Meanwhile, Norwich travel to West Brom in tricky test, while Sheffield United welcome QPR
The 27th round of matches in the EFL Championship – the second tier of English domestic football – is sure to be pivotal, with plenty of promotion rivals going head to head. This coming Friday night (11 January), table toppers Leeds United host Derby County, while the following day promotion hopefuls West Brom head to Norwich and Sheffield United host QPR.
First things first
Before you go any further, head on over to the Oddsshark website, find your favourite betting site and get your own account up and running using your credit card. As a new customer and with the EFL Championship season over halfway through already, there should be a wide range of promotions and special offers available to you.
Where should I be investing my money?
First up, the clash between Leeds and Derby at Elland Road. Leeds currently sit two points clear at the top of the table, although they have lost their last two league outings in a row. Nevertheless, they remain the clear favourites to win the EFL Championship league title and are priced at just 2.62 to do so.
Derby, by way of comparison, sit sixth in the table, although a win on the road here could help them move up the table a couple of places – temporarily, at least. Derby has taken four points from their last two league outings, and you could more than triple your money by backing them to win promotion back to the Premier League at a price of 3.50, according to Oddsshark.
Regarding this match, it is home side Leeds who come in as the clear favourites to get back to winning ways. You can back the league leaders to take all three points at just 1.80, while Derby are out at 4.33 to do the same – a draw is priced in the middle at 3.60.
And we feel this one could well end up all square. A 1-1 draw is priced at 7.00, meaning that a US$5 bet would lead to a US$35 pay out, while you could more than double your money by backing under 2.5 goals in the game at 2.10.
West Brom could get one over Norwich
The following day, promotion hopefuls West Brom and Norwich City lock horns at the Hawthorns. The Baggies currently sit fourth in the table, although a win on Saturday could move them up to second, depending on how other results go.
Norwich, on the other hand, come into this match without a win in any of their last four matches across all competitions. They remain in second place, however, just two points behind Leeds, and are at 2.50 to finish the season in the top two and earn automatic promotion to the top flight – West Brom comes in at 2.87 to achieve that feat.
And it is West Brom who come into this match as the favourites to pick up the win. You can more than double your money by backing the Baggies to take the points at 2.05, while Norwich is out at 3.50 to win on the road – a draw comes in just under at 3.40.
And home advantage should count for a lot here. A narrow, 2-1 win for West Brom comes in at 8.50, meaning that a US$5 bet would lead to a US$42.50 payout, while you could almost quadruple your money by backing a combo bet of a home win, coupled with both teams to score, which is priced at 3.75.
Sheffield United should ease past QPR
And finally, Sheffield United host QPR looking to make it four league wins in a row. The Blades are third in the table and are priced at just 2.25 to earn promotion to the Premier League come the end of the season.
QPR’s form has picked up over recent weeks, however. They are unbeaten in six games across all competitions and sit ninth in the standings – they come in at 8.00 to finish in the top six and earn a play-off place.
But it is Sheffield United who comes into this match as the red-hot favourites to continue their winning streak. You can back the Blades to take the points at just 1.65, while QPR is out at 5.25 to do the same – a draw is priced in the middle at 3.75.
This should be a comfortable win for United. A 2-0 win for the home side comes in at 8.00, while you could almost triple your money by backing a combo bet of a United victory, coupled with a “no” to both teams scoring, at 2.75.
EFL Championship round 27 fixtures:
Friday, 11 January
(1.80) Leeds United x Derby County (4.33); draw (3.60)
Saturday, 12 January
(2.62) Birmingham x Middlesbrough (2.75); draw (3.10)
(2.37) Brentford x Stoke (3.00); draw (3.25)
(1.55) Bristol City x Bolton Wanderers (5.75); draw (4.00)
(2.05) Hull City x Sheffield Wednesday (3.50); draw (3.40)
(2.20) Ipswich Town x Rotherham United (3.20); draw (3.40)
(2.30) Preston North End x Swansea City (3.10); draw (3.30)
(3.20) Reading x Nottingham Forest (2.20); draw (3.40)
(1.65) Sheffield United x QPR (5.25); draw (3.75)
(2.05) West Bromwich Albion x Norwich City (3.50); draw (3.40)
(3.10) Wigan Athletic x Aston Villa (2.25); draw (3.40)
(2.00) Millwall x Blackburn Rovers (3.60); draw (3.50)
