Season Previews: Taking a Look at The Championship Odds

Once again the season is upon us, and with it closing in us quickly is is time to see just how well everyone else is thinking we are going to do next season. Following a fifth placed finish last season we failed to get past a stubborn QPR side in the play-off semi finals. The vibe coming out of us as a club and fan base is that we are ready to tackle next season head on and get promotion.

But what do the odds tell us about next season. Well having a look on oddschecker.com, they have a very clever tool where it averages out the odds so we can see just where everyone thinks we would place. The consensus is that we are set for a fifth placed finish this season.

Cardiff City are by far the current  favorites for promotion, out of the three teams relegated last season though are they the strongest squad? So far they have kept together more of their squad than Fulham and Norwich City, who are placed 2nd and 3rd respectively.

The other team that the bookmakers see in our way to promotion is Derby County. The team, who for me, should have won the Play-off last season; they will be geared up this season to get promotion under Steve McClaren. Derby have been smart this summer signing their star players to new deals and looking to sign their loan players to keep the squad together.

Only Fulham out of the three demoted clubs really hasn't strengthen their squad this summer. The £11 million spent on Ross McCormack could go one of two ways, either it is a master stoke and will get them promotion or they will struggle to adapt to the Championship and spent a wasted £11 million.

Cardiff have yet to truly lose a big key player, adding some real attacking talent especially at Championship level in Frederico Macheda and Adam Le Fondre. Whilst Norwich have only lost Robert Snodgrass but strengthen with Kyle Lafferty and Lewis Grabban.

Looking above us, it comes down to how they adapt to the Championship. Below us have continued to strength with Nottigham Forest, Blackburn Rovers, Reading and Watford all expected to be challenging for a top six position this season. Surprisingly Brighton are some way of the pace according to the bookmakers in 11th behind newly promoted Wolves.

If the odds are anything to go by then it is going to be a tough season for every team. We found that out the hard way last season, as we started poorly and had to fight our way up the table. Uwe Rosler will be wanting to hit the ground running and stay up at the top of the table from the off, our signings show how much he wants to bring in experienced Championship players.

But if history is anything to go by, then well nothing can be predicted when it comes to football especially when you look at the history of the Championship.

*League table according to Oddschecker.com promotion odds information.

Please gamble reasonably, Pie Eaters Footie in no way endorses or is endorsed by Oddschecker and information used to help show the current odds for Championship promotion.