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Opta Tips Coventry to Win Championship in Tight Race With Lower Play-Off Bar

A pending Leicester disciplinary ruling could reshape promotion and play-off permutations.

Overview

  • The model has Coventry winning the title on about 87 points, below recent champion totals, with Middlesbrough forecast to finish second on 78.
  • Opta estimates around 68 points could secure sixth, with eight clubs clustered in the 62–68 range in what it projects as a compressed table.
  • Stoke City are given a 29% chance of a top-six finish and a 7% chance of the top two based on season-to-date performance indicators.
  • Relegation safety is modeled to require more points than usual, with Blackburn projected 22nd on roughly 53 and Sheffield Wednesday assigned a 96% risk after their administration penalty.
  • Leicester await a verdict over alleged financial breaches that pundits suggest may bring a multi-point deduction, while bookmakers make Coventry strong promotion favourites and price Ipswich next.