Man vs AI: EFL edition | Championship, League One & League Two predictions

Jonathan Victoria • 08 Aug 2024 Features

Looking to do better than the last time…

We’re doing it again. I’m going head-to-head with ChatGPT once more, for the EFL edition. The new campaign is almost upon us, with an exciting year sure to come across the three leagues.

Before we get into it, I have to be honest here and say I’m not the most clued up with the EFL leagues. As a Southampton fan, last season was my first proper experience of Championship football since I properly started following the team (although I’ll probably be getting reacquainted next season).

I’m especially not so knowledgeable in League One and Two. But I feel like I know enough to give some predictions, so to keep things simple, we’re just going to make our picks for the champions of each league, who will get the other promotion spots, and who will, unfortunately, be going down.

I’m ready, ChatGPT is ready, so let’s get into it.

Championship

Champion

ChatGPT

I predict that Norwich City will win the league and be crowned champions. They have a strong squad with plenty of experience in both the Championship and Premier League, and their recent form suggests they have the consistency needed to finish at the top.

Man

Bold answer and I don’t entirely disagree. They made the playoffs last year in sixth place but lost in the semi-finals to a far superior Leeds side.

The problem is, they weren’t ever really on the level of the top four (Leicester, Ipswich, Leeds and Southampton) and I don’t see them making that jump to suddenly be at the top this year.

It’s probably a rather uncontroversial pick from me here and one that most will make, but I’m saying Leeds will win it.

At times last year, they were the strongest side in the league. That win over Leicester at the Foxes' own home late in the season proved that.

Yes, they choked in the Playoff final once again (historically they are terrible in the fixture), but this year I don’t reckon they’ll be put in that position. I think they’ll make light work of the vast majority of opponents and finish at the top.

Promoted

I am completely shameless. Credit: Saints return to the Premier League with Wembley win! 🔴 | Leeds 0-1 Southampton | EFL Highlights (Sky Sports Football, YouTube)

ChatGPT

Alongside Norwich City as the champions, I predict the following for promotion:

• Second Place: Watford. They have a solid squad and the experience needed to secure one of the top two spots.
• Playoff Final Winner: West Bromwich Albion. They have the quality and depth to navigate the playoffs and secure promotion back to the Premier League. 

I predict that West Bromwich Albion will beat Sheffield United in the playoff final. Sheffield United have a strong team capable of reaching the playoffs, but I believe West Brom will edge them out in the final to secure promotion.

Man

Ok, I see we’re already heading down this path then.

They’re not the worst picks, but I think they’re wrong. Everyone’s entitled to their own opinion, even AI (if Skynet is watching, please remember my kind words there). But those picks seem rather outlandish.

I think both may and should have a strong shot and finishing in or at least close to the playoff spots, but I don’t reckon either Watford or West Brom will find themselves back in the Premier League for another few seasons.

I’ll give some credit to West Brom, a playoff appearance once again may be possible. But I don’t think they’ll have the squad to get the second automatic playoff spot or win the playoff final.

My picks are going to be Burnley to get second place, and Norwich to win the playoffs.

Burnley are in that weird space where they are too good for the Championship but not quite strong enough for the Premier League. Norwich were also in that position a couple of years ago, and after a strong campaign last year, I think they may be back on that path again.

As for who the Canaries will beat in the final, I reckon they will face Middlesbrough. Maybe a bit of a rogue choice, but Boro has been in or around the playoffs spot in each of the last three seasons, and I reckon this may be their most successful campaign since their second place 2015/16 season.

I do think there’s merit to the AI’s playoff final answer in Sheffield United being there, but from how weak they looked last year, I just don’t see them being able to bounce back and be in contention this season.

Relegated

ChatGPT

For the EFL Championship, I predict the three teams that will be relegated are:

• Queens Park Rangers (QPR)
• Cardiff City
• Plymouth Argyle

These teams have struggled with consistency and may find it challenging to secure enough points to stay up in the league.

Man

I can certainly agree with QPR and Plymouth. Both suffered last year, Plymouth in particular, so I like those two picks. Cardiff on the other hand is a bit of stretch, but not out the question entirely.

I think I’ll take Plymouth as one of my picks as well. No hate to Wayne Rooney, but he’s not proving to be a very competent manager. I don’t think that appointment will work out, and by the time they realise that I think it’ll be too late for them.

The second team to be relegated in my opinion will be Oxord United. Fair play to them for gaining promotion, but I don’t think they’re ready for the challenge.

The third team relegated will be Portsmouth. I don’t care what anyone has to say, I don’t care if you cry bias, this is my piece and I’m going to take the opportunity to hate when I get it. 

Pompey will have a terrible year, they’ll claim the record for the least amount of points earned in an EFL season, and John Westwood will pick up a ban from his own club for being a bigger disgrace than the team itself. 

I wish you nothing but the worst, Portsmouth.

League One

Credit: The BEST League One goals from the 2023/24 season! 🔥 (Sky Sports Football, YouTube)

Champion

ChatGPT

Birmingham City look strong contender for the League One title.

