There will be plenty of online betting action this weekend in the Championship as domestic football returns in earnest after the latest international break. In this betting blog we preview the weekend’s action featuring our eight partner clubs in the second tier with week 16 of the season, including several Spreadex derbies!

PLYMOUTH v WATFORD, FRIDAY 8PM

Partner club Watford kick off the action on Friday night as they visit Wayne Rooney's Plymouth side, with the Hornets looking to find some more consistency after an up-and-down run of wins and losses with very few draws, although this has left them in a fairly strong position in the league table, currently sat in the final play-off position.

Meanwhile, Plymouth have been struggling to make an impact and Rooney's side currently sit down in 18th, with only three victories in their last ten matches. Watford will be confident of coming away with a win here but will need to arrest their habit of involvement in high-scoring affairs, having scored 23 but conceded 22.

An away win can be backed at 6/5 and we have some boosted bets this evening as well with Vakoun Bayo 8/5 from 11/10 to hit the back of the net tonight and Watford currently 9/1 to grab a 2-1 win. 

BLACKBURN ROVERS v PORTSMOUTH, SATURDAY 3PM

Rovers grabbed a vital victory in their last league fixture after a rocky run of form including three consecutive defeats, and they will be looking to resume the strong momentum as they host Portsmouth, who currently occupy the penultimate place in the table and have only secured two victories in the entire campaign.

Blackburn still sit in a fairly healthy ninth position in the table and are just three points behind the final play-off place, so a strong run of results can provide a strong platform for potential success this season. A Rovers win here can be backed at 4/6, with the draw at 14/5 and Portsmouth at 15/4. Blackburn have a Supremacy spread of 0.7 - 0.9 ahead of this one.

SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY v CARDIFF CITY, SATURDAY 3PM

A Spreadex Derby will take place at Hillsborough as Sheff Wednesday will host Cardiff, with both sides having had similar fortunes so far this season. Wednesday sit in 15th with Cardiff in 22nd but both sides have very similar records, with three draws each and an additional win for Wednesday seeing them sitting seven places ahead of the visitors, which shows how quickly one result can propel a side up the table - or leave them in relegation trouble.

In terms of the H2H, both sides have held their own in the last five meetings, with three wins for Sheff Wednesday and two for Cardiff. The last meeting here at Hillsborough occured back in January in the FA Cup and saw a massive 4-0 drubbing for the home side, but the previous four league meetings saw the spoils shared, although Cardiff came out victorious in the most recent two.

Four of the last five have seen at least three total goals scored, and Over 3.5 goals is available here at 12/5. In terms of the match odds on the spreads, the home side begin as favourites with a Supremacy of 0.4 - 0.6.

PRESTON NORTH END v DERBY, SATURDAY 3PM

Preston face a home fixture against Derby and will be looking to secure a vital win after a very patchy run of form which has seen them draw four and win just two of their last ten matches, which has left them sitting nearer the relegation zone than the top half. Interestingly, Derby have had an identical run of form in their previous ten, albeit not in identical order.

That suggests a close and hard-fought match is to be expected here, and the home side will be looking to make the most of the Deepdale fans' backing to get them across the line and grab three crucial points.

A home win is available at 23/20 whilst Derby or the Draw are both 23/10. Total Goals are at 2.3 - 2.5 on the spreads whilst Total Goal Minutes are at 116 - 126.

MILLWALL v SUNDERLAND, SATURDAY 3PM

The penultimate match in our preview is another Spreadex Derby as principal partners Sunderland travel down to London to take on Millwall, with the Black Cats still holding on to top spot in the table despite a slight dip in form which has seen them come away with three consecutive draws. The Lions, meanwhile, have been in cracking form themselves and have won four of their last five, tasting defeat just once in their last ten.

The Black Cats have drifted slightly in the outright betting odds to win the title, with a fixed odds price of 6/1 and a points spread of 76.25 - 77.75. In terms of promotion, Sunderland are at 9/5 while Millwall have risen to a price of 15/2.

Ahead of this one though, Sunderland begin as underdogs on the spreads with a Millwall Supremacy of 0.15 - 0.35. On the fixed odds, the home side are at 13/10 with Sunderland at 11/5 and the draw at 21/10. Three of the last five H2H meetings have seen a 1-1 draw result, and that result can be backed again here at 5/1, with BTTS at 10/11.

WEST BROM v NORWICH, SATURDAY 3PM

Finally, the other Spreadex Derby of the weekend sees West Brom host Norwich at The Hawthorns, with both sides facing some struggles of late. The Baggies claimed three points in their latest league fixture but before that went on an incredible run of six consecutive league draws which has left them rueing missed opportunities despite only having lost two matches all season and still sitting in a healthy position of fifth.

Meanwhile, Norwich have been struggling badly of late and the Canaries have lost three in a row now, which followed a run of three consecutive draws. This has left them in 14th in the table, but a win here could give them a kick-start to salvage their season and boost hopes of a strong run that could push them nearer the promotion picture.

In terms of the match odds, West Brom are favoured at 0.5 - 0.7 on the Supremacy, with the fixed odds having the home side at 17/20, the draw at 5/2 and Norwich at 3/1. However, the Canaries defeated the Baggies 2-0 in the most recent H2H fixture, with the first goal coming early in the 13th minute. 1st Match Goal is available at 36 - 39 here, with 1st Norwich Goal at 59.5 - 62.5.

Prices subject to fluctuation. Please remember that when spread betting, losses may exceed deposit.