Revealed: Supercomputer predicts Wolves and West Brom promotion fate

Wolves have been tipped to narrowly miss out on automatic promotion to the Premier League, while West Brom are predicted to secure a place in the Championship's newly expanded play-offs.

Opta's supercomputer has predicted the final 2026/27 Championship table following the opening weeks of the new campaign, with both Black Country clubs expected to be in contention for promotion.

Wolves are forecast to finish third with 75 points, just one point behind second-placed Middlesbrough, while Albion are tipped to finish seventh with 70 points.

Under the Championship's new play-off format, which sees the competition expanded from four teams to six, both clubs would have an opportunity to secure promotion to the Premier League.

The predictions, published by GiveMeSport and based on Opta's projections as of September 12, also suggest Wolves and Albion could finish just five points apart in the final standings.

Wolves tipped to narrowly miss out on automatic promotion

Following their relegation from the Premier League last season, Wolves are hoping to bounce straight back to the top flight at the first attempt.

However, despite boasting a squad containing a mixture of experienced players and emerging talent, the supercomputer predicts they will fall agonisingly short of the automatic promotion places.

Wolves are expected to finish third with 75 points, behind Middlesbrough on 76 and Championship title favourites West Ham United on 80.

That would leave the Molineux club facing the uncertainty of the play-offs as they attempt to secure an immediate return to the Premier League.

Under the new format, Wolves would advance directly to the two-legged play-off semi-finals, avoiding the additional eliminator round involving the teams finishing fifth to eighth.

The forecast also suggests Wolves will finish comfortably ahead of fellow relegated side Burnley, who are predicted to end the campaign in 14th place with 60 points.

Southampton are tipped to finish fourth on 74 points, just one behind Wolves, while Millwall are predicted to complete the top five with 71 points.

West Brom tipped for play-off place under new format

For Albion, the supercomputer is predicting a tightly contested finish in the race for promotion.

The Baggies are tipped to end the season seventh with 70 points, level with sixth-placed Norwich City and just one point behind Millwall in fifth.

Under the previous Championship play-off format, such a finish would have seen Albion miss out on the opportunity to compete for promotion.

However, the expansion of the competition means seventh place would now be enough to secure a play-off spot.

If the supercomputer's forecast proves accurate, Albion would face Norwich City away in a one-off eliminator, with the winner progressing to the two-legged semi-finals.

It would give the Baggies an additional route to the Premier League despite finishing outside the Championship's traditional top six.

The projections also suggest Albion could face competition from Swansea City, who are predicted to finish eighth with 69 points, just one behind the Baggies.

Birmingham City, meanwhile, are tipped to finish ninth with 65 points, five behind Albion and outside the expanded play-off places.

The forecast raises the possibility of both Black Country clubs being involved in the promotion battle at the end of the campaign, with Wolves and Albion potentially meeting in the play-offs.