After a long summer of no major men’s football tournament, we can all breathe a sigh of relief as football is back this weekend! No, the Premier League isn’t back for another week, but the biggest ticket in town – promotion to the Premier League – is back to take centre stage for the whole weekend.

Beginning with a Friday night fixture under the lights to detail Sheffield Wednesday’s return to the second tier of English football after being promoted from League One, we have a full slate of fixtures to look forward to. This also means, we will have a number of free bet offers and enhanced odds available from the best football betting sites around.

Two teams new to the Championship kick things off Friday August 4, as Sheffield Wednesday – newly promoted – take on one of last season’s relegated Premier League teams in Southampton at Hillsborough. If the atmosphere for Wednesday’s League One play-off semi-final against Peterborough is anything to go by, we should be in for a loud evening in South Yorkshire.

Given Southampton’s status as a recent Premier League club, they are likely to be seen as among the favourites to be promoted back come the end of the season with most UK betting sites. As such, you can expect the Saints to be slight favourites for this game with most betting apps despite being the away team. As always, make sure you’re on the lookout for the different betting sign-up offers that will be available in the lead up to this opening weekend. Here are some of our favourites:

Championship Free Bets

The Championship provides three chances to join the richest competition in the world, the Premier League, which leads this to being among the most competitive leagues around. This season is likely to be no different, with as many as 16 teams currently priced in single figures to finish in the top three.

However, in the first weekend, anything can happen. Therefore, it pays to make sure you keep in touch with the different betting offers that are available for signing up before the games kick off to give you a risk-free shot at winning some cash.

More Betting Offers for Championship Opening Weekend

Championship Betting Odds

Before the season kicks off, the fans of all 24 teams will have at least some optimism on potential success this season, even if that is shown to be unfounded after a few weeks. But with opening weekend here, now is the time to find the best odds on your team doing well this season.

Betting on the action this weekend with the best acca insurance betting sites can ensure that you will keep your stake if only one of your choices is incorrect. We’ve got the latest odds on all matches right here:

Championship Opening Weekend Enhanced Odds

As well as traditional match result, handicap betting and many other markets, there will also be a huge number of enhanced betting offers available for the football this weekend. If there’s a result or a match outcome you’re sure on but can find enhanced odds on that happening, then you are sure to be happy with what we have found so far.

bet365 Enhanced Odds

Southampton come into the game as slight favourites, but given some of the departures they have faced already this summer, it is sure to be an open game. 

bet365 is offering 6/1 from 11/2 on Southampton to win, both teams to score and over 7 total corners.

William Hill Enhanced Odds

It is expected to be a raucous atmosphere at Hillsborough, which should help make it an open and enjoyable game for the neutral. The Championship has been known for his high scoring games in the recent past and this could get things going early.

William Hill is offering evens from 2/5 on a goal to be scored in the first half.

BoyleSports Enhanced Odds

It is not just Friday night that we are focused on, and neither are the best bookies. BoyleSports has got a tasty looking treble to enjoy for Saturday’s 3pm kick offs.

BoyleSports is offering 9/2 from 3/1 on Norwich, Stoke and Swansea all to win.