Predictions - The Championship.

The Championship, often labelled as the worlds most unpredictable league. Here's our attempt at doing just that...

Top 6.

1. QPR

2. Wigan

3. Reading

4. Nottingham Forest

5. Bolton

6. Watford

QPR are perhaps the most obvious choice to be champions or at least promotion but there's a reason for that. 'The Redknapp Factor' is a big reason why R's should be successful this season. Without doubt Harry is one of the most experienced and sought after managers in the country never mind in the Championship and if he gets his players onside like he usually does then QPR can look ahead rather than back at last season's disastrous Premier League campaign. Add to this the experience of recently being promoted out of the second tier and still having several Premier League quality players on their books, anything less than promotion is unthinkable.

Many of the factors mentioned above also come into play when predicting promotion/play off places for Wigan, Reading, Forest, Bolton and Watford. Wigan have another quality manager in Owen Coyle, he may have something to prove after an unremarkable spell at Bolton but given the squad he has inherited at Wigan along with some tasty looking additions I wouldn't bet against them. After all, Dave Whelan hasn't made many bad managerial appointments has he?

Forest, Bolton and Watford and are all teams who have money to spend and look to play "the right way". The difference this year for Forest and Bolton could be having a settled manager/club from the start of the season with both managers having had plenty of time now to stamp their identity on the team which sometimes can take more than one season especially working with someone else's players. Watford were without doubt one of the most exciting teams in the country last season (I had them on nearly every "both teams to score" bet coupon!) They have now signed the majority of last season's loanees from Udinese and having already had a year together there's no reason they can't at least match last season's exploits.

Reading are yet another side who play attractive football (noticing a theme here!). They have all the positives listed above, a manager who is popular with his players and who has recently done well in the Premier League, players with Premier League quality and some who know what it takes to win promotion. Again they also have the money to spend on the right kind of players.

Bottom 3.

22. Barnsley

23. Doncaster Rovers

24. Yeovil

Unfortunately money and budget is the most obvious factor when predicting anything in football and Yeovil, Barnsley and Doncaster are nowhere near the top in this respect so it's no coincidence we have tipped these three to go down. Barnsley are usually there or thereabouts but can take heart from a superb run to keep them up last season. This experience could be vital and who knows if they carry that form into this season they could be looking higher up the table. The simple reason Yeovil and Doncaster have been tipped is they are newly promoted and this would usually suggest a struggle, particularly in the do-or-die Championship. Again budgets aren't going to be huge for these two and while a surprise is always possible we feel they are the most likely to face the drop.

Top Goalscorer. 

Grant Holt - Wigan

The bookies are tipping Jordan Rhodes to top the scoring chart this year (as are a few of our blogging team) but as a whole we think Grant Holt will judge edge the tally. At Wigan Holt will be able to thrive off the service from their key play makers and if his track record at past clubs is anything to go by the goal will flow naturally. 

Agree? Disagree? Let us know here or on twitter.

Predictions By The Whole Team, Reasoning by @Chrish5244 & @ItsBizNews