Forest-Wigan-Charlton look the value in the Championship Winner market

The 2012/13 Championship gets underway Saturday (3rd August) and it looks wide open with 12 teams priced 25/1 and under. Last season showed just how open the division can be with four sides finishing seven points from the play-offs and also seven points from relegation. Here is our guide to the best of the bets from the Championship Winner market.

Bookmakers make QPR the 6/1 (GENERAL) favourites for the divison and this is fair as they have a strong squad (especially in midfield) and they look the team to beat. The problem with backing them at this price is that the Hoops grabbed just thirty goals last season and failure to sign Gary Hooper makes you wonder where the goals will come from this season.

Reading are a 9/1 (GENERAL) chance and they will also have their supporters as Nigel Adkins got Southampton promoted from this division and they kept the bulk of the squad that played in the Premier League last season. They will certainly be in the mix though the price does inspire me to bet on them at the moment.

I really liked the look of Bolton this season as they have ended the season well and have a great young manager in Dougie Freedman. The Lancashire side have moved to tighten a defence that leaked more away from home last season bringing in Marc Tierney and Alex Baptiste. Jermaine Beckford meanwhile will replace Kevin Davies at the front of the team. I think the price though is just too short at 9/1 (GENERAL) and I will be keeping an eye on them with the hope that the price will get better during the season.

Nottingham Forest are 11/1 (GENERAL) and like Bolton they ended the season well and have a sharp manager in charge in Billy Davies. The East-Midlands side have lost Lewis McGugan to Watford though have bought well in Jamie Mackie, Jack Hobbs and Jamie Paterson. Hobbs was an influential part of a Hull side that just conceded 52 goals last season while Jamie Mackie and James Paterson should provide great width and chances for scorers in Billy Sharp, Simon Cox, Dexter Blackstock and Marcus Tudgay. I can not see Forest getting any shorter in the betting so would recommend taking them each-way at these odds.

Wigan at 12/1 (GENERAL) are the second selection and although they have lost Roberto Martinez they have a hungry manager in Owen Coyle and his signings have been very impressive so far. Grant Holt and Marc Antonie Fortune should bang goals in at this level and the M team (McArthur, McCarthy, McCann, Maloney, McManaman) are easily the best midfield in the league. The defence is a little bit of a worry though Scott Carson is a good addition between the sticks and at double the price of QPR I recommend getting involved.

Watford at 12/1 (GENERAL) should go well after looking to bounce back from their play-off final loss though it make time for Zola to blend all the new signings into a team especially after losing influential Matej Vydra. Leicester at 14/1 (bet365/SKYBET) and Brighton at 16/1 (GENERAL) made the play-offs last season though the jury is out on their managers.

Blackburn at 20/1 (GENERAL), Leeds at 22/1 (SKYBET) and Ipswich 22/1 (GENERAL ) are all respected especially with the latter two having proven divisional managers. The final bet is on Charlton at 40/1 (GENERAL) who are value. The Addicks have had a great pre-season winning four of their five games to nil and ended the last season eight games unbeaten. They have a good manager in Chris Powell, have access to London teams for loans and they finished much higher last season than sides going off at double their price.

BEST OF THE BETS

GOLD: Nottingham Forest EW in the Championship, 11/1 (GENERAL)
SILVER: Wigan EW in the Championship, 12/1 (GENERAL)
BRONZE: Charlton EW in the Championship, 40/1 (GENERAL)

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31/07/2013     © Frixo 2026