Meanwhile, Leeds face tough trip to Bristol City, while Birmingham host Aston Villa in local derby
The 36th round of action in the EFL Championship gets underway this coming weekend with the race for the title remaining just as tense as ever. On Friday night (8 March) table toppers Norwich host Swansea looking to extend their advantage at the top of the table, while the following afternoon Leeds face a tough trip to Bristol City. And on Sunday there is the small matter of the Second City derby, as Birmingham host Aston Villa.
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 campaign set to enter its final stretch, 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 Norwich and Swansea on Friday night. The Canaries have won their last three league games in a row and sit two points clear at the top of the table – they are the favourites to win the EFL Championship league title and are priced at just 1.90 to do so.
The Swans, by way of comparison, won last time out but are down in 14th place, seven points off the top six. They are out at 21.00 to finish in the play-offs come the end of the season.
And it is of little surprise to see that Norwich come into this match as the clear favourites to take all three points. You can back the league leaders to make it four wins in a row at just 1.66, while Swansea are out at 4.50 to pick up three points on the road – a draw is priced in the middle at 4.00, according to Oddsshark.
This should be a comfortable evening’s work for the table toppers. A 3-1 win for Norwich is priced competitively at 13.00, thereby offering more than a ten-fold return on any investment, while you can more than triple your money by backing a combo bet of a Norwich win, coupled with both teams to score, at 3.40.
Leeds face tough test at Bristol City
The following afternoon, Bristol City will be looking to continue their recent good form when Leeds come to town. Bristol’s rise up the table has been stunted somewhat by a run of three league games without a win but they remain in sixth spot – they are at 10.00 to be promoted to the Premier League for the first time.
Leeds thrashed West Brom 4-0 last time out and can come into this match full of confidence. They sit just two points behind Norwich at the top of the table and are priced at 3.25 to win the league title this season.
And while the betting is tight, it is Leeds who come in as the slight favourites to win this one. You can more than double your money by backing the visitors to take the points at 2.37 while Bristol City, despite home advantage, are out at 2.90 to get back to winning ways – a draw would appear to be the least likely outcome and is priced accordingly at 3.40.
But we think that home advantage could be a decisive factor in this contest. A narrow, 2-1 win for Bristol City is priced at 11.00, meaning that a US$5 bet would lead to a US$55 pay out, while a combo bet of a Bristol City win, coupled with both teams to score, is at 5.50.
Birmingham and Villa meet in derby
And finally, Birmingham meet Aston Villa in the Second City derby on Sunday afternoon. Birmingham are eighth in the table and sit four points off the top six – they are at 11.00 to finish the season in the play-offs.
Villa, by way of comparison, are unbeaten in their last two games but are down in 11th place, six points off the play-offs. However, they come in at just 9.00 to reach the top six by the end of the campaign.
The betting is very tight in this one, but it is Birmingham who come in as the very slight favourites to win. You can more than double your money by backing the Blues to claim local bragging rights at 2.70, while Villa are only slightly higher at 2.75 0 again, a draw comes in highest of all at 3.10.
And we think Villa will be able to continue their recent run. A 2-1 win for the visitors is priced at 10.00, while you can double your money by backing over 2.5 goals in the game at 2.00.
EFL Championship round 36 fixtures:
Friday, 8 March
(1.66) Norwich City x Swansea City (4.50); draw (3.40)
Saturday, 9 March
(2.75) Blackburn Rovers x Preston North End (2.62); draw (3.10)
(1.36) Sheffield United x Rotherham United (9.00); draw (4.50)
(3.75) Bolton x Millwall (2.05); draw (3.25)
(2.90) Bristol City x Leeds United (2.37); draw (3.40)
(2.05) Derby County x Sheffield Wednesday (3.60); draw (3.40)
(2.20) Middlesbrough x Brentford (3.25); draw (3.25)
(2.20) Nottingham Forest x Hull City (3.30); draw (3.25)
(2.62) QPR x Stoke (2.75); draw (3.10)
(2.50) Reading x Wigan (2.90); draw (3.10)
(1.33) West Bromwich Albion x Ipswich Town (10.00); draw (4.50)
Sunday, 10 March
(2.70) Birmingham City x Aston Villa (2.75); draw (3.10)
