Following five exhilarating rounds of matches, it’s safe to say the 2023/24 EFL Championship season has got underway in style before the September international break. West Midlands sides West Bromwich Albion and Birmingham City have had contrasting starts with the Baggies lagging behind in 11th but Blues enjoying life in the top four.
The surprise packages have probably been Preston North End and Ipswich Town as they are leading the way but it’s a major contrast for Middlesbrough and Leeds United. Sheffield Wednesday have picked up just one point out of an available 15, making for a disastrous return to the English second tier following the appointment of Xisco Muñoz. On a brighter note, Championship newbies Plymouth Argyle have impressed with two wins in their first five fixtures and Hull City are paving the way for an exciting campaign.
Ahead of the new season, bold predictions were made by the bookies but plenty of surprises at both ends of the division have now changed their odds significantly. With that in mind, here’s how the final league table is expected to look based on the latest odds, taking into account the initial fixtures before the international break.
1. 24th: Rotherham United
Odds of relegation: 8/11, odds of promotion: 250/1
2. 23rd: Queens Park Rangers
Odds of relegation: 6/4, odds of promotion: 100/1
3. 22nd: Sheffield Wednesday
Odds of relegation: 6/4, odds of promotion: 66/1
4. 21st: Huddersfield Town
Odds of relegation: 15/8, odds of promotion: 66/1