We have reached the third international break of the campaign and with all 24 teams having played over a third of their matches, the league table is firmly taking shape and it looks like the top two are going to take some stopping, despite some recent wobbles.
2023/24 Championship Promotion Odds
Odds courtesy of bet365, correct at the time of publishing and subject to change.
Team | Odds |
Leicester | 1/10 |
Ipswich | 8/13 |
Leeds | 8/13 |
Southampton | 6/4 |
Middlesbrough | 11/2 |
West Brom | 7/1 |
Sunderland | 10/1 |
Hull | 16/1 |
Preston | 20/1 |
Watford | 20/1 |
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Leicester and Ipswich are locked together on 39 points at the top of the table, with the Foxes leading the way by virtue of their superior goal difference.
There is an eight-point gap between the top two and Leeds in third, with Southampton, Preston and Sunderland currently occupying the other play-off places, although only seven points separate the Black Cats in sixth and Birmingham all the way down in 18th.
Foxes remain heavy favourites despite recent losses
Leicester started the season as antepost favourites and they have certainly lived up to that billing, as they won 13 of their opening 14 matches to make an instant return to the Premier League look inevitable.
However, one or two doubts may now be creeping in for the Foxes, as they have headed into the November international break following back-to-back 1-0 defeats at home to Leeds and away to Middlesbrough.
Those losses have seen Leicester's lead at the top of the standings all but evaporate, as only goal difference is now keeping them above Ipswich, while the gap between Enzo Maresca's side and Leeds in third is down to eight points.
No one will be panicking at the King Power Stadium just yet, but Leicester will be determined to return to winning ways when they host Watford in their next match on November 25th.
Tractor Boys their for the long haul
Ipswich have surprised many following their fabulous start to the season and they remain well placed to secure back-to-back promotions and a return to the Premier League for the first time since 2002.
The Tractor Boys have had their own wobbles over recent weeks, drawing with both Birmingham and struggling Rotherham, but they returned to winning ways last time out against Swansea to move level with Leicester on 39 points.
Kieran McKenna's side have lost just once in the league this season - at home to Leeds in August - and if anyone thought their early-season form would fizzle out, they are seemingly being proven wrong.
Leeds heading the chasing pack
The biggest threat to Leicester and Ipswich's stranglehold on the automatic promotion positions looks set to come from Leeds, who are the Championship's form team, having won six of their last seven matches, a run that includes their 1-0 success at the league leaders.
After some early-season teething issues, Daniel Farke now seems to be getting the best out of his side, but the same can also be said of Southampton boss Russell Martin, with the Saints sitting fourth in the standings following an eight-match unbeaten run that includes three straight victories.
Preston may also consider themselves automatic promotion contenders following back-to-back wins over Coventry and Blackburn, but Ryan Lowe's side may lack the squad depth and financial muscle to sustain a push for a top-two finish.
Play-off battle as open as ever
Sunderland currently hold the final play-off position, but only on goal difference from West Brom and Hull, while there are just seven points separating 13 teams from sixth all the way down to 18th.
Consistency has been the issue for a lot of these sides and while it is difficult to see any of them challenging for the automatic promotion places, all will believe they boast realistic hopes of reaching the play-offs.