Supercomputer makes new Championship promotion prediction after New Year’s Day action
Opta’s supercomputer believes that Ipswich Town are now set to be promoted automatically to the Premier League after they moved ahead of Middlesbrough in the Championship on New Year’s Day.
The Championship has just passed its halfway stage, with Coventry City still leading the way at the top of the table as it stands.
Ipswich Town started the season in poor form following their relegation from the Premier League, but a recent run of just two defeats in their last 15 games has seen them rise to the summit of the second-tier once more.
Kieran McKenna‘s side beat league leaders Coventry 2-0 on 29 December, and started 2026 with a 2-1 win over Oxford United on New Year’s Day.
Middlesbrough had been flying high in second place after an impressive start for new boss Kim Hellberg, but a string of poor results has seen them slip behind the Tractor Boys, who are now favourites for automatic promotion.
Opta predict Ipswich to go up in second as Watford backed to continue their strong form
Opta‘s supercomputer had previously predicted Middlesbrough to be promoted ahead of Ipswich in second place, with Hull City, Preston North End and Bristol City all competing in the play-offs come May.
Ipswich’s latest win has seen them rise above Boro into the automatic promotion places, however, and they are now believed to be on track to finish as Championship runners-up, with Coventry as champions.
Opta’s latest calculations have the Tractor Boys at a 52.50 per cent chance of automatic promotion, which dwarfs Middlesbrough’s 18.20 per cent, following their poor run of three losses in their last four games.
Things are tight in the race for the top six, with just six points separating fourth-placed Watford and 10th-placed Wrexham, but the Hornets are predicted to make the play-offs, with a 42.36 per cent chance of doing so.
Opta also believe that Hull City and Bristol City will join Watford and Boro in the post-season, with 39.34 and 38.76 per cent chance of making the play-offs respectively.
Who are Opta predicting to be relegated from the Championship this season?
The battle to avoid relegation is one that looks set to go to the wire in the Championship, but the number of teams that could be involved does seem to be less than in recent years.
Sheffield Wednesday are sitting on minus seven points, having had 18 deducted from their total due to financial sanctions, with Opta reflecting their struggles and handing them a 100 per cent chance of relegation in their predicted table.
23rd-placed Oxford recently sacked Gary Rowett and are on the hunt for a new boss, yet still look set to return to League One, with a 67.12 per cent chance of going down as it stands.
The final spot in the bottom three is predicted to be occupied by Norwich City, despite their recent upturn in form under Philippe Clement, with a 40.46 per cent chance of relegation compared to Portsmouth’s 40.02.