Watford vs Middlesbrough Betting Tips & Predictions (Championship - 11.9.2020)

After relegation to the Championship Watford kick off their campaign against Middlesbrough on Friday night in the opening game of the English domestic season.

The Hornets will be looking to bounce straight back to the top flight and face a Middlesbrough side who certainly underachieved last season and have a point to prove themselves.

The bookies have got their favourites, but here’s who we are backing with our Watford v Middlesbrough betting preview...
 
QuinnBet No Deposit Free Bets
UK customers get £1 no deposit free bet + 50% money back
Irish customers get €10 no deposit bonus for sport betting & casino

When is Watford v Middlesbrough? 

The Watford v Middlesbrough fixture is the first game of the Championship season and is live on Sky Sports on Friday evening with a 7.45pm kick off.

It will take place behind closed doors at Vicarage Road, with it unclear as to when fans will be able to return to stadia in the Championship.

• Friday, September 11, 2020 - 7.45pm: Watford v Middlesbrough

Who is the Watford v Middlesbrough favourite? 

Watford are among the favourites for promotion in the Championship, priced at 2/1 to go up at the end of the season with bet365, so it’s perhaps no surprise to see they are favourites for this one.

BetVictor are pricing them at 9/10 to get the win, with Boro priced at 3/1. The draw can be backed at 12/5.

Watford have done a good bit of business in bringing Glenn Murray to the club on loan and his finishing could cause big problems for opposition across the season. He’s 4/1 to score first, although Troy Deeney is favourite to get on the scoresheet first priced at 10/3.

Head-to-Head  

The sides are no strangers to each other having met many times down the years, and it’s a relatively close contest between the two.

The last time the sides met was in the Premier League during the 2016/17 season, when Watford got the better of Boro at the Riverside before a draw at Vicarage Road in a 0-0 game.

It’s unlikely there will be no goals this time, and it’s likely Watford will extend their unbeaten run against the North East side to eight games.

Middlesbrough last beat Watford way back in 2012, and overall have won 14 of 38 ties, with Watford enjoying 16 wins and eight draws.

It’s a fixture that hasn’t seen more than two goals in the last five meetings and a 1-1 Draw could be one worth backing, priced at 6/1 with BetVictor, particularly as there’s still plenty of Premier League quality in the home side.

Our Watford v Middlesbrough Predictions   

It was perhaps the constant shuffling of managers which cost Watford dearly last year so they’ll be looking to get off to a good start and settle into life in the Championship. A win would certainly help with that, but Neil Warnock won’t hand over a win easily.

That said, with the likes of Deeney, Murray, Andre Gray and plenty more attacking threat it couldn’t get much harder for him.

A Middlesbrough or Draw Double Chance at 9/10 would be our bet on this one with BetVictor, while a draw either 1-1 or 2-2 could also be worth a punt.