In addition, Leeds look to get back to winning ways against Nottingham Forest while Middlesbrough host in-form Derby
We are now close to a third of the way through the EFL Championship campaign – English domestic football’s second tier – and the race to reach the promised land of the FA Premier League is beginning to take shape. This coming weekend, Aston Villa look to get on the road to recovery at QPR, while table toppers Leeds United and Middlesbrough are both at home.
First things first
Before you go any further, head on over to the Oddsshark website, find your favourite betting site and get your account up and running using your credit card. As a new customer and with the EFL Championship race heating up, there should be a wide range of promotions and special offers available to you.
Where should I be investing my money?
First up, QPR welcome Aston Villa to Loftus Road looking to extend their recent unbeaten run to five games. After a slow start to the season, QPR look to be finding their feet with the club leaking just one goal in their last four matches as well.
Villa, in stark comparison, have won just one of their last six matches, but will be hoping the recent appointment of new boss Dean Smith will give them a vital uplift. The Villains have lost their last two encounters on the road and now face one of the in-form sides in the division.
And while the betting is close, it is indeed QPR who come in as the slight favourites to take all three points in this one. You can back the home side to pick up the win at 2.70, with Villa only slightly higher at 2.87 to do the same – a draw would look to be the least likely result and is priced accordingly at 3.30, according to Oddsshark.
And with home advantage, we are expecting QPR to edge a closely fought contest. A 1-0 win for the Rangers is priced at 8.50, meaning that a US$5 bet would lead to a US$42.50 pay out, while you could also double your money by backing “No” to both teams scoring at 2.00.
Middlesbrough clash with Derby in tie of the round
The most anticipated match in this round of EFL Championship fixtures comes from the Riverside Stadium, where Middlesbrough host Derby County. Boro sit second in the table but have won just two of their last six league matches, and have failed to win any of their last three on their own turf.
Under rookie boss Frank Lampard, Derby are just two points off the top of the table and have won their last two league matches in a row. A win here could send the visitors – temporarily, at least – to the top of the pile.
Nevertheless, it is Boro who come into this as the favourites to take the points. You can more than double your money by backing a Middlesbrough win at a price of 2.15, while Derby are out at 3.90 to make it three league victories on the bounce – a draw is priced in the middle at 3.30.
And given Derby’s recent form, we expect them to cause an upset here. A 2-0 win for the visitors is priced long at 19.00, giving you the chance to win close to US$100 on a US$5 stake.
Leeds look to stay on title track against Forest
And finally, league leaders Leeds United look to remain on course for the title when Nottingham Forest visit Elland Road on Saturday afternoon (27 October). The Yorkshire club sit top of the pile but have won just one of their last three league games as coach Marcelo Bielsa currently struggles for consistency.
Forest, meanwhile, sit just two points outside the play-off places and have won two of their last three league matches – both away from home. With Leeds currently struggling, Forest could see a chance to climb the table.
However, it is home side and table toppers Leeds who come into this match as the favourites to take the points. You can back Leeds for the win at just 1.75, while Forest are all the way out at 5.25 to make it a hat-trick of victories on the road – a draw is priced in the middle at 3.90.
But we are not expecting Leeds to make any mistakes in front of their own fans. A comfortable, 3-1 win for the home side is priced at 13.00, thereby offering more than a ten-fold return on any investment – you could also more than triple your money by backing a combo bet of a Leeds win and both teams to score at a price of 3.50.
EFL Championship round 16 fixtures:
Friday, 26 October
(2.70) QPR x Aston Villa (2.87); draw (3.30)
Saturday, 27 October
(2.15) Middlesbrough x Derby County (3.90); draw (3.30)
(1.85) Birmingham City x Sheffield Wednesday (4.50); draw (3.75)
(3.00) Bolton Wanderers x Hull City (2.62); draw (3.20)
(2.50) Bristol City x Stoke City (3.00); draw (3.40)
(1.61) Millwall x Ipswich (6.00); draw (4.20)
(2.30) Norwich City x Brentford (3.25); draw (3.50)
(1.66) Preston North End x Rotherham United (5.75); draw (4.00)
(1.70) Sheffield United x Wigan Athletic (5.25); draw (4.00)
(1.83) Swansea x Reading (4.75); draw (3.75)
(1.80) West Bromwich Albion x Blackburn Rovers (5.00); draw (3.75)
(1.75) Leeds United x Nottingham Forest (5.00); draw (3.90)