Sunderland are rated as 8/1 shots for promotion by the bookies after a solid start to the Championship campaign. With a third of the season gone, the Black Cats sit sixth in the table - seven places and six points ahead of their situation at this stage last term, when they went on to reach the play-offs.

Bookies on odds comparison site Oddschecker are offering an average of 8/1 on Tony Mowbray's men winning promotion to the Premier League, which implies an 11 percent chance of success. Sunderland are ranked as seventh-favourites to win promotion, and it is no surprise that league leaders Leicester City are way out in front in the betting market.

Enzo Maresca's Foxes are 1/8 to be promoted, which equates to an 89 percent chance. Kieran McKenna's Ipswich Town are second in the table, level on points with Leicester, and they are ranked as joint-second favourites in the promotion race at odds of 8/13, giving them a 62 percent implied chance.

Daniel Farke's Leeds United sit third in the table, eight points behind Ipswich, but are given the same odds and same percentage chance as the Tractor Boys. Fourth-placed Southampton, under Russell Martin, are fourth-favourites according to the bookies at 2/1, which gives them a 33 percent chance.

Michael Carrick's Middlesbrough currently sit tenth in the league table but are considered fifth favourites for promotion at 11/2, giving them a 15 percent chance. Seventh placed West Brom, under Carlos Corberan, are next in line at 7/1, which equates to a 12 percent chance, with Sunderland next in line.

Championship promotion odds after 16 games

Leicester City 1/8 (88.9 percent implied chance)

Ipswich Town 8/13 (61.9 percent)

Leeds United (8/13 (61.9 percent)

Southampton 2/1 (33.3 percent)

Middlesbrough 11/2 (15.4 percent)

West Bromwich Albion 7/1 (12.5 percent)

Sunderland 8/1 (11.1 percent)

Hull City 16/1 (5.9 percent)

Preston North End 20/1 (4.8 percent)

Watford 20/1 (4.8 percent)