Championship Odds: Who are favourites for Playoff Glory?

Championship Odds: Who are favourites for Playoff Glory?

*Odds correct as of 12th May 2025

12.05.25

Championship Playoffs: Who’s Heading for Premier League Glory?
Monday 12 May, 2025 – Kick-off into the second-leg drama begins tonight

As the dust settles and hearts start to race in anticipation of the all-important second legs of the Championship playoff semi-finals, the race to secure that golden ticket to the Premier League is hotting up. With plenty of late-night whisperings and a flurry of bets placed through sites like freebetting.co.uk, it seems the majority of punters are aligning themselves with the market leaders – who, statistically, have a 57% chance of winning promotion even at the juiciest odds currently on offer.

The competition is fierce, the stakes couldn’t be higher, and fans of all four playoff contenders are clinging tightly to hope, form, and, for many, bookmaker free bets and bonuses that make the journey a touch more bearable – or at least more entertaining.

And for those partial to a little flutter, Betrino are doing their bit to heighten the drama with Bet £25 Get £50 in Free Bets offer. Because let’s be honest – if you can’t guarantee your team’s success, at least you can give your betting slip a fighting chance!

Blades Sharpened: Sheffield United Lead the Charge

At the front of the pack are Sheffield United – firmly planted as the favourites in both the betting markets and public sentiment. With best odds of 3/4, they’re sitting pretty going into tonight’s decisive clash with Bristol City. It’s not quite champagne corks popping yet, but there’s certainly a case of fizzy optimism at Bramall Lane.

Despite suffering a slightly dismal stumble towards the end of the season, losing four out of their last six, the Blades still managed to cling onto third place. This gave them the relative comfort of a strong semi-final position, even if past playoff heartbreaks still haunt the stands. Enter club stalwart Chris Basham, who has taken it upon himself to breathe belief into the squad and fans alike. Under the guidance of Chris Wilder – a man whose blood may well run red and white – the Blades are hoping to finally put an end to their reputation as nearly-men of the playoffs.

It appears the betting public are on board with this narrative too. Since the semi-finals began, 27% of the bets placed via freebetting.co.uk have been backing Sheffield United to go all the way. Over the course of the entire season, they’ve attracted 7.5% of promotion bets – third only to champions Leeds and their closest playoff rivals Sunderland.

Sunderland’s Promotion Dream Rekindled

Hot on Sheffield United’s heels are Sunderland, who look poised to make a triumphant return to the top flight after an eight-year hiatus. With odds hovering around 9/5, they are viewed by many as the Blades’ biggest obstacle to Premier League ascension. Holding a slender 2-1 lead over Coventry from their first leg, they head into Tuesday’s second instalment with a quiet confidence.

It’s been a topsy-turvy ride for the Black Cats, who ended their regular season on a rather underwhelming five-match losing streak. Yet, there’s resilience in their ranks and a sense that this team, under Régis Le Bris, has rediscovered some backbone just in time. After finishing fourth, Sunderland fans – long-suffering since their 2017 Premier League farewell – are starting to dream once more.

And it’s not just fans letting their hearts lead the way. A solid 17% of bets since the playoff semi-finals began have been placed in Sunderland’s corner. Over the season as a whole, they’ve been the most popular of the four playoff teams, drawing 8.1% of total promotion bets. It’s clear that many are using their free bet bonuses to ride the wave of a potential Sunderland resurgence.

Lampard’s Coventry Revolution Rolls On (Maybe)

Next up in the pecking order are Coventry City – a side that’s quietly turned heads and confounded expectations under the stewardship of Frank Lampard. With best odds of 17/2, their implied chance of promotion is a modest 10.5%, though you’d be brave to write them off just yet.

