Sheffield Wednesday vs Southampton predictions: Championship tips and odds

Our betting expert has three Sheffield Wednesday vs Southampton tips for the Championship opener at Hillsborough on Friday (8pm BST kick-off). Scroll down to see the analysis behind his selections.

Sheffield Wednesday vs Southampton betting tips

• Southampton to win @ 13/10 with Betfred
• Che Adams to score and over 3.5 Southampton corners #PickYourPunt @ 11/4 with Betfred
• Southampton to win, Che Adams to score anytime and Barry Bannan to be carded @ 12/1 with Betfred

Odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.

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Saints’ quality should show

The first game of the new Championship season takes place as relegated Southampton make the trip to the newly promoted Sheffield Wednesday.

Saints are among the favourites for promotion and have a new manager, former Swansea City boss Russell Martin, while the Owls are back in the second tier after a two-year stint in League One.

These teams were playing two divisions apart last term and have very different aspirations for the campaign ahead.

Southampton will expect to secure a top-six finish at the very least, while Wednesday’s main priority is ensuring they do not suffer an immediate return to League One – even if they have the quality to aim higher than that.

Saints’ decision to bring in Martin looks a shrewd move after his previous success in south Wales. He knows this league inside out and the St Mary’s side have largely managed to keep their squad intact.

It is always hard to judge how a team will react to relegation, and Wednesday should go into the season with some momentum after promotion.

However, when comparing the two squads there is clearly more quality in the visitors’ line-up, so at an odds-against price they look backable in the standard match-betting market.

Sheffield Wednesday vs Southampton tip 1: Southampton to win @ 13/10 with Betfred

Adams a proven scorer in this division

Che Adams managed a modest five goals in 28 games in the Premier League for Southampton last season, but did strike five times in as many games in the League Cup – and the drop down to the Championship should work in his favour when it comes to his scoring tally.

The Scotland international hit 22 goals in 46 games for a poor Birmingham City side who finished in 17th spot the last time he was in this league in 2018-19, and he could be a contender to finish as the division’s top scorer now he is in a strong Saints squad.

Adams is 15/8 to score anytime, but for a bit more value an Adams goal and over 3.5 Southampton corners at 11/4 in the #PickYourPunt market stands out.

The Owls conceded at least four corners in three of their four final League One games before the play-offs last season, despite dominating in those fixtures, so it seems reasonable to suggest Saints can win over 3.5.

Sheffield Wednesday vs Southampton tip 2: Che Adams to score and over 3.5 Southampton corners #PickYourPunt @ 11/4 with Betfred

Add a Bannan card for a 12/1 bet builder

Southampton should be expected to win and Adams looks a strong candidate for an anytime goal, so combining those two selections with a Barry Bannan card for a 12/1 bet builder with Betfred is an option for more ambitious punters.

Bannan picked up seven yellow cards in 44 league games last season, and in his final three campaigns in the Championship during Wednesday’s previous stint in the second tier he was carded 31 times. So the midfielder looks a real contender for a caution in Friday’s Championship curtain-raiser.

Sheffield Wednesday vs Southampton tip 3: Southampton to win, Che Adams to score anytime and Barry Bannan to be carded @ 12/1 with Betfred

Sheffield Wednesday vs Southampton odds

Odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.