Championship Promotion Odds 2025/26: Who are the Main Contenders?

Championship Promotion Odds 2025/26: Who are the Main Contenders?

Ah, the Championship. That glorious cauldron of midweek rain, questionable defending, and last-minute goals that somehow make or break entire seasons. With the dust barely settled on the 2024/25 campaign, the bookmakers are already at it—scrambling to price up next season’s promotion market before someone signs a 34-year-old free agent and ruins the odds.

If you’re already eyeing up who might go up in 2025/26 (or, at the very least, avoid finishing 17th and sacking another manager in November), we’ve got you covered. Below is a deep dive into the current state of the Championship promotion betting market, including the outright winner, promotion odds, and Top 3 finish contenders. And if you’re feeling flush—or fancy a flutter without rinsing your wallet—Betrino are offering a new customer deal of Bet £25 Get £50 in Free Bets.

So pour yourself a brew, grab your fixture wallchart, and prepare to argue passionately about a table that hasn’t even kicked off yet.

The Favourites for Promotion: Tractor Boys Tipped for Glory

Ipswich Town, a side that spent almost all of last season in the lower echelons of the Premier League, are now front and centre in the 2025/26 promotion betting. The Tractor Boys are priced at 9/2 to win the league outright and 6/4 to go straight back up by any means necessary.

Dropping down from the top-flight at the end of last season, there’s clearly belief they’ll be in the second tier for just a single campaign. Whether that belief is rooted in logic or just blind hope fuelled by a few pints and a nostalgic yearning for Marcus Stewart is anyone’s guess—but the bookies are buying it.

Close behind are Southampton at 6/1 to win the league and 15/8 for promotion. Despite finishing at the foot of the top-flight table last term, the Saints briefly showed signs of promise last term.

Joining the top tier of hopefuls is newly-promoted Birmingham City, available at 6/1 to be crowned champions and 3/1 for promotion. Yes, Blues fans, it’s your turn to feel irrationally optimistic in June. There’s a sense of upward momentum at St Andrew’s (for now), and that’s enough to give them more backing than most.

The Chasing Pack: Blades, Boro and the Best of the Rest

If you’re looking for value without veering into the realms of fantasy, then Sheffield United at 9/1 to win the Championship or 5/2 for promotion could be worth a peek. Relegated from the top-flight at the end of 2023/24 and beaten in the play-off final just a few weeks ago but still well resourced, they’ll need to bounce back with a point to prove and a defence that doesn’t leak like a sieve.

Hot on their heels is Middlesbrough, who are regularly tipped to go up until the moment they start drawing 1–1 with everyone from Millwall to Morecambe. Still, 12/1 to win it and 4/1 for promotion isn’t the worst shout if you believe Michael Carrick’s spreadsheet wizardry can turn neat passing into actual points.

Coventry City, also at 12/1 to win and 4/1 for promotion, are one of those sides that always seem on the cusp. They flatter, they deceive, and then they suddenly beat someone 4–0 just when you’ve stopped paying attention. Get on board if you enjoy heartbreak mixed with occasional brilliance.

Foxes and Canaries in the Wildcard Category

Last season didn’t quite go to plan for Leicester City, did it? But they’re still hanging around the market at 14/1 to win the title and 9/2 for promotion back to the top-flight at the first time of asking. That’s decent value—assuming the Foxes can rediscover the form that once made Jamie Vardy a national treasure instead of a meme.

Then there’s Norwich City, who alternate between promotion and relegation so predictably they could be used to teach GCSE statistics. At 20/1 to win and 7/1 for promotion, they might be worth a speculative punt if you believe in the cycle continuing.

Outside Chances: Baggies, Robins, and the Wrexham Effect

West Brom, at 25/1 to win the league and 7/1 for promotion, are the classic “if they can just get going” team. Unfortunately, they haven’t got going for several years. Still, the squad has experience, the fanbase is loyal, and the football isn’t always dreadful. That’s something, right?

Wrexham enter the conversation at the same 25/1 to lift the title. Yes, you heard that correctly. From Hollywood to headliners in the Championship. The Red Dragons are 13/2 to finish Top 3, and while it still feels mad to type that, we’ve all seen what a good documentary and a few decent signings can do these days.

Bristol City round off the hopefuls at 33/1 to win. Let’s be honest—it’s a long shot, but stranger things have happened in the Championship and they made it into the play-offs at the last attempt. Probably.

Top 3 Market: A Battle for Bronze… or Better

The Top 3 finish market gives punters a few more options to spread their bets or hedge their dreams.

• Ipswich Town lead the way here again at 6/4, closely followed by Southampton at 7/4.
• Sheffield United are next at 5/2, with Birmingham City a tempting 3/1, and Middlesbrough and Coventry each priced at 7/2.
• Leicester City can be backed at 9/2, West Brom at 11/2, and Wrexham, surprisingly competitive, sit at 13/2.

If you’re using one of those Betrino £50 free bet bundles, this is the market where dreams are made (or dashed in the 92nd minute of the season finale). Top 3 finish bets can offer a cracking mix of decent odds and realistic outcomes—just don’t get greedy and lump them into an 8-leg accumulator unless you’re fond of heartbreak.

The Value Verdict: Where’s the Smart Money Going?

Picking a Championship promotion winner in June is a bit like picking a Christmas jumper in July—you’ll either be ahead of the game or wondering why you bothered. But that’s the joy of it. There’s value all over this market if you’ve got the nerve.

• Ipswich are the trendy pick and could well go all the way, but at 6/4 for promotion, there’s not much meat on the bone.
• Sheffield United and Coventry offer real value if you’re chasing bigger returns with your Betrino free bets.
• And Leicester, despite their shambles of a season, might just be due a bounce-back—so don’t count them out.

Final Thoughts: Bet Smart, Dream Big, and Don’t Trust August Form

The Championship is like that one mate who shows up late, causes chaos, but still somehow makes the night memorable. It’s unpredictable, unrelenting, and utterly brilliant.

If you’re having a punt on the 2025/26 promotion race, make sure you’re getting full value—and with the many bookmaker Free Bets offers available, you’re already a step ahead of the game. Whether you’re backing the Tractor Boys, banking on the Blades, or betting on a Wrexham miracle, one thing’s for sure: it’s going to be a ride.

Just remember—this is the Championship. Anything can happen. And usually does.