The 2026-27 EFL Championship season gets underway Friday afternoon as the Wolverhampton Wanderers host the Blackburn Rovers at Molineux Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. ET, with Wolverhampton beginning their push for an immediate return to the Premier League.
Wolverhampton is back in the second tier of English soccer for the first time since their promotion-winning 2017-18 campaign following relegation from the Premier League last season. The club enters the new year under César Peixoto, who will take charge in his first league match after opening his Wolves tenure with a 3-0 Carabao Cup victory over Port Vale last week. Adam Armstrong, André and Fernando López each found the back of the net in that win.
Wolverhampton also enters the new campaign following a strong offseason that added experience to a squad looking to make an immediate push for promotion. Veteran defender Kieran Trippier has joined the club, while Raúl Jiménez is back at Molineux and could make his return in Friday’s opener.
Blackburn arrives in the West Midlands looking for a fresh start of its own. The club finished 20th in the Championship last season and have brought Tony Mowbray back for a second spell in charge after he previously managed the club from 2017-2022. Blackburn had a relatively quiet summer in the transfer market, putting added importance on improvement from the players already in the squad.
Blackburn also began their competitive season with a victory, rallying for a 2-1 win over Burton Albion in the Carabao Cup. Andri Gudjohnsen and Jayden Fevrier scored inside the final 10 minutes to overturn a late deficit and send Blackburn into the next round.
Wolverhampton arrives at Friday’s match with an unbeaten run of nine matches against Rovers across all competitions, including a 2-0 FA Cup victory at Ewood Park in their most recent meeting in February 2025.
Wolves vs. Blackburn Rovers Odds
Wolves are sizeable favorites on the 3-way moneyline at Hard Rock Bet for Friday’s Championship opener:
- Wolverhampton Wanderers (-190)
- Draw (+300)
- Blackburn Rovers (+475)
Betting Splits at Hard Rock Bet
Early action at Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook is overwhelmingly tilted toward the home side:
- Wolves have pulled in 95.1% of all moneyline bets and an even larger 95.3% share of the money.
- Blackburn Rovers account for just 4.1% of the tickets, with those wagers representing 3.7% of the handle.
- The draw has received the least support of the three outcomes, taking in 0.8% of bets and 1% of the money.
Top 5 Most-Bet Player Props
Wolves players occupy all five spots among the most popular player props for Friday’s matchup:
- Mateus Mane – Over 0.5 Shots on Target
- Raúl Jiménez – Over 0.5 Shots on Target
- Adam Armstrong – Over 0.5 Shots on Target
- Raúl Jiménez – Over 1.5 Shots on Target
- Raúl Jiménez – To Score or Assist
Wolves vs. Blackburn Rovers Match Info
- 📍 Location: Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton, England
- 📅 Date: Friday, August 14
- ⏰ Start Time: 3 p.m. ET
- 📺 Where to Watch: CBS Sports Network/Paramount+
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