Bruce Dias 
The start of the 2024/25 Championship is just around the corner, and excitement is growing for what is one of the most unpredictable leagues in world football.
With each team facing a grueling 46-game campaign, not including the additional fixtures for those who make the playoffs, success in the Championship requires a special level of consistency.
The bookies have priced up who they think will secure a lucrative Championship leading 6 finish, so let’s examine some of the favorites and dark horses in the running.
Favorites
Leeds United
The favorites to win the Championship, Leeds United, were left licking their wounds at the end of last season when they were destined for another season in the second tier.
The Yorkshire side looked nailed on for automatic promotion, but a poor run-in that saw them win just one of their last five games resulted in a third-place finish.
Things went from bad to worse when Leeds were beaten by Southampton in the play-off final at Wembley.
Faith remains in Daniel Farke, but his side could look very different this year with some of his key players lured away.
Burnley
The Vincent Kompany era was a rollercoaster of emotions at Turf Moor.
The former Manchester City captain altered Burnley’s philosophy to an attacking brand of football, as opposed to the route-one style we had become accustomed to for years.
The Clarets stampeded their way to the Championship title, breaking the 100-point barrier, but they couldn’t adapt to life in the top flight and were relegated straight back down to the second tier.
Kompany has since departed to Bayern Munich in one of the surprises of the summer, and promotion specialist Scott Parker has been drafted in to take Burnley back to the promised land.
Luton Town
Luton Town were in dreamland when they were promoted to the Premier League, beating Coventry City in the play-off final to achieve their quest to climb from the National League to the top flight.
However, the consensus was that the Hatters were never going to avoid the drop, with manager Rob Edwards even admitting that if he could steer them clear, it would be his greatest achievement.
Luton gave it a good go but ultimately finished 18th. Ross Barkley’s departure will be a big loss, but the squad looks largely set to remain intact, and another promotion charge could be on the cards.
Dark Horses
Sheffield United
Another side relegated from the Premier League last season, unlike Burnley and Luton, Sheffield United are outsiders for promotion back to the top flight in the Championship odds.
Chris Wilder was drafted back in by the Blades to replace Paul Heckingbottom in a bid to avoid the drop last December.
However, his reappointment didn’t inspire United like it was supposed to, and they finished rock bottom of the table.
While Cameron Archer has returned to Aston Villa, Kieffer Moore, Callum O’Hare, Jamie Shackleton, and Sam McCallum have joined the Blades, and 11/2 for promotion looks like a tempting price.
Portsmouth
In recent years, we have seen recently promoted sides perform admirably in the Championship, with Ipswich Town earning automatic promotion last year and Sunderland reaching the play-offs the season before.
Portsmouth will be hoping to follow suit as they return to the second tier of English football for the first time since 2012 after winning League One last season.
John Mousinho has received high praise for his work with Pompey thus far, and he’ll be hoping to emulate the achievements of Ipswich’s Kieran McKenna by guiding his side to back-to-back promotions.
Portsmouth have a limited budget, but have already brought in Jordan Williams, Josh Murphy and Jordan Archer on free transfers, each bringing crucial Championship experience.
