Meanwhile, league leaders Sheffield United and West Bromwich Albion both play away from home in the hunt for the title
With the latest round of international fixtures coming to an end, attention can once again turn back to domestic matters, with the 13th round of action in the EFL Championship – English football’s second tier – set to kick off this coming weekend. Middlesbrough need three points when they travel to take on Sheffield Wednesday, with table toppers Sheffield United, and second placed West Brom, also playing away from home this week.
First things first
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Where should I be investing my money?
On the Friday night (19 October), Sheffield Wednesday will be looking to retain their place in the top six when they host Middlesbrough, currently in fourth. Wednesday come into this game full of confidence having gone four games unbeaten, and they beat Bristol City 2-1 in their most recent outing.
Boro, meanwhile, one of the favourites to earn promotion back to the Premier League, hit a stumbling block last time with a 2-0 home defeat against Nottingham Forest. Nevertheless, the Teesiders are just three points off the top of the table and are at just 2.40 to be promoted, according to the Oddsshark site.
And they are also the favourites coming into this game. You can more than double your money by backing Boro to take all three points at a price of 2.15, with Wednesday out at 3.40 to win their second game on the bounce – a draw comes in just under at 3.30.
Given Wednesday’s recent form, we fancy them to just nick this one however. A 2-1 win for the home side is priced at 12.00, thereby offering more than a ten-fold return on any investment, while you could also more than double your money by backing over 2.5 goals in the game at 2.20.
Sheffield United looking to make it five wins in a row at Derby
The following day, in-form Sheffield United will be looking to maintain their winning streak away to Derby County. The Blades have won their last four games in a row and sit top of the pile, with 25 points from 12 games – and they are at 6.50 to finish the season in first place and win the EFL Championship league title.
Derby, meanwhile, are going through a mini slump and have not won a league encounter since eliminating Manchester United from the EFL League Cup. The Rams have taken just two points from a possible nine in that time and are in desperate need of three points this weekend.
However, despite being away from home it is Sheffield United who come into this match as slight favourites to make it five league wins in a row. You can back the Blades to take the points at a price of 2.62, with Derby only slightly higher at 2.70 – a draw would look to be the least likely result, and is priced accordingly at 3.20.
And given their excellent recent form, we are expecting Sheffield United to triumph here. A 2-0 win for the visitors is priced competitively at 13.00, meaning that a US$5 bet would lead to a US$65 pay out – meanwhile, you could more than quadruple any investment by backing United to win to nil (without Derby scoring a goal) at 4.50.
West Brom hope to close in on top spot
And finally, West Brom will hope to move temporarily top of the table at least when they travel to Wigan on Saturday afternoon. The Baggies are now unbeaten in seven league games and are just a point off pole position – they remain the favourites to be promoted at a price of just 1.80.
Wigan, by way of comparison, are without a win in their last three league encounters and are down in 12th place. The Latics need a positive result to avoid being dragged into a relegation battle.
However, it is in-form West Brom who come into this clash as the favourites to seal the points. You can more than double your money by backing the Baggies at 2.25, with Wigan out at 3.00 to record a much needed win.
But we like the look of West Brom to take all three points here. A 2-1 win for the visitors is priced at 9.00, while you could again quadruple your investment by backing a combo bet of a West Brom win and both teams to score at 4.00.
EFL Championship round 13 fixtures:
Friday, 19 October
(3.40) Sheffield Wednesday x Middlesbrough (2.15); draw (3.30)
Saturday, 20 October
(3.40) Blackburn Rovers x Leeds United (2.15); draw (3.25)
(2.00) Aston Villa x Swansea City (4.00); draw (3.20)
(1.65) Brentford x Bristol City (5.50); draw (3.60)
(2.60) Hull City x Preston North End (2.70); draw (3.25)
(2.55) Ipswich Town x QPR (2.75); draw (3.25)
(2.30) Nottingham Forest x Norwich City (3.10); draw (3.30)
(2.50) Reading x Millwall (2.87); draw (3.20)
(2.10) Rotherham United x Bolton Wanderers (3.50); draw (3.30)
(1.95) Stoke City x Birmingham City (4.00); draw (3.30)
(3.00) Wigan Athletic x West Bromwich Albion (2.25); draw (3.50)
(2.70) Derby County x Sheffield United (2.62); draw (3.20)