Championship Predictions: Robins set for more pain at Bramall Lane

As we gear up for the start of the new Championship season on Friday, we at Betfred Insights have decided to start this new column in which we will deliver our score predictions for every game taking place in the second tier each gameweek.

With some cracking games to start off the new term, you can find our Championship Predictions for round one below.

Birmingham City vs Ipswich Town - 2-2 @ 12/1

When this game was plucked out as the first game of the campaign, it felt like it was far from random. Newly-promoted Birmingham City with ambitions of back-to-back promotions against the side who accomplished this feat two seasons ago.

The Blues picked up a record-breaking 111 points on their return to the second tier, with a squad capable of making the step up to the Championship. They've further strengthened this summer with more astute business, and more are set to arrive in the coming weeks.

Ipswich Town will hope for an immediate return to the Premier League and they have the added bonus of having the manager who took them there a year ago in Kieran McKenna, as well as most of the players.

This has the makings to be a box office start to the new term but I'm going to sit on the fence and predict an exciting draw to kick us off.

Nick:1-2

Southampton vs Wrexham - 2-1 @ 7/1

Southampton were also relegated from the top flight and they are meant to rival Ipswich for an instant return to the promised land. The Saints are coming down with a strong squad with some excellent players for this level.

Their first match is against Wrexham, who have just achieved three consecutive promotions from the National League. Phil Parkinson's side have three years of momentum behind them and they have already made some impressive signings to their ranks this summer. Parkinson will be tested as being back at this level, which he has struggled with in the past, will bring its pressures.

It's early days for Southampton under Will Still so they won't be flying straight away, so I have them starting off with a narrow victory at St Mary's.

Nick: 1-1

Championship Odds

Coventry City vs Hull City - 2-0 @ 7/1

Coventry City suffered more play-off heartbreak in 2024/25 but many are expecting another strong campaign from Frank Lampard's side despite the added competition in the Championship this term.

They start off with a home clash against Hull City, who are one of the favourites to go down. Off the pitch matters at Hull are concerning and the club has rapidly declined since parting ways with Liam Rosenior. Sergej Jakirovic is the new man at the helm and he has a tough job on his hands.

A comfortable win for the Sky Blues, in my eyes.

Nick: 2-0

Charlton Athletic vs Watford - 1-0 @ 7/1

Nathan Jones is back in the Championship, as are Charlton Athletic, who he led to play-off glory in League 1 last term. The Addicks have made some smart signings this summer, notably Thomas Kaminski from Luton Town.

They welcome Watford to The Valley and the Hornets are a club appearing all over the shop in people's 1-24s. Watford started well last year under Tom Cleverley but fell apart in the second half of the campaign.

Charlton had the fourth-best home record in League 1 last year with 15 wins from 23. They were strong and tough to beat on their own patch, so I reckon they can get off to a strong start upon their return to the second tier.

Nick: 2-0

Middlesbrough vs Swansea City - 1-1 @ 11/2

Michael Carrick has gone and Rob Edwards is the new man tasked with taking Middlesbrough to the Premier League. He accomplished this with Luton Town two years ago but he also pretty much sent them straight back down to League 1.

This is an appointment that has divided opinion across the football community. Boro kick things off at the Riverside by hosting Swansea City, who are hoping to build on their end to last season under Alan Sheehan.

The Swans have added some famous faces to their ownership over the summer in Luka Modric and Snoop Dogg, so the fans will be hoping a new era is dawning in South Wales.

I think I'll be able to judge the two teams better after a few weeks, so I'm going for the classic 1-1 draw here.

Nick: 1-0

Norwich City vs Millwall - 1-1 @ 11/2

Norwich City poached Liam Manning from Bristol City this summer, with the coach having led the Robins to the play-offs in 2024/25. Norwich endured a disappointing mid-table finish but they will have much higher ambitions this time around.

One concern for them is they lost top scorer Borja Sainz to Porto and Josh Sargent, their one true prolific goalscorer, could still depart before the transfer window closes. The Canaries welcome Millwall to Carrow Road for their opening fixture, and the Lions are being treated as dark horses for the play-offs under Alex Neil.

