West Ham (7/4) and Wolves (11/2) lead the 2026/27 Championship odds as favorites for an immediate Premier League return.
Last updated:As the 2026/27 Sky Bet Championship season approaches, anticipation builds for an extraordinary campaign across England’s second tier. Featuring relegated top-flight heavyweights, ambitious League One arrivals, and updated league regulations, the stage is set for a thrilling title race and a fierce survival battle. Bookmakers have installed the newly relegated sides as clear frontrunners for an immediate Premier League return. However, with a revised play-off format keeping the postseason chase wide open, every fixture will carry immense weight. Here is a look at the key contenders shaping up this term.
The Promotion Favourites
The race for the Premier League is shaping up to be fiercely competitive this season. The bookies have clearly backed the teams dropping down from the top flight to bounce straight back up:
- West Ham United (7/4): The Hammers are the clear outright favourites for promotion. Freshly relegated from the Premier League, the East London club, now managed by Nuno Espírito Santo, will be desperate to return to the top tier at the first time of asking.
- Wolverhampton Wanderers (11/2): Also suffering relegation last term, Wolves are second favourites to win the league. With César Peixoto newly appointed as head coach, the Black Country side will be heavily backed for a swift and successful campaign.
- Burnley (10/1) & Middlesbrough (10/1): The bookmakers cannot separate these two for the third spot. Burnley complete the trio of relegated sides aiming for an immediate bounce back under their new boss Nicky Hayen. Meanwhile, Kim Hellberg’s Middlesbrough are heavily fancied to mount a serious title challenge from the get-go.
The Championship Landscape
The 2026/27 Sky Bet Championship season promises to be an absolute cracker. This campaign marks a historic shift, as it will be the first season following the expansion of the post-season play-offs from four teams to six, offering even more clubs a glimmer of hope for a trip to Wembley. However, it is not all positive news across the division; Southampton will start the season on the back foot with a four-point deduction. This penalty is due to multiple breaches of EFL regulations regarding the unauthorised filming of other clubs’ training sessions last season.
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The Relegation Candidates
At the other end of the table, the fight for survival looks incredibly tough, particularly for the sides coming up from League One.
- Lincoln City (8/11): The Imps are the heavy favourites for the drop. Having just secured promotion from League One, the bookmakers believe the step up to the Championship will be a massive hurdle for them to overcome.
- Bolton Wanderers (11/10): Another side newly promoted from the third tier, the Trotters find themselves squarely in the relegation mix and will need a monumental effort to retain their Championship status.
- Cardiff City (5/4) & Charlton Athletic (5/4): The third spot is shared by two clubs. The Bluebirds are the third newly promoted team from League One and are expected to struggle in the higher division. Charlton Athletic, despite being more established, are also tipped for a grim relegation scrap this term.
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