Middlesbrough Favourites in EFL Championship Playoff Final Following Southampton Expulsion
With Hull City replacing the expelled Southampton, Middlesbrough enter Saturday’s match as -120 favourites, backed by SportsLine’s Jon Eimer.
Middlesbrough are set to face Hull City in the EFL Championship playoff final at Wembley Stadium on Saturday, May 23, in a contest that will determine the second team promoted to the 2026-27 English Premier League. The fixture was fundamentally altered after Southampton was expelled from the final for breaching good faith rules by spying on Middlesbrough.
The disciplinary proceedings confirmed that Southampton admitted to sending analyst intern William Salt to Middlesbrough’s training ground to gather tactical intelligence. The club’s appeal against the expulsion was rejected, and Middlesbrough were not listed as an 'interested party' in the proceedings, which limited their ability to appeal the outcome directly.
Hull City, who finished sixth in the league, reached the final as Southampton’s replacement. SportsLine soccer expert Jon Eimer, who finished 2023 as the platform’s top soccer expert, has released predictions backing Middlesbrough to defeat Hull City. Eimer noted that Middlesbrough possessed the second-best defence in the league during the 2026 season, trailing only Coventry City.
Current betting odds at DraftKings Sportsbook list Middlesbrough as -120 favourites on the 90-minute money line, with Hull City priced at +330 underdogs. A draw in regular time is priced at +265, while the total goals line is set at 2.5, with the over at +105 and the under at -125.
The match carries significant financial implications, often referred to as the "$200 million match" due to the revenue from television deals, sponsorships, and prize money associated with Premier League status. Kickoff is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. ET, with streaming available on Paramount+.
