THE push for promotion and Play-Off contention is hotting up very nicely in our EFL Championship. But there is also plenty of Championship betting activity focused on teams targeting a top half finish.
Maybe someone will even emulate Crystal Palace who languished in 20th place back in November 2003 but subsequently pieced together a stunningly successful run before gaining promotion to the Premier League via Play-Off Final glory.
Here my considered analysis of the present situation to assist your football betting…
Middlesbrough
Current ranking: 7th
Form guide: Three defeats in four outings.
Leading scorer in the Championship: Emmanuel Latte Lath 11 goals (sold to Atlanta United for £22.5million in the transfer window).
Predicted finish: 9th
Top Half Finish odds: 1/50
Norwich City
Current ranking: 8th
Form guide: Two consecutive victories.
Leading scorer in the Championship: Borja Sainz 15 goals
Predicted finish: 5th
Top Half Finish odds: 1/16
Bristol City
Current ranking: 9th
Form guide: One win across three unbeaten games.
Leading scorer in the Championship: Anis Mehmeti 9 goals
Predicted finish: 10th
Top Half Finish odds: 2/9
Sheffield Wednesday
Current ranking: 10th
Form guide: One victory amidst three undefeated matches.
Leading scorer in the Championship: Josh Windass 10 goals
Predicted finish: 6th
Top Half Finish odds: 1/3
Coventry City
Current ranking: 11th
Form guide: Four straight maximum pointers followed by the 2-0 home defeat versus Leeds United on Wednesday night.
Leading scorer in the Championship: Haji Wright 7 goals
Predicted finish: 8th
Top Half Finish odds: 1/8
Watford
Current ranking: 12th
Form guide: Three losses on the spin.
Leading scorer in the Championship: Vakoun Bayo 10 goals
Predicted finish: 16th
Top Half Finish odds: 5/6
Queens Park Rangers
Current ranking: 13th
Form guide: Five wins from seven fixtures.
Leading scorer in the Championship: Michael Frey 6 goals
Predicted finish: 11th
Top Half Finish odds: 13/8
Millwall
Current ranking: 14th
Form guide: Four unbeaten matches culminating in three back-to-back triumphs.
Leading scorer in the Championship: Duncan Watmore 5 goals
Predicted finish: 12th
Top Half Finish odds: EVS
Preston North End
Current ranking: 15th
Form guide: Two wins during six attempts.
Leading scorer in the Championship: Emil Riis 8 goals
Predicted finish: 14th
Top Half Finish odds: 9/4
Oxford United
Current ranking: 16th
Form guide: Tuesday evening’s 1-0 reverse at Burnley signalled a first setback in the 10 League encounters since Gary Rowett was appointed as their new head coach on 20th December.
Leading scorer in the Championship: Mark Harris & Greg Leigh – both on 5 goals
Predicted finish: 13th
Top Half Finish odds: 12/1
Swansea City
Current ranking: 17th
Form guide: Six defeats among seven fruitless League and Cup engagements.
Leading scorer in the Championship: Liam Cullen 9 goals
Predicted finish: 20th
Top Half Finish odds: 3/1
Stoke City
Current ranking: 18th
Form guide: Saturday’s 2-1 success at Hull City terminated a five match winless run although four draws were included.
Leading scorer in the Championship: Tom Cannon 9 goals (signed for Sheffield United in the January transfer window)
Predicted finish: 22nd
Top Half Finish odds: 14/1
Cardiff City
Current ranking: 19th
Form guide: The colossal 7-0 humbling at Leeds United on Saturday ended Cardiff’s eight match undefeated spree in all competitions.
Leading scorer in the Championship: Callum Robinson 11 goals
Predicted finish: 18th
Top Half Finish odds: 10/1
Portsmouth
Current ranking: 20th
Form guide: Three games without victory.
Leading scorer in the Championship: Callum Lang 10 goals
Predicted finish: 19th
Top Half Finish odds: 20/1
Hull City
Current ranking: 21st
Form guide: Two wins in four matches.
Leading scorer in the Championship: Joao Pedro 5 goals
Predicted finish: 17th
Top Half Finish odds: 11/1
Derby County
Current ranking: 22nd
Form guide: Eight successive defeats in League and Cup.
Leading scorer in the Championship: Jerry Yates 6 goals
Predicted finish: 24th
Top Half Finish odds: 25/1
Luton Town
Current ranking: 23rd
Form guide: Nine games bereft of winning in all competitions incorporating seven losses.
Leading scorer in the Championship: Carlton Morris 7 goals
Predicted finish: 21st
Top Half Finish odds: 25/1
Plymouth Argyle
Current ranking: 24th
Form guide: Saturday’s 2-1 home result over West Bromwich Albion was a first victory in 16 League affairs for Argyle but they are the only Championship side yet to win away.
Leading scorer in the Championship: Rami Al Hajj, Mustapha Bundu, Ibrahim Cissoko (now on loan at Sheffield Wednesday), Andre Gray, Ryan Hardie & Morgan Whittaker (sold to Middlesbrough in the January transfer window) – all on 3 goals
Predicted finish: 23rd
Top Half Finish odds: N/A