Despite trailing 2-1 after their first-leg loss to Sunderland, the Sky Blues are still very much in this battle. Lampard, ever the midfield general (at least in his Chelsea heyday), has instilled a grit and tactical awareness in his side that’s brought them to within a whisker of the top flight. Having finished fifth in the table, Coventry have become the romantic’s choice in this year’s playoff narrative – despite the statistical cold shoulder.

Perhaps surprisingly, they’ve drawn a hefty 33% of the promotion bets placed since the semi-finals began. That’s right – more than a third of punters are punting on Lampard’s lads to turn things around. It seems the former England star’s aura still carries a bit of pull with the betting public, who are clearly using their bookmaker freebies to back what many might see as a long shot worth taking.

Over the season, Coventry’s overall share of the promotion betting pie stands at 7.3%, not too far behind Sheffield United. All things considered, there’s a certain underdog charm to Coventry’s journey. And if there’s one thing we’ve learnt about playoffs, it’s that they’re not allergic to drama.

Bristol City: From Long Shots to… Longer Shots

And finally, bringing up the rear are Bristol City, whose playoff story so far has been more grim bedtime story than epic tale of triumph. Sitting at stratospheric odds of 125/1, the Robins are clinging on by the thinnest of mathematical threads after a dismal 3-0 home defeat to Sheffield United in their first leg.

Let’s not sugar-coat it – this is a mountain that’s less “climbable” and more “vertical ice wall with no ropes”. But there is a sliver of romance to their presence here. After all, this is their first top-six finish in 17 years, and securing that final playoff spot alone felt like a cup final.

Realistically, their implied chance of promotion sits at just 0.8%, and not even the most generous of free bet offers is likely to tempt the public into any serious backing. Still, stranger things have happened. (Okay, not much stranger – but it’s the hope that kills you, isn’t it?)

Promotion Odds

Final Whistle Thoughts

So, there you have it. As the Championship playoffs edge towards their thrilling conclusions, the betting markets have made their views clear – Sheffield United are the frontrunners, Sunderland are right behind, and the other two are, well, bracing for miracles.

If you’re planning to get involved in the action, there’s no better time to take advantage of those generous bookmaker free bets and sign-up bonuses. Whether you’re team Blades, Black Cats, Sky Blues or the ever-hopeful Robins, there’s a deal out there to suit your playoff flutter.

Just remember: in the world of the playoffs, logic often goes out the window. But that’s half the fun, isn’t it?

08.05.25

The Race to the Premier League: Bookies Weigh In

As the Championship playoffs roll around once more, that familiar mix of hope, dread and questionable optimism grips football fans up and down the country. Supporters and punters alike are deep in thought (and probably deeper in spreadsheets), trying to figure out which of the hopeful quartet will seize the golden ticket to the Premier League.

The bookmakers, never ones to shy away from predicting the unpredictable, have declared their favourites. Leading the betting bonanza are Sheffield United. But, as any seasoned Championship watcher will tell you, what the bookies fancy and what actually unfolds on the pitch are often about as closely related as chalk and cheese.

Sheffield United: The Pundits’ Pick but Playoff Phobics?

Sheffield United have sliced their way to the top of the playoff betting market with odds of 7/4. This has prompted a wave of wagers – Freebetting.co.uk reports that a hefty 42% of bets since Monday have backed them to go all the way.

It’s not difficult to see why. Despite a pesky two-point deduction, the Blades wrapped up third place with a weighty 90 points. They ended the regular season with a gap of 22 points over sixth-placed Bristol City – a margin large enough to park several double-decker buses side by side.

Yet, not all that glitters is goal-scoring form. Their recent performances have been something of a mixed bag, registering two wins, two losses and a draw in their last five matches. Fans may have memorised the recent form sequence – LWLWD – though whether they recite it with pride or trepidation is another matter entirely.

Then there’s the small matter of history. Sheffield United’s playoff record is, frankly, woeful. They’ve failed in all nine previous attempts to seal promotion via this particular route. If footballing ghosts exist, Bramall Lane is surely haunted by a few. Despite topping the odds, the weight of history may yet prove the Blades’ most stubborn opponent.

