Ah yes, the nPower Championship. This is, without doubt,
Route One’s favourite division anywhere across the globe.
There is sometimes silky football, more often there is blood
and sand football played on the edge, but always there is the knowledge that
any side can beat any other on their day in this division. Which is what makes betting here a bit of a gamble, if you’ll
pardon the pun. But we’ll try our best:
Winner & Promotion
Again, we must look at the fortunes of the three relegated
teams as a starting point. Bolton (7/1, Paddy Power)
look a decent punt for a title shove – they’ve brought in Keith Andrews, Matt
Mills and Andy Lonergan, but perhaps the best news for the Trotters is the
return from long term injuries of Lee Chung-Yong, Stuart Holden and Tyrone
Mears. With the exciting Marvin Sordell leading the line, expect Owen Coyle’s
eye catching football to get results this campaign.
Blackburn are 12/1 for the title with Coral, and those look fair odds. But Steve Kean has held onto his
job by the skin of his teeth, and made perhaps the Championship signing of the
summer in Danny Murphy. Alongside Dickson Etuhu in midfield, with the exciting
Fabio Nunes on the flank and Nuno Gomes up top, take the 4/1 at William Hill for promotion back to the Promised
Land.
With short odds of 5/2 for promotion, Wolves look unbackable (could be a word?).
It looks like they are set to lose their prized assets in Steven Fletcher and
Matt Jarvis, with Michael Kightly already having left for pastures new. With an
unknown quantity in charge in the shape of Stale Solbakken, this could be a
season too early for the West Midlands outfit.
For fans of the value punt, both Cardiff (4/1, Paddy) and Birmingham (6/1, Paddy) look decent prices. The
Bluebirds (or are they Redbirds
now?) have brought in Craig Bellamy – who still looks hungry for success,
Heidar Helguson and the talented youngster Jordan Mutch. Combined with the
existing midfield of Arron Gunnarsson, Peter Whittingham and Stephen McPhail, this
could be the season that Cardiff crack the Premiership nut.
Birmingham have exceptional young manager Lee Clark, and
superb youngster Jack Butland between the sticks. Having kept the majority of
their squad from last season, the Blues are a good shout for a Play Off spot.
Relegation
*All best relegation
odds provided by Paddy Power*
Barnsley (11/8) are the
hot tip from the bookmakers to be rooted to the bottom of the table come next
May. They’ve lost a whole heap of players, including veteran goal poacher Andy
Gray, and replaced these with an injury-riddled Egyptian. Yep, step forward
Mido. Hard to see how the Tykes can stay up.
When your only signing of the summer is Jody Morris, you
know you are in for a tricky season. This is why a whole heap of money has been
piled onto Bristol City (5/2). The Robins struggled royally last season, and things
look just as bleak for the forthcoming campaign.
Huddersfield (4/1) are a decent young man side with a safe pair of hands
at the helm in Simon Grayson, but much will depend on the final destination of
Jordan Rhodes as to the success or otherwise of the Terriers.
And Peterborough (2/1) will hope that their goal power will be enough to keep
them safe. As fans of the ‘Both Teams to Score’ coupon will know so well, goals
tend to fly in at London Road on a regular basis – at both ends.
Top Goalscorer
Here at Route One we
reckon you can perm one from six for this prize. Jermaine Beckford (20/1, Coral) will benefit from a full season
under Nigel Pearson’s tutelage, and with exciting wingers Ben Marshall and
Anthony Knockeart providing the ammunition, expect JB to bulge the net on
twenty or more occasions.
Ross McCormack (20/1) and Marvin
Emnes (25/1, Paddy
Power) are both proven Championship goalscorers, and young scamps Marvin Sordell (25/1) and
Charlie Austin (20/1)
certainly have goals in them.
And keep an eye on the Steven Fletcher (14/1, William Hill)
situation too – if he stays at Wolves, well, he certainly knows where the net
is.
