How will last season’s Premier League rejects fare in the Championship, which finally kicks off this Friday evening?

Raising the curtain on the new season are Sunderland and Derby, who face-off at 7.45pm on Sky Sports. The Black Cats endured a truly dire top flight campaign in 2016/17, finishing in 20th place with just 24 points. To make matters worse, they’ve lost their lone bright spot, Jermain Defoe, to Bournemouth AND are still helmed by David Moyes (reminder: he was Man United manager just 3 years ago). They’re not even fancied to do well in the Championship, with Spreadex offering a mid-table suggesting Season Points spread of only 62-64.

Despite a 7 game winning streak at the end of 2016, Derby ended up in a disappointing 9th last season, burning through 3 managers in the process. Gary Rowett is still in charge – for the time being at least – and the Rams could be in the mix for one of the play-off places, at a Season Points spread of 69.5-71.5. As for Friday’s match, it’s just too close to call, with Spreadex offering a choice Sunderland/Derby Goal Supremacy spread of -0.1-0.1 alongside a Total Goals spread of 2.3-2.5.

Moving to Saturday evening and Hull return to the Championship with a trip to Aston Villa at 5.30pm on Sky Sports. Though they finished in 18th place, the Tigers actually had the worst defence in the Premier League last year, conceding a ludicrous 80 goals in 38 games. If those leaks aren’t filled then there’s little chance of Hull bouncing straight back into the top flight, though with a manager whose only experience in Russia, they may struggle regardless. Their Season Points spread reflects what could be a difficult readjustment, Hull at just 64.5-66.5 (that would have left them in 10th place last season).

While Villa were pretty poor 2016/17, coming nowhere near to promotion after finishing in 13th place, that could all be different this time out. Steve Bruce’s side are joint second favourites to win the league at the same 7/1 as Fulham – only Middlesbrough sit ahead at 6/1 – and have a healthy Season Points spread of 72.5-74.5. They’re also fancied in their opening game, Spreadex offering an Aston Villa/Hull Goal Supremacy spread of 0.35-0.55 alongside a Total Goals spread of 2.2-2.4.

Finally Sunday afternoon sees League One runners-up Bolton host Leeds at 4.30pm on Sky Sports. Back in the Championship after just one season, the Wanderers are now hoping to reach the Premier League for the first time since 2012. It may never get beyond a dream, however, since Spreadex have them pegged for potential relegation with a meagre Season Points spread of 51-53.

Leeds will feel a bit gutted about how last season turned out. With 4 weeks to go they were still in the play-off mix, sitting pretty in 5th place; cut to a month later and, a failure to pick up a win in their final 5 matches left them in 7th, 5 points behind Fulham. United are looking at a similar finish this season, at a Season Points spread of 65-67 with an outsider’s 16/1 to win the Championship. As for Sunday, Spreadex are offering a fairly narrow Leeds/Bolton (h) Goal Supremacy spread of 0-0.2 alongside a Total Goals spread of 2.3-2.5.