Championship Football - Norwich vs Watford betting preview

The 2010-2011 Championship season kicks off tonight in East Anglia as newly-promoted Norwich take on relegation candidates Watford at Carrow Road. The hosts will be hoping to get off to a better start this year than they did last term as they were crushed 7-1 by Colchester. However, they recovered to comfortably win League One and after some good transfer business this summer they will fancy themselves against a Watford side who have only one win in their last eighteen matches.

The bookmakers believe Norwich should have too much for their opponents today and make them 5/6 (bet £60 to win £50 profit) to win today, with the draw at 5/2 and Watford available at 4/1 on Betfair.

Watford finished their season on a high, winning their last two games 3-0 and 4-0, but could only manage to finish 16th after an inconsistent year. They have lost several players over the summer in an attempt to improve their financial situation and are now 2/1 second-favourites for relegation and good have a long, hard campaign ahead of them.

A 1-1 draw has been made the favourite score for the game at 13/2 with William Hill, followed by 1-0 to Norwich at 7/1 on Betfair. 2-0 is 8/1 with Bet 365 and Sky Bet and Coral offer 10/1 that the match finishes goalless. A 1-0 surprise win for Watford is slightly longer at 11/1 with Paddy Power and Extrabet, while 2-0 is as long as 28/1 with Boylesports.

Grat Holt had a magnificent season in League One last season, scoring 24 league goals, and the former Shrewsbury man is 9/2 favourite with most layers to open the scoring tonight, followed by promising new young team-mate Simeon Jackson at 11/2 with Betfred and Paddy Power. Watford`s best hope of breaking the deadlock is seen to be Danny Graham, who is 8/1 with Ladbrokes.

Tonight`s hosts are 23/10 on Betfair to lead at both half-time and full-time and 4/1 on the exchange to win after drawing at half-time. Coral offer 5/1 that both halves are drawn and Watford/Watford is 8/1 with Boylesports.

Norwich are 18/1 with Stan James and Bodog to win the Championship this season and are expected to at least challenge for a play-off place. Watford, however, will probably struggle to stay out of the bottom three, with 209/1 available on Betfair that they win the league.

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