- Competition: Championship, 2026-27
- Covers: the next seven days of fixtures
- Shows: one pick per game, with the reasoning
- Record: every pick saved before kick-off
- Audience: 18+ only, for information
These are our Championship predictions for the coming week. Every game gets one clear pick, a home win, a draw or an away win, and you can open the reasoning behind it. Below the fixtures we explain how the model works, how to read a pick sensibly and how our picks have performed so far. Looking for today’s games across both divisions? See our football predictions today.
Championship predictions
WatfordvLincoln
Why this prediction?
The table. Watford are 21st on 11 points from 13 games; Lincoln are 16th on 15 from 13.
Recent form (league, most recent first). Watford: L L W L L, scoring 5 and conceding 13. Lincoln: L W D L L, scoring 7 and conceding 15.
Home and away. Watford at home: won 3, drew 1, lost 2 (8 scored, 9 conceded). Lincoln away: won 3, drew 1, lost 2 (6 scored, 7 conceded).
Goals. Putting their scoring and conceding records together, we expect about 2.5 goals: roughly 1.3 for Watford and 1.3 for Lincoln.
Why we picked Lincoln. The numbers that favour them:
- Lincoln sit 5 places higher in the table
What could go wrong. Nothing in the numbers points strongly towards Watford, who have taken 1.7 points a game at home (3 wins in 6). One early goal or a red card can undo any prediction.
Line-ups and injuries can change the picture, so check team news before kick-off.
PrestonvSheffield Utd
Why this prediction?
The table. Preston are 24th on 5 points from 13 games; Sheffield Utd are 10th on 19 from 13.
Recent form (league, most recent first). Preston: L D L L L, scoring 2 and conceding 12. Sheffield Utd: W D W L W, scoring 8 and conceding 4.
Home and away. Preston at home: won 1, drew 1, lost 4 (5 scored, 10 conceded). Sheffield Utd away: won 2, drew 2, lost 2 (8 scored, 8 conceded).
Head-to-head. In the last 5 meetings: Preston won 2, Sheffield Utd won 3, 0 drawn. Most recent: Sheffield Utd 2-3 Preston (April 2026).
Goals. Putting their scoring and conceding records together, we expect about 2.6 goals: roughly 1.1 for Preston and 1.5 for Sheffield Utd.
Why we picked Sheffield Utd. The numbers that favour them:
- Sheffield Utd sit 14 places higher in the table
- Sheffield Utd took 10 points from their last 5 league games, to 1 for Preston
- Sheffield Utd have the better away record (1.3 points a game) than Preston have at home (0.7)
What could go wrong. Nothing in the numbers points strongly towards Preston, who have taken 0.7 points a game at home (1 wins in 6). One early goal or a red card can undo any prediction.
Line-ups and injuries can change the picture, so check team news before kick-off.
Why this prediction?
The table. Blackburn are 13th on 18 points from 13 games; Stoke City are 7th on 23 from 13.
Recent form (league, most recent first). Blackburn: L W L W W, scoring 7 and conceding 8. Stoke City: W D W L W, scoring 7 and conceding 4.
Home and away. Blackburn at home: won 4, drew 0, lost 2 (11 scored, 7 conceded). Stoke City away: won 3, drew 1, lost 2 (8 scored, 10 conceded).
Head-to-head. In the last 5 meetings: Blackburn won 1, Stoke City won 2, 2 drawn. Most recent: Stoke City 1-1 Blackburn (April 2026).
Goals. Putting their scoring and conceding records together, we expect about 3.0 goals: roughly 1.8 for Blackburn and 1.3 for Stoke City.
Why we picked Stoke City. The numbers that favour them:
- Stoke City sit 6 places higher in the table
- Stoke City have won 2 of the last 5 meetings
What could go wrong. Nothing in the numbers points strongly towards Blackburn, who have taken 2.0 points a game at home (4 wins in 6). One early goal or a red card can undo any prediction.
Line-ups and injuries can change the picture, so check team news before kick-off.
DerbyvNorwich
Why this prediction?
The table. Derby are 23rd on 7 points from 13 games; Norwich are 15th on 15 from 13.
Recent form (league, most recent first). Derby: L D L L D, scoring 4 and conceding 11. Norwich: W W L L L, scoring 7 and conceding 7.
Home and away. Derby at home: won 0, drew 2, lost 4 (4 scored, 10 conceded). Norwich away: won 2, drew 0, lost 4 (10 scored, 12 conceded).
