football | Petak, Februar 17, 2023 12:58 PM (Revised at: Petak, Februar 17, 2023 4:11 PM)

Championship Best Bets: Feb 17th-20th - Value Picks for Six Matches in Bumper Preview

Jack Wright

Championship Best Bets: February 17th-20th

We are back with more Championship best bets ahead of this weekend’s action. The top 2 both dropped points during a full midweek round of games. Michael Obafemi’s first goal for Burnley deep into injury time prolonged the Clarets’ unbeaten run. Despite taking an early lead Sheffield United tasted defeat in the league for the first time in 15 matches.

It’s as you were at the bottom. Although another point for Wigan stretched their unbeaten run under Shaun Maloney to three games. With Cardiff picking up maximum points from a visit to Birmingham. Both closed the gap on Rotherham who now only enjoy a three-point cushion to the drop zone.

Once again six games go under the microscope with a best bet in each.

In this article:

Cardiff vs Reading Preview & Best Bet
Huddersfield vs Birmingham Preview & Best Bet
Middlesbrough vs QPR Preview & Best Bet
Rotherham vs Coventry Preview & Best Bet
Sunderland vs Bristol City Preview & Best Bet
Watford vs West Brom Preview & Best Bet

Cardiff vs Reading Preview

Friday, February 17th, 20:00 (UK)

Following a winless run of 14 games in all competitions, losing each of the last five, Cardiff finally got a victory on the board on Tuesday. A first under Sabri Lamouchi at the fourth time of asking. A key reason being that goals have been hard to come by for the Bluebirds. Their total of 24 strikes from 32 Championship fixtures is the lowest in the second tier.

Their opponents also ended a long wait for a victory in midweek. Tyrese Fornah’s 90th-minute winner against Rotherham on Tuesday was the Royals’ first league success of 2023. Paul Ince insists their goal remains “to stay in this league” but now find themselves closer to the play-offs than the relegation zone. Despite suffering just one defeat in their last 14 meetings with Cardiff, the visitors have been shocking travellers this term. No side has suffered more than their 11 defeats on the road.

Cardiff vs Reading Best Bet

Following Reading’s last away game, a 1-0 loss at Sunderland, Ince was accused of making the game a “grim watch” and attempting to “kill the game”. Something he rather prickly contested! However, this game does not whet the appetite. The Royals fanbase steadily losing patience with their side’s negative approach to games and the manager’s matching demeanour. Matches at the Cardiff City Stadium average just 1.75 goals this campaign. Therefore, goalmouth action is likely to be at a premium.

Something which is not expected to be the case with bookings. Especially with Darren Bond in charge. His notebook is the second busiest in the Championship with the official issuing 92 yellow cards and two red from his 20 appointments in the second tier. Reading have the 8th worst disciplinary record in the league. Picking up at least two cards in seven of their last eight fixtures. There were six cards evenly split in the reverse. Bond has shown the away side at least two cards in all of his last 10 appearances. Flashing a total of 32 yellows and one red card to the visiting team across those games.

Selection: Under 4 goals and over 1 Reading card.
Best Odds: 1.91 (SkyBet)
Stakes: 6/10

Huddersfield vs Birmingham Preview

Saturday, February 18th, 15:00 (UK)

New manager Neil Warnock watched his side from the stands on Wednesday. Assuming he hasn’t had a re-think over ending his retirement after witnessing the 3-0 thrashing at the hands of Stoke. The 74-year-old veteran manager will be in the Terriers dugout for the first time in his second spell at the club. He takes the reins with Town second from bottom and four points from safety. He will look to put an end to a run of eight games without a victory immediately.

Just as Birmingham had put some breathing space between themselves and the drop zone they suffered a midweek setback. Impressive defeats of Swansea and in-form West Brom was followed with an abject 2-0 home loss to strugglers Cardiff. John Eustace has urged his side to bounce back at The John Smith’s Stadium. But he will be all too aware of the potential new manager bounce. Especially when that “new” manager has 1,603 games of experience.

