EFL Championship 2024-25: 100/30 Leeds have taken 40% of bets to win the league | OneFootball

EFL Championship

Can Farke steer Leeds back to the Premier League at the second time of asking?

We are now less than three weeks away until the Championship begins on Friday 9th August, and play-off final losers Leeds United are the Betfair Sportsbook's 100/30 favourites to win the second-tier this season...

Preston host Sheffield United and Blackburn welcome Derby at 8pm on Friday August 9th, with a double header kicking off the 2024-25 EFL Championship campaign.

The second tier is often said to be the most exciting league in the world due to it's unpredictable nature, and the upcoming season looks to be no different.

The three sides coming down from the Premier League all won promotion from the Championship in 2022-23, with Burnley, Luton and Sheffield United the first three newly promoted sides to all suffer relegation in the same season since 1997-98 (Barnsley, Bolton & Palace).

We then have some bigger sides making their return to the second-tier from League One, with Derby County back in the mix following two years away, and 2008 FA Cup winners Portsmouth also back in the second tier for the first time since 2011-12, and Oxford - who beat Bolton in the play-off final, back at this level for the first time in 25 years.

Nothing but promotion will do for Leeds United, whilst expect improved seasons from West Brom, Middlesbrough, Hull and Coventry as we look forward to yet another superb Championship season.

Leeds favourites for title

Perhaps it is no surprise that play-off finalists Leeds Untied are the Betfair Sportsbook's 100/30 favourites to win the league this season.

Daniel Farke's men set a record last season for the most second-tier points (90) & GD (+38) without earning promotion, as they were pipped to automatic glory by Ipswich and Leicester. They when wiped the floor with Norwich in the semi-final of the play-offs, before a disappointing 1-0 defeat to Southampton in the final at Wembley. Leeds would be the only relegated club not to win promotion back to the Premier League at the first attempt.

Leeds have now failed to earn promotion from all six of their Football League play-off campaigns; only Sheffield United (9) and Lincoln City (7) have competed in more play-off campaigns without ever being successful in one.

Despite that heartbreak, their overall campaign suggests they will be right up there again this season and the punters on the Betfair Sportsbook agree.

Over 40% of all bets placed on the Championship Title Winner market have been for Leeds United, nearly three times more than any other side (Burnley - 16%).

You do have to go back to 2015-16 to find the last side to earn automatic promotion the following season after a play-off final defeat - Boro, who finished second.

The last side to win the Championship in the subsequent campaign was Readinig in 2011-12, who lost 4-2 to Swansea in the play-off final in 2011 before an 89 point haul to lift the title a year later. Interestingly, Leeds (90) finished third last season despite earning one more point than Reading's winning total that year.

Burnley spearhead relegated trio

Considering two of the three relegated sides from 2022-23 went straight back up last season, hopes may be high for Burnley, Sheffield United and Luton.

Of the three sides coming back down, it is Scott Parker's Burnley side at 7/1 who are the most likely to win the league according to the Betfair Sportsbook. As stated however, they will have to do so under a new regime after Vincent Kompany left to take the Bayern Munich job, and Scott Parker coming in to take the Clarets' charge. Parker has won promotion to the Premier League before.

His Burnley side have also taken the second highest percentage of the overall bets at 16%, and may well be Leeds' closet challengers.

Luton 10/1 are the third favourites for title glory, ahead of Sheffield United 12/1 (with Middlesbrough 11/1 wedged inbetween). The 'Rob Edwards staying at Luton' factor alone could be the best bit of business Luton do this Summer, with their double figure price worth noting.

Sheffield United, who seem to be in all-sorts of off the field trouble with their owners have taken on just over 6% of the overall bets to win the league, though that is the lowest of the relegated trio, and despite their eye-opening signings of Kieffer Moore and Callum O'Hare, their financial instability means they may not be able to flex their muscles in the market. They are also starting the league rock bottom on -2 points, and whilst that is a small figure, their tricky fixture list to start the season could have them scrambling from the opening night. You can back the Blades at 11.0 on the Betfair Exchange to be relegated.

Carrick's 'Boro should be improved

Speaking of managers who are staying put, the importance of Michael Carrick sticking around on Teeside should not be underestimated.

After finishing four points off the play-offs last season, their early season form was a huge contributor to their disappointing return, and with Carrick constantly linked with a move away following his initial impact on the side when he first got the job, that may have played a part in their rocky beginning.

They are 11/1 to win the league this season, and fourth-favourites at 7/2 to win promotion in 2024-25. Other than Leeds, that makes them the most favoured side of those who were in the Championship last season.

Norwich and West Brom are both locked on 12/1, followed by Coventry at 14/1 and then six sides at 16/1.

Wayne Rooney's Plymouth Argyle are the joint-outsiders for the title at 50/1 alongside newly promoted Oxford United.

33/1 Preston are the only side at the time of writing Betfair are yet to take a bet on in this market.

Full list of Championship Winner Odds 2024-25 (prices correct as of Monday July 22):

Leeds United 100/30Burnley 7/1Luton 10/1Middlesbrough 11/1Sheffield United 12/1Norwich City 12/1West Brom 12/1Coventry 14/1Watford 18/1Derby 18/1Sunderland 18/1Hull 18/1Portsmouth 18/1Stoke 18/1QPR 22/1Sheffield Wednesday 22/1Millwall 25/1Blackburn Rovers 25/1Bristol City 25/1Swansea 25/1Preson North End 33/1Cardiff City 33/1Oxford United 50/1Plymouth Argyle 50/1

Now read our relegation trends piece ahead of the Premier League's return!