Head-to-head. In the last 5 meetings: Derby won 1, Norwich won 3, 1 drawn. Most recent: Norwich 2-1 Derby (April 2026).
Goals. Putting their scoring and conceding records together, we expect about 3.0 goals: roughly 1.3 for Derby and 1.7 for Norwich.
Why we picked Norwich. The numbers that favour them:
- Norwich sit 8 places higher in the table
- Norwich took 6 points from their last 5 league games, to 2 for Derby
- Norwich have the better away record (1.0 points a game) than Derby have at home (0.3)
What could go wrong. Nothing in the numbers points strongly towards Derby, who have taken 0.3 points a game at home (0 wins in 6). One early goal or a red card can undo any prediction.
Line-ups and injuries can change the picture, so check team news before kick-off.
Why this prediction?
The table. QPR are 9th on 20 points from 13 games; Burnley are 22nd on 9 from 13.
Recent form (league, most recent first). QPR: L W L W D, scoring 11 and conceding 9. Burnley: D L L D W, scoring 8 and conceding 8.
Home and away. QPR at home: won 3, drew 2, lost 1 (13 scored, 5 conceded). Burnley away: won 1, drew 1, lost 4 (9 scored, 15 conceded).
Head-to-head. In the last 5 meetings: QPR won 1, Burnley won 3, 1 drawn. Most recent: QPR 0-5 Burnley (April 2025).
Goals. Putting their scoring and conceding records together, we expect about 3.5 goals: roughly 2.3 for QPR and 1.2 for Burnley, so an open game with chances at both ends is likely.
Why we picked QPR. The numbers that favour them:
- QPR sit 13 places higher in the table
- QPR are stronger at home (1.8 points a game) than Burnley are away (0.7)
- QPR have the better goal difference per game (+0.4 against -0.6)
What could go wrong. Pointing the other way:
- Burnley have won 3 of the last 5 meetings
Line-ups and injuries can change the picture, so check team news before kick-off.
CharltonvBolton
Why this prediction?
The table. Charlton are 20th on 14 points from 13 games; Bolton are 19th on 14 from 13.
Recent form (league, most recent first). Charlton: L L L D D, scoring 4 and conceding 11. Bolton: L L D W L, scoring 7 and conceding 11.
Home and away. Charlton at home: won 2, drew 3, lost 1 (5 scored, 5 conceded). Bolton away: won 2, drew 2, lost 2 (9 scored, 11 conceded).
Head-to-head. In the last 5 meetings: Charlton won 2, Bolton won 2, 1 drawn. Most recent: Bolton 1-2 Charlton (January 2025).
Goals. Putting their scoring and conceding records together, we expect about 2.5 goals: roughly 1.3 for Charlton and 1.2 for Bolton.
Why we picked Bolton. There is little between the sides on the raw numbers, but our model, which blends form, attack, defence and head-to-head, leans their way by a narrow margin.
What could go wrong. Nothing in the numbers points strongly towards Charlton, who have taken 1.5 points a game at home (2 wins in 6). One early goal or a red card can undo any prediction.
Line-ups and injuries can change the picture, so check team news before kick-off.
Why this prediction?
The table. Portsmouth are 11th on 19 points from 13 games; Swansea are 2nd on 26 from 13.
Recent form (league, most recent first). Portsmouth: D W D W W, scoring 7 and conceding 4. Swansea: W L L W W, scoring 7 and conceding 7.
Home and away. Portsmouth at home: won 3, drew 1, lost 2 (10 scored, 10 conceded). Swansea away: won 4, drew 0, lost 2 (9 scored, 10 conceded).
Head-to-head. In the last 4 meetings: Portsmouth won 1, Swansea won 2, 1 drawn. Most recent: Portsmouth 1-2 Swansea (March 2026).
Goals. Putting their scoring and conceding records together, we expect about 3.3 goals: roughly 1.7 for Portsmouth and 1.6 for Swansea, so an open game with chances at both ends is likely.
Why we picked Swansea. The numbers that favour them:
- Swansea sit 9 places higher in the table
- Swansea have the better goal difference per game (+0.5 against +0.1)
- Swansea have won 2 of the last 4 meetings
What could go wrong. Nothing in the numbers points strongly towards Portsmouth, who have taken 1.7 points a game at home (3 wins in 6). One early goal or a red card can undo any prediction.
Line-ups and injuries can change the picture, so check team news before kick-off.
BirminghamvMillwall
Why this prediction?
The table. Birmingham are 6th on 23 points from 13 games; Millwall are 12th on 18 from 13.
