Nuno Espirito Santo looking stern on the sidelines at West Ham

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Supercomputer makes Championship title prediction after West Ham embarrassment

Correspondent AUTHORITY Football journalist with experience at the Edinburgh Evening News and GRV Media; Masters graduate from the University of Derby. FOCUS Scottish Premiership coverage with specialist knowledge of Rangers, Celtic, Hearts, Aberdeen, and Motherwell. THE INSIGHT Jack utilises a network of club and industry contacts across the Scottish Premiership to deliver verified, high-speed reporting. He provides the tactical and transfer insight behind the headlines to ensure fans get the full story as it happens.

Published on:

23 Aug 2026, 1:36 pm

Millwall have become the new favourites to win the Championship title after an electric start to the 2026-27 campaign.

Despite only being deemed outsiders before the start of the new season, victories against Bristol City and Norwich City have seen the Lions rise to the top of the table.

Now, the supercomputer believes that the East London club will retain the position and beat the likes of Wolverhampton Wanderers and West Ham United to the title.

The Hammers were the clear favourites for the title before the start of the campaign, but a draw to Burnley and a defeat to Charlton have seen Opta reassess its predictions.

Currently, West Ham sit 16th in the Championship, three points off the playoffs and five points off the top two.

As a result, Nuno Espirito Santo has come under heavy criticism, with the manager unable to pick up the result required so far.

Who are the favourites for the Championship title?

On 23 August, Opta have given Millwall a 17.64 per cent chance of winning the title, and a 30.14 per cent chance of getting automatic promotion.

The Lions’ closest contenders are believed to be Wolves, who have picked up four points in their opening two matches.

Cesar Peixoto’s side have been given a 12.72 per cent chance of winning the title, whereas their automatic promotion odds sit at 23.26 per cent after their 3-1 victory against Preston North End.

Former favourites West Ham are not even predicted to get the autos anymore, with a 11.04 per cent chance of the title and a 20.88 per cent chance of finishing in the top two.

Middlesbrough, who have also had a tough start to the season, have a 11.12 per cent chance of the title, and their odds of automatic promotion sit at 22.08 per cent.

Finally, Southampton, who started the campaign on negative four points, are yet to be ruled out, with a 10.76 per cent chance of the title and a 20.52 per cent chance of a top-two finish.

Supercomputer predicts who will be relegated from the Championship in the new season

Can Nuno Espirito Santo turn things around at West Ham?

The start of the season could not have gone much worse for West Ham.

The Hammers bottled a 2-0 lead against Burnley, and this was then followed by an embarrassing defeat to Charlton, who are predicted a lower mid-table finish.

Unfortunately, things do not get any easier for the East London club, with a trip to Southampton in the Carabao Cup followed by an away tie to Watford in the Championship, before they host Wolves on 1 September.

Nuno will be expected to win at least two of these ties, and if he can’t, calls for the manager to be sacked will only grow louder.

Burnley Football Club