Huddersfield Town vs Reading: Bookie Watch

A theme of this fantastic campaign so far has been how often Reading have upset the odds and win games that not many pundits or bookies gave them a chance in. Indeed, the Royals have surprised so often that they have been the most profitable team to back this season by quite some distance.

But how are the bookmakers predicting Monday's Championship play-off final? We've selected a couple of the key markets...

All odds are the best available and taken from Oddschecker.com on Saturday 27th May. Please remember you must be at least 18 years old to bet and please do gamble responsibly.

Who will earn promotion?

Reading have once again been given the 'underdog' label by the bookies in this one, and are 6/5 to earn promotion to the Premier League for the first time. Meanwhile, Huddersfield are priced at 8/11.

Considering the Royals are on better form than the Terriers and defeated the supposed favourites in the semi-final, you might argue that these odds are harsh. But at the same time, I've already mentioned how we've continually defied the bookmakers this season and I'm sure Jaap Stam and the players won't care one bit that they are not the favourites.

How will the game be decided?

Reading managed to get past Fulham in the second leg of the semi-final in 90 minutes, but Huddersfield's tie with Sheffield Wednesday went all the way to penalties. How long will the knife be on edge at Wembley?

The bookies say that Huddersfield to win in 90 minutes is the most likely outcome at 29/20. There are then odds of 5/2 for Reading to win in 90 minutes.

If you think that extra-time will be required then Huddersfield are 9/1 to come out on top after 120 minutes, with Reading at 12/1. Both sides are at 12/1 to win on penalties.

Despite both games between the two sides this season being very close, play-off history suggests that the game will likely be concluded in normal time. Just one of the previous 14 finals have gone beyond 90 minutes, when Crystal Palace beat Watford 1-0 after extra-time in 2013, whilst the showpiece has not gone to penalties since 2002 when Birmingham City overcame Norwich.

What will the score be?*

*after 90 minutes

Both of the games between the teams in the regular Championship season finished 1-0 and if you think this will be the case again, then you'll find odds of 13/2 for Huddersfield to win by this scoreline or 9/1 for Reading to win by this scoreline.

According to the bookmakers, a 1-1 draw after 90 minutes is the most likely outcome at odds of 11/2. A goalless draw to take it to extra-time is 15/2. These low-scoring affairs may well be your best bets.

Of course our only previous win at Wembley came in the Simod Cup in 1988, when we overcame Luton Town 4-1. You can get the Royals to win by the same scoreline again at as high as 130/1 with 188Bet.

Who will score the first goal?

Incredibly, the top four most likely first goalscorers according to the bookmakers are Huddersfield players - Terriers top scorer Elias Kachunga (11/2), Reading's nemesis Nahki Wells (11/2), Collin Quaner (32/5) and Isaiah Brown (7/1).

Yann Kermorgant has scored more goals than all of those players this season but is only priced at 15/2 to score first, which seems pretty generous. Lewis Grabban is then at 8/1 and Garath McCleary is 44/5.

Roy Beerens netted the winner against Huddersfield at the Madejski Stadium in September, but is only 21/2 to score first at Wembley, largely because he is unlikely to start.

Finally, if you want something a bit 'out there', Jordan Obita has two goals in his last two games and can be found as high as 35/1 to score first. Of course there are question marks over the academy graduate's fitness though.

Do any of those odds take your fancy? A full list can be found here. #gambleaware