Recent form (league, most recent first). Birmingham: W L W W W, scoring 11 and conceding 2. Millwall: W L D L W, scoring 8 and conceding 6.
Home and away. Birmingham at home: won 2, drew 4, lost 0 (14 scored, 7 conceded). Millwall away: won 2, drew 1, lost 3 (8 scored, 12 conceded).
Head-to-head. In the last 5 meetings: Birmingham won 2, Millwall won 2, 1 drawn. Most recent: Millwall 3-0 Birmingham (February 2026).
Goals. Putting their scoring and conceding records together, we expect about 3.4 goals: roughly 2.2 for Birmingham and 1.3 for Millwall, so an open game with chances at both ends is likely.
Why we picked Birmingham. The numbers that favour them:
- Birmingham sit 6 places higher in the table
- Birmingham took 12 points from their last 5 league games, to 7 for Millwall
- Birmingham are stronger at home (1.7 points a game) than Millwall are away (1.2)
What could go wrong. Nothing in the numbers points strongly towards Millwall, who have taken 1.2 points a game away from home (2 wins in 6). One early goal or a red card can undo any prediction.
Line-ups and injuries can change the picture, so check team news before kick-off.
Why this prediction?
The table. West Brom are 4th on 24 points from 13 games; Southampton are 5th on 23 from 13.
Recent form (league, most recent first). West Brom: W D W W L, scoring 9 and conceding 6. Southampton: W W D W W, scoring 9 and conceding 3.
Home and away. West Brom at home: won 3, drew 2, lost 1 (9 scored, 6 conceded). Southampton away: won 2, drew 2, lost 2 (8 scored, 8 conceded).
Head-to-head. In the last 5 meetings: West Brom won 0, Southampton won 3, 2 drawn. Most recent: West Brom 1-1 Southampton (March 2026).
Goals. Putting their scoring and conceding records together, we expect about 2.6 goals: roughly 1.4 for West Brom and 1.2 for Southampton.
Why we picked Southampton. The numbers that favour them:
- Southampton took 13 points from their last 5 league games, to 10 for West Brom
- Southampton have the better goal difference per game (+1.2 against +0.4)
- Southampton have won 3 of the last 5 meetings
What could go wrong. Pointing the other way:
- West Brom are stronger at home (1.8 points a game) than Southampton are away (1.3)
Line-ups and injuries can change the picture, so check team news before kick-off.
CardiffvWest Ham
Why this prediction?
The table. Cardiff are 17th on 14 points from 13 games; West Ham are 8th on 22 from 13.
Recent form (league, most recent first). Cardiff: L W D W L, scoring 9 and conceding 8. West Ham: L L W W D, scoring 11 and conceding 7.
Home and away. Cardiff at home: won 3, drew 3, lost 0 (13 scored, 6 conceded). West Ham away: won 3, drew 3, lost 0 (15 scored, 7 conceded).
Head-to-head. In the last 5 meetings: Cardiff won 1, West Ham won 4, 0 drawn. Most recent: Cardiff 2-0 West Ham (March 2019).
Goals. Putting their scoring and conceding records together, we expect about 3.4 goals: roughly 1.7 for Cardiff and 1.8 for West Ham, so an open game with chances at both ends is likely.
Why we picked West Ham. The numbers that favour them:
- West Ham sit 9 places higher in the table
- West Ham have the better goal difference per game (+1.2 against -0.1)
- West Ham have won 4 of the last 5 meetings
What could go wrong. Nothing in the numbers points strongly towards Cardiff, who have taken 2.0 points a game at home (3 wins in 6). One early goal or a red card can undo any prediction.
Line-ups and injuries can change the picture, so check team news before kick-off.
Predictions come from our model, built on recent form, attack and defence strength, goals and head-to-head history. They are not guarantees. Check the 18+ and safer gambling notes below.
How do our Championship predictions work?
Each pick starts with a licensed data feed that scores every upcoming Championship game. The model reads each side’s recent form, the goals they score and concede, how strong their attack is against the other side’s defence, and what happened when the two last met. We then check those inputs against the league table and each side’s home or away record before settling on one outcome.
The picks are estimates, so we keep the language plain and never call a result certain. The Championship is one of the least predictable leagues in Europe, with 24 clubs, 46 games each and very little between the sides in the middle of the table, so we also publish every hit and miss further down this page.
How should you use the Championship predictions each week?