Huddersfield vs Birmingham Best Bet

Birmingham have conceded ten goals in their last three away league games. Shipping at least two goals in five of their last six Championship matches. With a chronic shortage of central defenders Warnock may decide attack is the best form of defence for the home side.

One player he will be looking to unleash on the Blues is Joseph Hungbo. The Watford loanee impressed last season at Ross County. Firing in seven goals in 33 appearances for the Staggies. Scooping up both their Young Player of the Year and Players’ Young Player of the Year awards. Also collecting the club and league Goal of the Season trophies for a stunning free kick. In five appearances for the Terriers so far the 23-year-old has totalled 276 minutes. Firing in seven shots with four on target during his time on the pitch. Equating to a shot every 39 minutes and one on target every 69 minutes. Three of those on target efforts coming in his three starts to date.

Selection: Joseph Hungbo over 0.5 shots on target
Best Odds: 1.83 (bet365)
Stakes: 6/10

More Huddersfield vs Birmingham Tips

Middlesbrough vs QPR Preview

Saturday, February 18th, 15:00 (UK)

Boro recorded an emphatic success over Sheffield United on Wednesday. Ending their automatic promotion rivals’ 14-match unbeaten league run in the process. An eighth win in the last nine Championship games. Closing the gap on the 2nd placed Blades to seven points and keeping faint hopes of a top 2 finish alive. Chuba Akpom and Cameron Archer caused the home defence nightmares as is becoming the norm. Akpom is the top scorer in the second tier with 17 goals. Archer has added three goals and two assists in just 377 minutes of action. Whilst being lauded for his all-around game.

The opposite applies to the visitors. Having topped the table as 2022 came to a close they have since been in a nose dive. Plummeting down the table and travel to the Riverside in 17th. A 3-0 capitulation at home to Sunderland in midweek extended their run of games without a win to 10. A sequence that includes exiting the FA Cup at the hands of League One Fleetwood.

Middlesbrough vs QPR Best Bet

Having won 12 of Michael Carrick’s 16 Championship games in charge the Teesiders know all they can do is keep winning and hope for help elsewhere. That starts here as two sides at the polar opposite ends of the form table meet. Boro have won each of their last five at home and by an aggregate of 12-2. The last three have been accompanied by a clean sheet highlighting their processes are working at both ends of the field.

Selection: Middlesbrough -1.0 Asian Handicap (TRACKED BET)
Best Odds: 1.975 (bet365)
Stakes: 10/10

More Middlesbrough vs QPR Tips

Rotherham vs Coventry Preview

Saturday, February 18th, 15:00 (UK)

Rotherham’s start to the season looked like they were going to buck their usual trend. Known for yo-yo-ing between the Championship and League One the Millers briefly flirted with the top six. Despite taking an early lead at Reading in midweek Matt Taylor’s side conceded two second-half goals to leave Berkshire empty-handed. A result that leaves them precariously just three points above the drop zone. In doing so, snapping a four-game unbeaten run. Although the previous three games had been draws.

In contrast, Coventry took an impressive scalp in the form of Millwall. Talisman Viktor Gyökeres firing in the only goal of the game after missing a couple of easier opportunities. That win moved the Sky Blues back into the top half and with just five points separating them from the final playoff spot. Interest in extending their regular season remains alive.

Rotherham vs Coventry Best Bet

The Millers are traditionally a tough nut to crack on home soil but a combination of form and fatigue will make it difficult. They have lost three of their last six at Aesseal New York Stadium and this fixture will be their third game in the space of a week with another scheduled for Tuesday. That all makes Taylor’s small squad vulnerable here.