Both teams have made some eye-catching signings, notably Mathias Kvistgaarden (Norwich) and Alfie Doughty (Millwall). A tough game for both clubs in my opinion, so a draw looks likely.

Nick: 2-1

Today's Football Fixtures

Oxford United vs Portsmouth - 1-1 @ 5/1

Oxford United and Portsmouth both stayed up in their first seasons back in the Championship last time out, and both will hope to do the same again this time around. Pompey generated some strong momentum towards the end of the campaign and some believe they could be dark horses this time around.

Gary Rowett will have a pre-season behind him which should help him get Oxford in a much stronger position. Expect a competitive match at the Kassam Stadium when the two sides meet at the weekend, and I think this is another clash that will end in a draw.

Nick: 1-1

QPR vs Preston North End - 1-0 @ 6/1

Queens Park Rangers are dark horses themselves. They may have lost Mart Cifuentes over the summer but Julian Stephan, his successor, has credentials that could've perhaps earned him a low-end Premier League job, after enjoying some success with hometown club Rennes.

The Rs have made some impressive signings this summer, notably Kwame Poku from Peterborough United. They welcome Preston North End to Loftus Road for the first game of the season, and there is not much optimism surrounding the Lilywhites ahead of the new campaign.

They just about stayed up last term and their current business does not suggest they will be set for much improvement. It may take QPR a few weeks to get settled under their new boss, but I'd back them to start off with a narrow win against Paul Heckingbottom's side.

Nick: 0-0

Stoke City vs Derby County - 1-2 @ 11/1

Last mention of dark horse I promise, and I can assure you this is not a description of a Lloyds advert. Derby County are the club in question here, under John Eustace, who had Blackburn Rovers, a club with all kinds of off-field issues, in the play-off picture.

Many believe he can be the man to return Derby to a promotion-chasing team, like they were for most of the 2010s. He arrived at the club in February and he picked up 21 points in the 14 games he oversaw in charge of the Rams last term - the most of any club in that period.

Derby head to Stoke City to kickstart the new campaign and after falling into the obscurity of the lower mid-table in the Championship, the Potters want to see change this year.

Mark Robins has a tough task on his hands despite his experience, and I think his side will fall to a defeat on home soil.

Nick: 3-2

West Brom vs Blackburn Rovers - 1-1 @ 11/2

West Bromwich Albion were the draw kings of the Championship in 2024/25 with 19 across the whole campaign, amounting to 41% of their fixtures. Eight of them came at The Hawthorns and only Burnley (nine) had more stalemates on home turf.

Albion have an unknown in the dugout this season in Ryan Mason, who joined from Tottenham Hotspur. He is a coach looking to find his way in the game and one who many will be interested to follow this term.

West Brom welcome Blackburn, managed by former boss Valerien Ismael for their first game and Rovers did look like they began to click in the final weeks of the last campaign. With West Brom being draw specialists, I think the stalemate looks too good to ignore.

Nick: 2-1

Football Odds

Sheffield United vs Bristol City - 2-0 @ 15/2

Collapsing in the play-offs and then losing their head coach, it's not been the best few months for Bristol City, who could be set for a huge drop off in the Championship this season.

They begin their season at Sheffield United, who thrashed them 6-0 over the two legs in the play-offs. Both teams have new men in the dugout with Gerhard Struber taking charge of the Robins and Ruben Selles leading Sheffield United.

The hosts have a much stronger squad than their opponents so I think they will start off with a relatively comfortable victory at Bramall Lane.

Nick: 1-0

Leicester City vs Sheffield Wednesday - 4-0 @ 8/1

There is not much more to be said about the sorry state of affairs at Sheffield Wednesday at the minute. This fixture going ahead in itself would be deemed a positive, but not in terms of the Owls having just 16 players on their books.

They face a tough test at relegated Leicester under the charge of former QPR boss Cifuentes, and the sad reality is this could wind up being a cricket score as the Foxes go hunting.

I'll go with 4-0 as it is the first match after all.

Nick: 3-0

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