Sunderland: A Slippery Slope at the Worst Possible Moment

Priced up at 3/1, Sunderland’s odds suggest they remain contenders. Their recent form, however, tells a gloomier tale. The Black Cats have stumbled into the playoffs with the grace of a drunk uncle at a wedding, suffering five consecutive defeats.

That’s right – the recent form reads LLLLL. Not so much “marching into the playoffs” as “tripping over the threshold”.

Momentum is everything at this time of year. And sadly for Sunderland, their momentum is currently on a par with a shopping trolley stuck in a pothole.

Coventry City: Lampard’s Sky Blues – Brave but Bumpy

Coventry City, under the starry (if somewhat unpredictable) management of Frank Lampard, are third favourites at 10/3. They secured fifth place courtesy of a gritty win over Middlesbrough and now eye an unexpected playoff triumph.

Their recent form has been more of a patchwork quilt than a seamless run – two wins, one draw and two defeats (DWLLW). Consistency? Not so much. Resilience? Absolutely. Under Lampard’s watch, the Sky Blues have become experts at digging deep, a quality that could prove priceless in the high-pressure cauldron of playoff football.

Coventry fans might not always know what to expect from their side, but they do know this: in the playoffs, grit often outshines glitter.

Bristol City: Outsiders Armed with Home Comforts

The Robins round off the playoff quartet with odds of 5/1. Bristol City only just squeaked into sixth spot, thanks to a nervy final-day draw.

Their recent form – DWLLD – won’t have struck fear into many opponents. But there’s one statistic that should give rivals pause: Bristol City are unbeaten in their last eight matches at Ashton Gate. Their home turf has become something of a fortress, with visiting teams often finding themselves wishing they’d stayed on the coach.

If the Robins can channel that home advantage into their playoff performances, they might just ruffle a few feathers.

The Curious Case for Third Place: A Statisticians’ Delight

For those who enjoy finding patterns in the beautiful game (and let’s face it, football fans can be a superstitious lot), the past two decades offer a little light reading – and perhaps a glimmer of hope for Sheffield United supporters.

Since 2005, no fewer than 45% of teams finishing third have gone on to secure promotion via the playoffs. Compare that with a mere 15% for both fourth and sixth place, and 25% for those who finish fifth.

So, if you’re a Blades fan, the stats are firmly on your side. If you’re backing anyone else… well, Betrino’s tempting offer might soften the blow of history being against you.

Betting Patterns: Blades Backed but Doubters Linger

While Sheffield United currently enjoy both the shortest odds and the lion’s share of the betting volume, caution remains the watchword. The Championship playoffs have a nasty habit of shredding both form books and betting slips alike.

Freebetting.co.uk’s figures confirm the Blades’ popularity with punters, but Coventry (35%), Bristol City (13%) and even the beleaguered Sunderland (10%) have all attracted backers. It seems that, for every sensible wager, there’s a daring soul ready to bet against the favourites – perhaps hoping that Sheffield United’s playoff curse will extend its unwelcome stay.

Closing Thoughts: Buckle Up for Playoff Pandemonium

The 2025 Championship playoffs promise all the classic ingredients: drama, desperation, dodgy VAR calls, and possibly a few managerial meltdowns thrown in for good measure.

Sheffield United may boast the stats, the squad and the betting support. But with history and recent wobbles clouding their path, Blades fans might find themselves watching from behind the sofa.

Coventry, Bristol City and the stuttering Sunderland will each fancy their chances of playing the role of giant-killer. Because in the playoffs, form can crumble, favourites can fall, and fairytales can be forged from the most unlikely scripts.

And for those brave enough to have a punt, Betrino’s Bet £25 Get £50 in Free Bets could add a little spice to the proceedings. Just remember – keep a defibrillator handy. Championship playoff season is not for the faint-hearted.