EFL 2026/27 season kick off: Championship predictions and best bets
The 2026/27 Sky Bet EFL season is here! Every game from the Championship, League One and League Two is live on Sky Sports this weekend | Football betting expert Jones Knows picks out his top bets and angles with Sky Bet
Sunday 16 August 2026 07:57, UK
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Watford v Southampton, Sunday 1.30pm, live on Sky Sports
Amid all the end-of-season turbulence at Southampton, it's easy to forget that under Tonda Eckhart they took four more points than any other Championship team from January 2 and they ended the campaign unbeaten in their final 19 league games (W14 D5).
Despite the four-point deduction, they have to be on any potential promotion shortlists.
Crucially, the summer has brought continuity rather than mass exodus. Goalkeeper Daniel Peretz and Cyle Larin have turned successful loans into permanent moves while Léo Scienza, arguably the most devastating wide player in the Championship, is staying for the ride. This should be a winning start, with them to win by two or more goals at 3/1 with Sky Bet worth a poke.
SCORE PREDICTION: 1-3
Burnley v West Ham, Sunday 4pm, live on Sky Sports
There is a slightly awkward question lurking behind all the talk of West Ham bouncing straight back to the Premier League.
Are they actually built to dominate the Championship?
On paper, the answer looks obvious. They have Jarrod Bowen, for starters.
West Ham are the shortest-priced team in the division for promotion. They are currently around 1/2 favourites to go straight back up with Sky Bet.
However, is the type of football that has made Nuno Espirito Santo successful going to be as effective against Championship opponents who are perfectly happy to let West Ham have the ball? That could be the defining tactical question of West Ham's prospects.
Meanwhile, Burnley, now under the charge of Nicky Hayen, are expected to be a possession-oriented side. Hayen has spoken about wanting attacking football, while his coaching background describes a possession-based approach.
This means West Ham might not have to solve that tactical problem immediately as this game should suit Nuno's style. They are 13/10 with Sky Bet for the away win.
SCORE PREDICTION: 1-2
Cardiff v Wrexham, Monday 8pm, live on Sky Sports
Phil Parkinson demonstrated last season that his methods could survive the jump into the second tier, adapting the team's shape during the season after a difficult start.
Wrexham did, however, score just 69 goals from chances worth only 56.9 based on the data and collected 71 points from an expected total below 60. They were also outshot significantly across the season. It may prove tricky for Parkinson to build, based on the lack of transfer movement, with a heavy reliance on Kieffer Moore to lead the charge.
Youth will be to the fore for Cardiff in their bid to survive following promotion. Dylan Lawlor leads an exciting collection of academy graduates and Ruben Colwill is a serious talent - one that is capable of scoring in the Championship. He is 100/30 with Sky Bet to bag on Monday.
SCORE PREDICTION: 1-1
Jones Knows' best bets...
2pts on Sheffield United draw no bet vs Birmingham (4/5 with Sky Bet)
1pt double on Sheffield United draw no bet vs Birmingham & under 2.5 goals in Wolves vs Blackburn (5/2 with Sky Bet)
