Relegated teams will again figure prominently in most 2026-27 Championship outright winner predictions, with West Ham 7/4 favourites for a quick return to the Premier League as league leaders.
Supporting the sides dropping down from the top flight has not paid off for the past two seasons, with Ipswich finishing second to Coventry last term and Burnley beaten by Leeds on goal difference the year before.
However, it did for four straight campaigns prior to that, with Leicester, Burnley, Fulham and Norwich all finishing at the summit after being relegated the previous season.
West Ham stand out from the fallen trio this time around, having picked up 19 points more than second-from-bottom Burnley , with basement dwellers Wolves a further two adrift.
Losing the likes of Mateus Fernandes , Crysencio Summerville , Callum Wilson and Freddie Potts will have hurt the Hammers , but keeping hold of experienced head coach Nuno Espirito Santo is a big boost.
The 52-year-old knows what it takes to win the Championship , having achieved that feat with Wolves , and he feels West Ham are prepared for the task ahead. Nuno told Sky Sports: “It’s a tough, tough competition, it’s a lot of games, it’s a tight schedule – I know how tough it is, but I believe that we are ready.”
Betting Odds
Championship Betting Odds – 2026-27 season
Result | Odds | Chance |
|---|---|---|
West Ham | 7/4 | 36.4% |
Wolves | 11/2 | 15.4% |
Burnley | 10/1 | 9.1% |
Middlesbrough | 10/1 | 9.1% |
BAR | 12/1 | 7.7% |
*Odds are correct at the time of writing, but subject to change.
Wolves Hungry
Wolves appear to have recruited well
Despite last season’s woes, when securing just three wins in the league, Wolves are next best in the Championship outright winner odds at 11/2. Wanderers had been in the top flight for eight straight seasons, twice finishing as high as seventh in the table, and have reinvested some of the money brought in from selling Joao Gomes to Aston Villa.
Former fans favourite Raul Jimenez returns to Molineux from Fulham , Kieran Trippier is another high-class veteran, key midfielder Andre signed a new deal, Ladislav Krejci has completed a permanent move following last season’s loan spell and Rafiki Said did well with Standard Liege. The June dismissal of head coach Rob Edwards was a surprise, but his successor Cesar Peixoto guided Gil Vicente to sixth place in Portugal’s Primeira Liga.
Burnley also have a new boss in Nicky Hayen , who led Club Brugge to a title triumph in Belgium and said: “I’m pleased to be joining a club with real history and supporters who care deeply about it.”
The Clarets have had to consolidate by selling several players, but the last three seasons they have spent at this level have resulted in twice finishing top and a record points tally for a second-placed team, so 10/1 will tempt some punters.
Other Contenders
Boro boosted by Lankshear swoop
Of the teams who made the Championship play-offs last term, Middlesbrough are the most fancied this time at 10/1. Swedish manager Kim Hellberg made a good impression after joining the club towards the end of November and should be nicely settled in for his first full season at the Riverside . On the playing side, landing highly-rated young forward Will Lankshear from Tot t enham on a five-year deal for a fee which could rise to £20million was a real statement of intent.
Southampton are 12/1 to recover from being expelled from last season’s play-off final over the ‘ Spygate ’ scandal but are docked four points this term.
Birmingham , who can be backed at 14/1, have bolstered their squad by signing Argentine forward Luis Vazquez from Anderlecht and USA international left-back Kristoffer Lund.
Norwich are 16/1 to add to their 2019 and 2021 Championship title triumphs, while Sheffield United are the same price under Chris Wilder , who has taken them up before.
Wrexham are also 16/1 to give Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney another Hollywood moment after just missing out on the play-offs by one spot last term, with Millwall 28/1 to go from third to first.
Betting Tips
Championship Outright Betting Tips
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