In Gyökeres Coventry have one of the most coveted assets in the second tier. But the Swede has been helped by an impressive support cast. None more so in recent weeks than Kasey Palmer. The 25-year-old midfielder linking with the goalscorer regularly in another eye-catching performance. The former Chelsea youth product seems finally to have found a home. Realising his undoubted promise and talent. Palmer has now started eight successive league games. Firing in 17 shots and scoring twice. He has had eight attempts at goal in the last three outings with a minimum of two in each game.

Selection: Kasey Palmer over 1.5 shots
Best Odds: 1.80 (bet365)
Stakes: 6/10

More Rotherham vs Coventry Tips

Sunderland vs Bristol City Preview

Saturday, February 18th, 15:00 (UK)

Sunderland have bounced back into the playoff picture. An unbeaten run of four league games featuring three wins has catapulted the Black Cats up to 5th. The latest of which came in the midweek 3-0 defeat of QPR. There were heroes at both ends as Jack Clarke bagged a brace. But an Anthony Patterson penalty save from Ilias Chair with the game poised at 1-0 was a pivotal moment. The fact the visitors sold out their allocation in West London on Tuesday shows their fans believe there could be something special afoot.

The Robins will travel to the North East in great heart. Despite dropping two points with a 1-1 draw with Wigan at Ashton Gate in midweek. That stretched the unbeaten run of Nigel Pearson’s side to a healthy 10 games. Form that has seen City move within seven points of 6th placed Watford with a game in hand.

Sunderland vs Bristol City Best Bet

Two in-form and confident sides is usually a good recipe for both teams to score. A big Stadium of Light crowd will only add to the occasion. It’s testament to Sunderland they have coped with the losses of key strikers throughout the campaign. Top scorer Ross Stewart has been ruled out for the season. With Ellis Simms returning to Everton from his loan spell.

Even so, Tony Mowbray’s side have scored in each of their last 15 competitive fixtures. With both teams making the net bulge in 10 of the last 13. Bristol City are not far behind. Scoring in each of their last nine games in all competitions. Also conceding in seven of those same fixtures. The action-packed reverse saw both teams on the scoresheet within 10 minutes. The Black Cats finally shading a five-goal thriller.

Selection: Yes on Both Teams to Score
Best Odds: 1.87 (Betfair)
Stakes: 6/10

More Sunderland vs Bristol City Tips

Watford vs West Brom Preview

Monday, February 20th, 20:00 (UK)

Watford travelled to Burnley on Tuesday night as one of only two sides to have beaten the Clarets in the league this season. They came within seconds of being the only side to beat them twice. Michael Obafemi bundled in a last-gasp equaliser to deny the Hornets a massive three points. Instead, the hosts go into this clash winless in five games. Slaven Bilic insisted with a little more quality added to the spirit, organisation and attitude on display at Turf Moor his side can still achieve their goals.

The Baggies also suffered late heartbreak in midweek. Ben Brereton Diaz smashed in an 89th-minute free kick to share the spoils. Having flown up the table West Brom have now only won one of their last four league games. Progression up into the play-off places stunted since speculation of Carlos Corberan’s future began to swirl. Both sides will feel there is a vital three points up for grabs at Vicarage Road on Monday night.

Watford vs West Brom Best Bet

Both sides will see this as an opportunity to get their promotion push back on track against an out-of-form opponent. Calling a winner is nigh on impossible but with action at either end we will see regular visits to the corner quadrant. Watford’s last eight home league games has seen them take 51 flag kicks at an average of 6.38. They have taken at least four in seven of those fixtures.

No side in the Championship has seen more corners in their games than West Brom. A total of 356 averaging at 11.48 per match. Taking 222 themselves at over seven per outing. Under Corberan they have taken 54 corners from seven road trips. That’s an average of 5.43 per away game with six of those seeing them take at least four as visitors.

Selection: 4+ Corners for Each Team
Best Odds: 1.80 (SkyBet)
Stakes: 6/10

Best odds available as at 23:40 on February 16th 2023. Odds may now differ.

More Watford vs West Brom Tips

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