Championship Ante-Post Bets With BETSiE, Best Outright Tips and Predictions: Black Cats Purring

Look, we’d like to think we have some impressive people here behind the scenes at bettingexpert, but there’s one ‘expert’ who rules the roost – BETSiE – and courtesy of her, we’ve got two ante-post Championship bets to consider.

As the driving force behind much of our data on-site, BETSiE provides a large fraction of the facts, figures, and numbers behind some of our best bets. Further on below, you’ll see a projected Championship table, as well as the two aforementioned second-tier punts.

In this article:

• Championship Ante-Post Tips: Sunderland Top Six Finish
• Championship Ante-Post Tips: Coventry Top Half Finish
• Supercomputer BETSiE Predicts Championship Table
• Championship Stats and Facts
• Safer Gambling

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Ante-Post Bets in the Championship: Sunderland Top Six Finish Predicts BETSiE

England, Championship.

First things first, how does BETSiE view Sunderland’s chances of making the top six? At a 55.6% probability of making the top six, the Black Cats edge into the playoff picture ahead of a cohort of playoff-chasing sides.

After 14 games, the 21.9xG from Sunderland so far this season is the seventh-highest in the division, whereas the 15.8xGA offered up at the other end stands as ninth-best. Together, with the youthful, exuberant, and largely attacking components sprawled across this Sunderland side, they will be a match for anyone in this division week after week. They proved exactly that in their 1-0 loss to the Foxes last week.

The 55.6% projection that they will reach the playoffs, converted to 1.80 as a fraction, suggests the 3.50 price at bet365 is something to consider.

The projected final Championship table has Sunderland jotted down in 6th position with a 73.6 points haul. That pits them just 0.90 points away from Southampton who they’re predicted to be neck and neck with until the finish.

West Brom (70.7pts), Coventry (65.5) and Hull City (65.5) offer stiff competition to the Black Cats in BETSiE’s projections but can’t quite muster enough to overthrow Sunderland.

In Paddy/Betfair’s Championship Ante-Post landscape, West Brom presents as 2.80 sixth-favourites to end in the top six. For both BETSiE and myself, we’d have that the other way around. The Baggies currently sit just one point ahead of Sunderland with 14 games played.

• Championship Ante-Post Tips: Sunderland Top Six Finish
• Best Odds: 3.50
• Bookmaker: bet365
• Stake: 10/10

Championship Outright Ante-Post Tips Odds via bet365 as at 16:25, 2nd November 2023 – odds for best bets may now differ.

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Ante-Post Bets in the Championship: Coventry Top Half Finish Predicts BETSiE

England, Championship.

With BETSiE focusing on the underlying data to underpin its sense of navigation through the second tier, the fact Coventry sits 20th, five points off the relegation zone with just three wins, doesn’t have too much bearing.

The underlying performances are there, and if they can begin taking their chances and put a string of consistent performances together, they will start climbing this unforgiving division. It all sounds like a lot of ‘ifs’ and ‘buts’, and it is, but we should feel reassured that Coventry’s performance data suggests this current run isn’t here to stay.

At a 16% probability for a top-six finish, perhaps the Sky Blues will miss out on back-to-back playoff appearances. The void left by Viktor Gyokeres and Gustavo Hamer would always be considerable. However, as Haji Wright and Ellis Simms touched down in the summer in forward areas, it’s no surprise that tongues started wagging in the Midlands. In the end, though, if they miss out, they’ll be in a strong position come the start of the next campaign with new faces bedded in.

BETSiE has attached a 64.0% likelihood that Coventry ends the campaign in the top half, 36% then, of course, for finishing in the bottom half, and just 0.02% to head to League One.

Skybet (2.10) and William Hill (2.10) are the two other available betting options in this market which BETSiE has down as value. BetVictor leads the way.

• Championship Ante-Post Tips: Coventry Top Half Finish
• Best Odds: 2.35
• Bookmaker: BetVictor
• Stake: 5/10

Championship Outright Ante-Post Tips Odds via bet365 as at 16:25, 2nd November 2023 – odds for best bets may now differ.

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Supercomputer BETSiE Predicts Championship Table

Updated: 31st October 2023

S.	CLUB	GAMES	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	PTS
1	Leicester	46	29.9	7.8	8.3	80.7	38.1	42.6	97.4
2	Ipswich	46	25.5	9.1	11.4	79.0	55.5	23.5	85.6
3	Leeds	46	22.8	12.0	11.3	73.7	47.9	25.7	80.2
4	Middlesbrough	46	22.3	9.7	14.0	71.6	53.5	18.1	76.7
5	Southampton	46	21.2	10.8	14.0	73.1	64.6	8.6	74.5
6	Sunderland	46	21.5	9.1	15.4	70.7	51.6	19.1	73.6
7	West Brom	46	19.1	13.5	13.4	63.7	50.1	13.6	70.7
8	Coventry	46	17.0	14.4	14.6	61.0	52.4	8.6	65.5
9	Hull	46	17.3	13.5	15.2	58.3	56.2	2.1	65.5
10	Blackburn	46	18.7	8.8	18.5	66.0	66.4	-0.5	64.8
11	Watford	46	16.9	13.9	15.2	57.1	51.5	5.6	64.6
12	Cardiff	46	17.8	10.7	17.5	59.7	56.3	3.4	64.1

For the complete Championship table, the probabilities behind winning the title, a top two finish, reaching the playoffs, ending up in the top/bottom half, and relegation, visit our dedicated BETSiE Championship page which is updated each week.

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Championship Stats and Facts: Newly-Promoted Sharp-Shooters

• The Foxes, under Enzo Maresca, lead the way in the Championship both in the standings and in open-play xG (20.02).
• It’s Huddersfield Town who stands head and shoulders above the rest in terms of xG from set pieces. Their 5.64xG pips both Southampton and Swansea setups which have Russell Martin DNA attached to varying levels.
• The 114 Progressive Passes made by Sunderland’s Dan Neil only just edges out second-placed Hayden Hackney of Middlesbrough.
• It’s a tale of contrasts regarding goals. Two newly-promoted teams in Ipswich Town (22) and Plymouth Argyle (21) have racked up the most goals. However, at the other end, the other League One newbie, Sheffield Wednesday (6), have scored the fewest.
• Millwall’s 70 shots from set piece situations is a league-leading number in the Championship. Matt Taylor’s Rotherham side (31) props up the table in that metric.
• No Goalkeeper has recorded more clean sheets than West Brom’s Alex Palmer (7).

If the above helping of BETSiE is not enough for you, why not check out Jack Wright’s EFL Early Bird, where three Championship weekend selections rear their head.

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SAFER GAMBLING

At bettingexpert, we always take a safe approach to gambling. We’ll never bet more than we can afford or chase losses. For more advice, head to our Safer Gambling hub.