Huddersfield vs. Nottingham Forest Prediction and Pick – 2022 Championship Play-Off Final

Dubbed the “richest game in soccer” because of the financial incentives on offer, the Championship play-off final is always a huge occasion.

On Sunday, May 29, Huddersfield Town and Nottingham Forest will go head-to-head at London’s iconic Wembley Stadium. The prize? A place in the English Premier League. It doesn’t get much bigger than that!

This Championship play-off final betting preview contains odds, analysis, my prediction, and a free pick for Sunday’s showdown. First, let’s check out the odds for Huddersfield vs. Nottingham Forest.

If the Championship play-off final odds at Betway are to be believed, Nottingham Forest (2.15) is the frontrunner to secure promotion. However, the high price for the Forest win suggests that Huddersfield (3.40) is no pushover.

Betway also gives us the chance to back either team to be promoted. Essentially, this market will remain active if the game goes to extra-time and penalties. The odds are lower, but you get the added insurance.

It’s time to analyze the recent head-to-head record of Huddersfield vs. Nottingham Forest.

As you can see, Huddersfield has enjoyed plenty of success against Forest in recent years. The Terries have won six of the last ten meetings between the teams in all competitions, with Forest picking up four wins in that time.

Huddersfield and Forest have already faced each other on three occasions this season – twice in the league and once in the FA Cup. Forest won 2-0 at Huddersfield back in September, while the Terries beat Forest 1-0 at the City Ground in December.

In the previous meeting, Forest claimed a 2-1 victory over Huddersfield in the FA Cup. Who will come out on top this time around? Let’s take a closer look at the teams.

The Terriers head into the play-off final in excellent form, having lost just two of their last 28 Championship games. That tells you everything you need to know about the team’s resilience.

Not only did Carlos Corberan’s men win six of their final seven regular-season games, but they also won ten of their final 14. As a result, they finished third in the table – six points outside the automatic promotion places and two points ahead of Forest.

Rhodes has scored plenty of important goals this season, but he is not Huddersfield’s main man in attack. Danny Ward has netted 14 goals, while Sorba Thomas has racked up 16 assists.

At the opposite end of the field, Lee Nicholls has starred between the sticks. On-loan Chelsea center-back Levi Colwill has been immense, too, meaning Forest could struggle to break Huddersfield down.

When Forest lost six of their first seven games this season, promotion to the Premier League was a million miles away. But when Steve Cooper replaced Chirs Hughton in the City Ground hot seat, everything changed.

It is no exaggeration to say that Cooper has completely transformed the entire club. All of a sudden, the Tricky Trees find themselves just one win away from returning to the EPL for the first time in 23 years.

Thanks to Brice Samba’s penalty shootout heroics, Forest dispatched Sheffield United in the play-off semi-finals. The goalkeeper saved three of the Blades’ five penalties to send his side to Wembley.

Not only are the Reds strong in defense, but they are also devastating in attack. Brennan Johnson has bagged 19 goals and nine assists this season, while Philip Zinckernagel has contributed seven goals and ten assists.

Let’s not forget that the Tricky Trees are two-time European Cup winners. Granted, those triumphs came in 1979 and 1980. But it feels like the sleeping giant is ready to awaken.

If the recent meetings between Huddersfield and Forest are anything to go by, Sunday’s clash is destined to be a tight affair. Both managers are known for being highly meticulous, so we should see an intriguing tactical battle.

The Tricky Trees have gained a reputation as one of the best counter-attacking teams in the Championship. However, the Terriers are notoriously difficult to break down. This clash of styles could lead to a cagey encounter.

At the end of the day, the team that isn’t fazed by the occasion should come out on top. With so much at stake on Sunday, I wouldn’t be surprised if the final went to extra-time – and possibly even penalties!

Having taken everything into consideration, the draw feels like the best bet for the Championship play-off final. Both sides will be desperate to avoid defeat on Sunday, so I can see the showdown going the distance.

That said, I think Forest will have the edge if the game goes to penalties. Samba’s performance in the semi-finals was one of the most dominant goalkeeping displays I’ve ever seen in a penalty shootout.