EFL Championship betting tips: Matchweek nine betting predictions

As we’re now eight matches into the 2025/26 Championship season, the second-division train is rattling along at high speed. Ahead of matchday nine, I’ve sifted through the fixture list in an attempt to uncover the best value plays. 

Want more? Get live EFL Championship match odds and bookmaker welcome bonuses today.

We have our all-new statz.ai powered Premier League tips, pitting our experts' picks against the model. But here it’s all about the EFL second tier, so let’s delve into the best bets ahead of the weekend action. 

2025/26 Championship outright winner odds

Odds courtesy of Ladbrokes

Friday

8PM

Wrexham vs Birmingham betting tips

We kick things off with Friday night action in Wales, where Wrexham and Birmingham meet in an all-newly-promoted clash. 

Prior to the campaign, the visitors were billed as a team not just capable of making the jump up to this level but as a team that could even challenge towards the top half. At this stage I’m far from convinced, so much so that I can’t really see why they should be sturdy favourites ahead of this clash. 

Phil Parkinson’s hosts haven’t been perfect, but they’re unbeaten in three league games, while they’ve certainly not found it tough to score. 

Plus, this Birmingham team that has struggled to keep teams out. The Blues have conceded multiple goals in two out of three on the road, as well as in each of their last two overall, home goals look a bit too nicely priced for my money. 

Scoreline prediction

Wrexham 2 - 2 Birmingham (14/1 - Betway)

FIRST’s top tip: 

Wrexham to score over 1.5 goals (2/1 - Mogobet)

Saturday

12:30PM

Blackburn vs Stoke betting tips 

One of Saturday’s early Championship games will take place at Ewood Park, where hosts Blackburn will be hoping to bounce back following consecutive defeats. 

Stoke will also be looking to improve following two away games without a win. In truth, this should be seen as an opportunity for both teams, especially in an offensive sense, with neither side doing a good job of preventing teams from creating chances in recent weeks. 

The visitors have shown slightly less than their hosts in terms of end product, though, meaning that this is probably a slightly greater opportunity for Rovers to get their noses in front than it is for the Potters. 

Scoreline prediction

Blackburn 2 - 1 Stoke (9/1 - Betway)

FIRST’s top tip: 

Over 2.5 goals (5/4 - Highbet)

3PM

Millwall vs West Brom betting tips 

The Lions didn’t exactly roar during the week, with Coventry making light work of beating Alex Neil’s men. But let’s face it, plenty of teams are going to struggle against the Championship’s top scorers. 

This is a more realistic assignment for the men from The Den. Don’t be surprised if they deliver an improved result. 

Get more tips: Two EFL clashes and a slice of Chelsea vs Liverpool in our 5/1 four-fold

It’s been a tricky start to the campaign for Millwall forward Mihailo Ivanovic, who impressed last season. The Serb, who is averaging 2.97 shots per 90 minutes, is yet to find the net in the Championship. 

Nonetheless his performances have not been without promise, while this looks like a nice opportunity for him to get off the mark. 

Scoreline prediction

Millwall 2 - 1 West Brom (10/1 - 7bet)

FIRST’s top tip:

Mihailo Ivanovic to Score (11/4 - 10bet)

Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough betting tips

Down on the south coast, Portsmouth will take on Middlesbrough in front of a home crowd on Saturday afternoon. The hosts have now gone four games without a win, but their point in midweek against Watford wasn’t a bad one. 

They’re now up against a Boro side that doesn’t exactly blow teams away on the road. 

Don’t be surprised if home-team forward Colby Bishop plays a leading role here. The forward has scored just once so far this season, but he’s been getting into some dangerous positions of late. 

The striker is averaging an eye-catching 0.41 xG, while we shouldn’t forget that this is a man who scored more than a goal every three games last term. 

Scoreline prediction

Portsmouth 1 - 1 Middlesbrough (6/1 - Betway)

FIRST’s top tip:

Colby Bishop to score (12/5 - Coral)

Derby vs Southampton betting tips

During the week, the Rams were rescued by a 79th minute equaliser from Matt Clarke, who nodded home late in the day against Charlton to salvage a point. 

Is this becoming a trend? As John Eustace’s men have had to do in each of their last two games.

Offensively, they’ve huffed and puffed without getting a lot of uptick. But against an open and forward-thinking Southampton team there could be more joy for the likes of Ben Brereton Diaz, Carlton Morris and the speedy Patrick Agyemang. 

This has the makings of a high-scoring game, and I’m not quite sure that the early market reflects that accurately enough. 

Scoreline prediction

Derby 2 - 2 Southampton (14/1 - Ladbrokes)

FIRST’s top tip:

Over 2.5 goals (5/4 - Mogobet)

Sunday

12:00PM

Ipswich vs Norwich betting tips

Sunday’s Championship menu consists of a single course, but what a course it is as Ipswich and Norwich battle it out in the East Anglian Derby. 

Both teams have shown a decent amount of firepower so far this season. But by the same token neither side has defended with any real solidity, so we could see a few goals scored here, which is what happened when the teams last met at Portman Road. 

Leading the visiting forward line will be Josh Sargent, who looks rather generously priced to find the net. 

Sargent knows all about scoring goals at this level, while he’s a striker in form having bagged five already at the start of this campaign. Averaging 0.65 goals per 90 minutes, the American looks very handy to side while odds of 3/1 are on offer. 

Scoreline prediction

Ipswich 2 - 2 Norwich (14/1 - Highbet)

FIRST’s top tip:

Josh Sargent to score (3/1 - Mogobet)

Rapid fire: Additional bets and quick scoreline predictions

Here are some bet suggestions ahead of the other six Championship fixtures taking place this weekend:

Hull vs Sheffield United 

• Best bet: Tyrese Campbell to score (5/2 - Betway)
• Scoreline prediction: Hull 1 - 2 Sheffield United (9/1 - Ladbrokes)

Sheffield Wednesday vs Coventry 

• Best bet: Both teams to score (10/11 - Coral)
• Scoreline prediction: Sheffield Wednesday 1 - 2 Coventry (13/2 - Ladbrokes)

Bristol City vs QPR

• Best bet: Both teams to score - NO (11/1 - Coral)
• Scoreline prediction: Bristol City 1 - 0 QPR (7/1 - Mr.Play)

Preston vs Charlton 

• Best bet: Both teams to score (21/20 - Mogobet)
• Scoreline prediction: Preston 1 - 1 Charlton (11/2 - Ladbrokes)

Swansea vs Leicester 

• Best bet: Over 3.0 asian goals (2/1 - Mogobet)
• Scoreline prediction: Swansea 3 - 2 Leicester (33/1 - Betway)

Watford vs Oxford United 

• Best bet: Will Lankshear to score (3/1, Mogobet)
• Scoreline prediction: Watford 1 - 1 Oxford United (11/2 - Coral)

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Odds correct at the time of writing.