Use them as a starting point for your own reading of the game, not as the final word. Open “Why this prediction?” on any fixture to see which factors tip it, such as stronger recent form, a sharper attack or a tighter defence. If the reasoning lists several reasons for one side, the pick is firmer. If it says the lean is slight, treat the game as close.
It also helps to check the context around a pick. Our Championship form table shows who is hot or cold over the last five games, and the Championship fixtures page lists every upcoming game with kick-off times. Together they give you a quick sense of why a pick leans the way it does.
Which Championship games are hardest to predict?
Games between two evenly matched sides are the hardest, because small differences in form decide the pick and a single moment can undo it. That describes a large share of the Championship, where a side in tenth place can beat the leaders on any given night. Midweek rounds are also tricky, since squads rotate and the schedule is crowded.
Late team news is another weakness. If a key striker is ruled out an hour before kick-off, the picks may not have caught up yet. Games after an international break carry less reliable form too, because the recent results the model relies on are a fortnight old.
How do these differ from our Premier League predictions?
The method is the same, but the pool of games is different. The Championship has twelve games a matchweek and a 46-game season, while the Premier League predictions cover ten games a week. The stakes differ as well, because the top two go up and six clubs, from third to eighth, contest the play-offs. You can see both divisions together on our football predictions today page.
If you want the bigger picture for the division, the Championship hub brings the table, fixtures, results and top scorers into one place. For the latest scores while games are on, use live scores.
How accurate have our Championship predictions been?
Every pick is saved before kick-off and never edited afterwards. When a game finishes, we compare the result with the pick and add it to the running total, so the record below includes our misses as well as our hits.
Our prediction record
We started logging our prediction for every match on this page on 31 October 2026. Results will appear here as games finish, including the misses. Pending: 10.
| Date | Match | Our prediction | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Nov | Cardiff v West Ham | West Ham to win | – | Pending |
| 3 Nov | Birmingham v Millwall | Birmingham to win | – | Pending |
| 3 Nov | West Brom v Southampton | Southampton to win | – | Pending |
| 3 Nov | Watford v Lincoln | Lincoln to win | – | Pending |
| 3 Nov | Preston v Sheffield Utd | Sheffield Utd to win | – | Pending |
| 3 Nov | Blackburn v Stoke City | Stoke City to win | – | Pending |
| 3 Nov | Derby v Norwich | Norwich to win | – | Pending |
| 3 Nov | QPR v Burnley | QPR to win | – | Pending |
| 3 Nov | Charlton v Bolton | Bolton to win | – | Pending |
| 3 Nov | Portsmouth v Swansea | Swansea to win | – | Pending |
A fair target for any football model is a hit rate that beats simply picking the home side every week. We will report honestly if we fall short of that. For more on what to expect, read how accurate are football predictions.
Where can you check the data behind each pick?
You can check the context for any game on its own pages. The league tables show where each side sits, the fixtures and results pages list kick-off times and scores, and our club guides give you the background on a single side.
Gamble responsibly
This page is for information and entertainment, for people aged 18 and over. Predictions are not guarantees and are not advice to bet. If you choose to gamble, set a limit you can afford, never chase losses and take breaks. Free, confidential support is available from BeGambleAware at begambleaware.org or on the GamCare helpline, 0808 8020 133, and you can read our responsible gambling page for more. We do not take bets and we do not link to bookmakers from this page.
Championship predictions: frequently asked questions
What are Championship predictions?
They are our data-led picks for the Championship games in the coming week: a home win, a draw or an away win for each game, with a short reason behind every pick. They are estimates based on numbers, not certainties.
How often are the Championship predictions updated?
The fixtures and picks refresh through the day as the data feed updates. If a game kicks off, it moves to live scores and then into the results record, so the page always looks ahead.
How accurate are your Championship predictions?
No model gets every game right, because football is low-scoring and one moment can decide a match. We save each pick before kick-off and publish the running record, including the misses, so you can judge the results yourself.
Do you cover all 552 Championship games?
We cover the games in the coming week as they are scheduled. Over a season that adds up to every round, and each pick is added to the public record once the game is played.
Are these Championship predictions betting tips?
No. They are predictions and analysis for information and entertainment. Nothing here is a guarantee or a recommendation to place a bet, and this page does not link to bookmakers.
Where do the picks come from?
They come from the prediction feed of API-Football, a licensed data provider, which weighs recent form, attack and defence strength, goals and head-to-head history. We do not change the numbers by hand.
Are the predictions free?
Yes. The picks, the reasoning and the full record are free to read, with no sign-up or payment.
