Weekend EFL Championship Predictions: The best bets for this weekend’s second-tier action

It may be FA Cup fourth round weekend but there are still some matches taking place across the EFL this weekend with three in the Championship. 

Mid-table Preston North End travel to face lower mid-table side Millwall. Sunderland welcome Stoke City in a contest between two sides at the opposite ends of the table and there is a massive relegation six-pointer coming our way as Queens Park Rangers take on Huddersfield Town.

Here are what we consider to be some of the best bets for each of these fixtures.

Stoke City to beat Sunderland @ 3/1

There may be a huge difference in league positions between these sides but in recent weeks only one team has been performing well and that is Stoke. Steven Schumacher has had an instant impact at the Potters with his side losing just one of the six Championship matches he has overseen.

That defeat came last time out against Birmingham City, managed by former Sunderland boss Tony Mowbray. Despite defeat, Stoke played very well in that game and created plenty of chances.

They will head to Wearside full of confidence, while there is a lack of it in the Black Cats dressing room. Mowbray's successor Michael Beale is already facing calls for him to be sacked with just two wins from his opening six league games in charge.

Fans are not happy with performances which always fall on the manager and many are still annoyed at the club letting Mowbray go. They were very disappointing last week in their 1-0 defeat against Hull City, who had not been in the best of form themselves before that meeting.

Stoke have been playing very well since Schumacher arrived and we fancy them to apply more pressure on Beale's position. You will also not find better value in backing a team to win this weekend in the Championship than them at 3/1.

Both teams to score in Millwall vs Preston North End @ EVS

Both Millwall and Preston head into this weekend's clash not in the best of form. Millwall were beaten 2-0 by strugglers QPR last time out meaning they have now lost back-to-back games.

It is frustrating for the Lions because they had won three on the spin beforehand, but this just highlights the issues boss Joe Edwards has had since taking charge of the club.

Preston manager Ryan Lowe has been under intense pressure from fans in recent weeks as some are getting tired of his methods. They have lost six of their last eight, making their chances of reaching the play-offs that much harder.

Given the wobbliness of the two sides, it is hard to call the outcome of the game. That is why we feel that backing both teams to score might be a safer option. Not only does it offer value at EVS, but it is a market that has landed in four of the last six encounters between the two teams.

Both teams to score in Queens Park Rangers vs Huddersfield Town @ EVS

We also like the look of this market for the huge clash at the bottom of the table between QPR and Huddersfield. The hosts pulled off an impressive and surprising win against Millwall last time out, so their tails will be up for the visit of the Terriers.

They have now scored in four consecutive matches in all competitions, and they will fancy themselves to score against the team which has conceded the joint-third highest amount of goals in the second tier (46).

Huddersfield are still finding it hard to win matches under Darren Moore but they do have a habit of finding the back of the net in their matches. QPR themselves have conceded 39 goals this term.

Both teams have shown that they have ropey defences, and in a game with such high stakes as this, we're expecting to see mistakes being made.

But most importantly, we feel this selection offers great value because it has landed in the previous four meetings between the two sides.