They've made significant investments in their squad and have a manager with proven Championship experience in John Eustace. Their ambition to return to the second tier is clear, and they have the squad depth and financial backing to challenge for the title.

Man

I’m actually going to just agree with that. Again, I won’t hide the fact that I don’t know much about the league, but Birmingham was unlucky to find themselves relegated from the Championship last year.

They made a few wrong moves - sacking their manager while in a playoff spot for Rooney being the main offence - but they still have a good squad and I don’t think they’ll have a tough time with this new challenge.

Promoted

ChatGPT

• Second place: Bolton Wanderers. Bolton's consistent performance and squad depth make them strong contenders for automatic promotion.
• Playoff final winner: Peterborough United. Peterborough's attacking flair and playoff experience make them strong contenders for promotion.

I predict that Peterborough United will beat Charlton Athletic in the playoff final. Their experience in playoff matches will help them see past Charlton and secure promotion.

Man

I like those two picks and I want to agree with one. In fact, I shall agree that Bolton will get promoted this season, although I think they will do so by winning the playoff final, beating Peterborough in the final. Told you I like the picks.

As solid as the Peterborough pick is, I think they will miss out on promotion yet again, with Huddersfield bouncing straight back up to the Championship, finishing in the second spot.

Relegated

ChatGPT

• Shrewsbury Town: Facing potential challenges and squad depth issues.
• Burton Albion: Could struggle for consistency and goal-scoring.
• Cambridge United: A challenging season could see them in a relegation battle.
• Leyton Orient: Consistency might be an issue despite their potential.

Man

Not getting much in terms of explanations anymore but at least it’s still giving me some answers - although it’s not always right the first time. I have had to get it to reroll its answer as it keeps picking teams who aren’t in the league.

Again, I don’t know a whole lot about the league so I’m going to base my answers on last season. And with that, I almost completely agree with the AI’s choices.

Burton seems very likely to be a relegation candidate, so I’ll say them as well. Same goes with Shrewsbury, who scored the least amount of goals in the league last season.

This is where I’m going to go against the AI as I think Cambridge and Leyton Orient will survive. I’m going to say newly promoted Crawley Town will go straight back down, and I’m going to go with a possibly surprising pick and say Exeter City to be the fourth and final team to go down.

As a side note, and as unoriginal as it is to like the side, my one hope is that Wrexham manage to find their footing quickly and keep themselves in the league. 

I think the step up to League One from League Two is bigger than that of the National League to League Two, so I’m not expecting them to get another straight promotion again this year. 

League Two

Credit: The BEST League Two goals from the 2023/24 season! 😲 (Sky Sports Football, YouTube)

Champion

ChatGPT

Doncaster Rovers are my pick for the 2024/25 League Two champions.

They've shown strong form and ambition, and with a full pre-season under their belt, they could be poised for a title challenge.

Man

On to a league that I really have no knowledge of, and straight away I’m thinking ‘what does a full pre-season have to do with anything?’

Looking at the tables from last year, Doncaster’s not a bad shout at all. Finished in fifth, and missed out on a playoff final place through penalties. Maybe this year could be theirs.

I’m not going to say so though. I’m going to say freshly relegated Cheltenham Town will make their way back to League One as champions. They were the strongest out of the four sides relegated last season, and I think they’ll keep that strength.

Promoted

ChatGPT

• Second place: Milton Keynes Dons. They have a strong squad and a proven track record of success.
• Third place: Carlisle United. With a solid foundation and potential for growth, they could secure automatic promotion.
• Playoff Finalists: Bradford City vs. Salford City
• Playoff Winners: Bradford City.

Man

Would’ve been cool if it put it like that every time I asked this question but thanks for leaving it till last.

I’m going to agree that MK Dons gets one of the automatic promotion spots, but I don’t agree that Carlisle will get the other. They were the worst team relegated from League One last season so I don’t see them getting promoted over either of the others who went down.

I’m going to say Fleetwood Town gain the third automatic playoff spot. They weren’t far off Cheltenham last season which means they also weren’t far off safety, so I think they’ll have the strength to return to the third division.

As for the playoff finalists and winner, I’m going to say Doncaster Rovers make their way to the playoff final, one step more than they achieved last season, but will lose out to AFC Wimbledon, my surprise pick for the fourth and final promotion spot.

Relegated

ChatGPT

• Gillingham: Despite recent improvements, they might still face a battle to stay in League Two.
• AFC Wimbledon: Facing challenges on and off the pitch, they could be in a relegation battle.

Man

That makes me a bit worried about my pick of Wimbledon’s promotion, but then again, the AI also originally said Crawley would get relegated from League Two this season despite them not even being in the league, so can’t take everything it says as gospel.

I don’t think either of those sides will have a problem this year so I’m going with two completely different teams.

I reckon it will be Grimsby Town and newly promoted Bromley who will go down.

I’m picking Grimsby simply because I hate the name of the city, and Bromley because despite having the least amount of losses in the National League last year, they drew too many games which makes me think they scraped by many results, which surely won’t fly in the league above.