Every single match across the Championship, League One and League Two is broadcast live on Sky during the opening weekend, with more than a thousand live fixtures from the EFL, the Carabao Cup and the EFL Trophy streaming on Sky Sports. Throughout the campaign fans can also catch free highlight reels on the Sky Sports app after each round of games, and they can tune in to the Essential EFL podcast or The EFL Show on Sky Sports News, which now has a dedicated slot every Monday at 2 pm, for debate and tactical analysis.
For the best viewing experience, using the Chrome browser is recommended as it provides a more accessible video player. Wolves are currently listed as the second‑favorite for the Championship crown at 5/1 with Sky Bet – a position that reflects their strong squad on paper. However, I remain cautious about backing teams that have a tendency to drop points early in a season, especially when they have just dropped down a division.
Historical data shows that the last ten clubs relegated from the Premier League with 25 points or fewer tend to struggle in their first five Championship games. Across those 50 matches the relegated sides managed just 15 wins, a win‑rate of only 30 %. The market currently prices Wolves at 1/2, implying a 66 % chance of winning their opener, which I consider a little optimistic given the uncertainties surrounding their new lineup. Those 50 games also produced an average of 2.1 goals per match, suggesting a low‑scoring, tightly contested opening fixture for Wolves, who may still be finding their rhythm.
Tony Mowbray returns to the Blackburn dugout, and despite a mixed record at his previous clubs and some health concerns, his teams have historically conceded just 1.1 expected goals per 90 minutes over an 85‑game sample. This defensive solidity makes an under‑2.5‑goals market at evens an attractive option with Sky Bet. In other Championship news, Preston enjoyed a strong away record against lower‑half opposition last season, losing only three of fifteen matches. However, a deeper look at the expected‑goals data reveals that they were over‑performing, averaging just 0.9 goals per game, which could indicate a regression to the mean.
The exit of captain Ben Whiteman to Wrexham, together with the loss of attacking contributors Lewis Dobbin and Daniel Jebbison, poses a problem for Paul Heckingbottom’s side. After four consecutive pre‑season defeats, the team could be heading into a challenging start to the league campaign.
Historically, newly‑promoted clubs have often begun their Championship seasons with momentum. Bolton, for example, offers good value at 5/4 with Sky Bet for a win, as they have a solid track record of early‑season success. Millwall’s third‑place finish last season should not be dismissed as a fluke. They accumulated points consistently, winning 24 of 46 games, losing only 11 and conceding just 49 goals.
Alex Neil has added tactical flexibility without stripping away the club’s traditional grit. His side is organised, competitive and pragmatic, yet now features a higher calibre of individual talent than previous Millwall squads. With Bristol City undergoing a substantial overhaul this summer, Millwall could exploit the transition period and secure an away win at 17/10 with Sky Bet. John Eustace has demonstrated an ability to prepare his team for the season opener.
Over his first five games at any club he averages 1.6 points per match and has lost only three of twenty. Last season he lifted a side that was flirting with the relegation zone to an eighth‑place finish through pragmatic, effective football. Derby County, despite possessing just 44.4 % possession last season, still made a credible push for the playoffs. While Patrick Agyemang’s long‑term injury is a concern, the attacking duo of Carlton Morris and Sammie Szmodics provides quality in the final third.
Morris to score in a Derby away win is priced at 7/2 with Sky Bet. Middlesbrough appeared poised for promotion last season, only to miss out after losing both a playoff semi‑final and the final. Under Kim Hellberg, they arguably played the best football in the division.
Their defensive statistics were outstanding – they allowed fewer shots than any other team and boasted the best shot‑to‑goal ratio. They earned 80 points from an expected 83.2 and created 109 big chances while conceding just 68. Hellberg now has a full pre‑season to embed his aggressive, possession‑heavy style, and despite the departure of Hayden Hackney, the squad has the depth to fill the gap.
They are a strong promotion candidate at 5/2 with Sky Bet and could open the season with a home victory. Norwich City were flirting with relegation when Philippe Clement arrived in November, but by season’s end they had transformed into one of the division’s strongest sides. Their points‑per‑game rate jumped from 0.91 in the first 23 fixtures to 1.91 in the latter half.
A similar resurgence occurred at West Bromwich Albion when club legend James Morrison took over, losing only twice in his final twelve games and earning a permanent role. Both clubs are likely to aim for a top‑eight finish, making a draw at 11/4 with Sky Bet a sensible runner‑up bet. Rashawn Burrell is a striker to monitor. In his first full Championship season he netted ten goals in thirty appearances, indicating room for improvement.
QPR’s creative supply line – featuring Ilias Chair, Koki Saito, Harvey Vale and Kwame Poku – gives him multiple avenues to score. He is priced at 66/1 to finish as the league’s top scorer and 15/2 to open the scoring against Portsmouth. Swansea appear to have won the transfer window.
Significant investment from the ownership group, a partnership with Jamestown Analytics for talent identification, and backing from Tony Bloom have all bolstered their recruitment. New signings Elijah Just, Joseph Opoku and Moussa Yeo add fresh attacking options, while Ross Stewart brings proven goal‑scoring ability if he can stay fit.
An opening‑day victory at 9/5 with Sky Bet looks attractive. Stoke City have endured eight consecutive bottom‑half finishes since their Premier League relegation, making them a predictable, often dull watch for supporters. In contrast, Swansea could start the season with a bang and claim an early win.
Birmingham’s away record last season was disastrous; a blind bet on them would have yielded a loss of roughly £12.50 per £10 stake, a -55 % return on investment. Chris Davies’ side averaged 1.91 points per game at home but only 0.87 away, and despite promises of a stylistic shift, significant improvement seems unlikely.
Sheffield United’s manager Chris Wilder has focused on shoring up the defence, with the Blades keeping four clean sheets in five pre‑season and Carabao Cup games. A draw‑no‑bet market at 4/5 with Sky Bet, with stakes returned on a draw, offers good value. Southampton, despite a four‑point deduction, finished the season unbeaten in their final 19 league games (14 wins, 5 draws). Continuity in the squad – with Daniel Peretz and Cyle Larin turning loans into permanent deals and Léo Scienza remaining – should provide a solid platform.
A two‑goal victory at 3/1 with Sky Bet is a tempting proposition. West Ham United are the shortest‑priced promotion favourites at around 1/2, largely thanks to the presence of Jarrod Bowen. However, the tactical question remains whether Nuno Espírito Santo’s style, which thrives on possession against Premier League opponents, will translate against Championship teams that are comfortable conceding possession.
Their opening away match is priced at 13/10 with Sky Bet. Burnley, now under Nicky Hayen, are expected to adopt a possession‑oriented approach, with Hayen publicly stating his desire for attacking football.
This could set up an intriguing tactical clash with West Ham. Wrexham, managed by Phil Parkinson, struggled to convert chances last season, scoring 69 goals from an expected‑goals pool of 56.9 and collecting 71 points from an expected total below 60. With limited transfer activity and a heavy reliance on Kieffer Moore, building a promotion‑challenging side may be difficult. Cardiff City will rely heavily on youth after promotion.
Academy graduates like Dylan Lawlor and promising talent Ruben Colwill, who is priced at 100/30 with Sky Bet to score on Monday, could be key to their survival hopes. Betting highlights: 2 points on a Sheffield United draw‑no‑bet versus Birmingham (4/5 with Sky Bet); 1 point double on the same draw‑no‑bet combined with under‑2.5 goals in Wolves vs Blackburn (5/2 with Sky Bet). Additionally, the Super 6 promotion pool offers a chance to win £1 million for free entry.