truly fascinating results. Some teams definitely hit the ground running which Championship betting patterns predicted. Yet other sides have room for improvement in the fledgling divisional table.

Our upcoming second round of fixtures is spread across Saturday and Sunday. So what can we expect? Here are the pairings I am anticipating most alongside considered score predictions to guide your live betting…

Wrexham v West Bromwich Albion

Punters can bet on Wrexham v West Brom at William Hill and here is the current state of the market:

• Wrexham – 6/4
• Draw – 2/1
• West Brom – 19/10

Wrexham – The Racecourse Ground hosts second tier action for the first time in 43 years dating to 1981/82 when Wrexham finished second bottom and were relegated.

They’ve been out and back into the Football League since then with Hollywood film star investment galvanising their current upwardly mobile surge of fortunes. Even so, Phil Parkinson’s men were denied by two late goals during last Saturday’s closely fought 2-1 loss at Southampton.

West Bromwich Albion – Fresh from a 1-0 home victory against Blackburn Rovers marking Ryan Mason’s initial game as head coach.

Isaac Price scrambled the all-important goal for the Baggies.

Score prediction: Wrexham wreck ’em 2-0.

Preston North End v Leicester City

Punters can bet on Preston v Leicester at William Hill and here is the current state of the market:

• Preston – 5/2
• Draw – 9/4
• Leicester – 21/20

Preston North End – First team manager Paul Heckingbottom celebrates one year in charge this week. I watched Preston’s maiden 2025/26 fixture versus Queens Park Rangers from the Loftus Road press box.

North End were certainly under the cosh early on and trailed 1-0 at half-time. However on 48 minutes, Milutin Osmajic expertly lobbed their delicious equaliser to seal a good draw. I am mindful Preston drew 20 out of 46 League fixtures last season and only escaped relegation by one point.

Leicester City – A satisfactory start for new head coach Martí Cifuentes in Sunday afternoon’s 2-1 home triumph past Sheffield Wednesday. Scorers were Jannik Vestergaard and Wout Faes following well-worked set plays as the Foxes came from behind to secure the win.

Score prediction: Nullified 0-0.

Bristol City v Charlton Athletic

Punters can bet on Bristol City v Charlton at William Hill and here is the current state of the market:

• Bristol City – 10/11
• Draw – 12/5
• Charlton – 14/5

Bristol City – An inaugural home fixture for new head coach Gerhard Struber who arrived on 19th June. I was totally surprised by last Saturday’s emphatic 4-1 win at Sheffield United.

Scott Twine netted twice and helped set up the other two goals. Don’t forget it was a repeat of the Play-Off Semi-Final three months ago where the Blades cruised 6-0 on aggregate over two legs.

Charlton Athletic – The League One Play-Off Final winners made a strong return to this level dispatching Watford 1-0 at the Valley. New signing Harvey Knibbs volleyed their goal from four yards on his debut four minutes into stoppage time at the very end.

Score prediction: City slickers 2-1.

Swansea City v Sheffield United

Punters can bet on Swansea v Sheffield United at William Hill and here is the current state of the market:

• Swansea – 2/1
• Draw – 21/10
• Sheffield United – 11/8

Swansea City – Licking proverbial wounds due to a 1-0 reverse up at Middlesbrough in a game of few chances. Swans boss Alan Sheehan said afterwards 0-0 would have been a fairer reflection.

Sheffield United – That aforementioned 4-1 home defeat by Bristol City suggests the Blades are suffering a severe hangover from losing the 2024/25 Play-Off Final to Sunderland.

Therefore new manager Rubén Sellés will want to rectify matters seeking his first Championship victory down in South Wales.

Score prediction: Blades brilliant 3-0.

Watford v Queens Park Rangers

Punters can bet on Watford v QPR at William Hill and here is the current state of the market:

• Watford – EVS
• Draw – 23/10
• QPR – 27/10

Watford – A first home game in the hot seat for new head coach Paulo Pezzolano – appointed on 13th May. His team registered just one shot on target in the 1-0 setback at Charlton Athletic.

Queens Park Rangers – Travelling merely 14 miles to Hertfordshire for local derby bragging rights.

I watched Rangers excel in the first half against visitors Preston North End, deservedly taking the lead via an own goal off visiting defender Ben Whiteman. But the R’s faded beyond half-time and it ended 1-1.

Score prediction: Perpetual motion 3-3

*Odds subject to change – prices accurate at the time of writing*