Vicarage Road · Referee Farai Hallam, England · Analysis updated 13:17 UTC
Watford vs Preston Prediction, Odds & Statistics
Our Poisson-based model projects 1.45 expected goals for Watford and 0.93 for Preston, a combined total of 2.38. That distribution gives Watford the largest share of the 1X2 market at 49%, with the draw at 27%. Goals markets follow the same shape: 42% for over 2.5 goals and 46% for both teams to score, with 1–0 the single most likely scoreline at 14%. Probabilities are statistical estimates and carry meaningful uncertainty — a 49% favourite still loses or draws a large share of the time.
This match has finished. The figures below are the model's estimate for the fixture, kept on the page for reference and study — they are not a betting tip, and nothing here has been edited after the final whistle.
Model pick
Watford win
49.3% probability
Expected goals
1.45 – 0.93
Model version
poisson-v2
Probabilities are statistical estimates, not guarantees.
Why the model likes this
Each point below is derived from this fixture's own data — recent results, home and away splits, scoring and defensive rates and head-to-head history where it exists. Points only appear when the underlying data supports them.
Watford home form
4 points from their last 5 home matches in our dataset.
Preston away threat
Scored in 2 of their last 4 away fixtures.
Head-to-head goals
Both teams scored in 5 of the last 10 meetings.
Match result (1X2)
Double chance 1X
76%
Double chance 12
73%
Double chance X2
51%
Goals markets
Correct score
- 1–013.5%
- 1–112.5%
- 2–09.8%
- 0–09.3%
- 2–19.0%
Recent form
Watford
- 2026-10-13T18:45:00.000Z · A vs Cardiff · 1-5 (L)
- 2026-10-10T14:00:00.000Z · H vs Burnley · 0-4 (L)
- 2026-09-18T19:00:00.000Z · A vs Bristol City · 0-1 (L)
- 2026-09-12T14:00:00.000Z · H vs Stoke City · 1-2 (L)
- 2026-09-08T18:45:00.000Z · H vs Preston · 2-1 (W)
Preston
- 2026-10-13T19:00:00.000Z · A vs Birmingham · 0-4 (L)
- 2026-10-10T14:00:00.000Z · H vs Millwall · 0-1 (L)
- 2026-09-19T14:00:00.000Z · A vs QPR · 2-2 (D)
- 2026-09-12T14:00:00.000Z · H vs Lincoln · 0-1 (L)
- 2026-09-08T18:45:00.000Z · A vs Watford · 1-2 (L)
Head-to-head
- 2026-09-08T18:45:00.000Z · Watford 2-1 Preston (Championship)
- 2026-02-14T15:00:00.000Z · Watford 2-2 Preston (Championship)
- 2025-11-25T19:45:00.000Z · Watford 1-1 Preston (Championship)
- 2025-01-21T19:45:00.000Z · Watford 1-2 Preston (Championship)
- 2024-10-02T18:45:00.000Z · Watford 0-3 Preston (Championship)
- 2024-04-06T14:00:00.000Z · Watford 0-0 Preston (Championship)
- 2023-12-16T15:00:00.000Z · Watford 5-1 Preston (Championship)
- 2023-03-04T15:00:00.000Z · Watford 0-0 Preston (Championship)
- 2022-08-20T14:00:00.000Z · Watford 0-0 Preston (Championship)
- 2021-02-16T19:00:00.000Z · Watford 1-0 Preston (Championship)
Championship table
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Swansea | 10 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 23 |
| 2 | Middlesbrough | 10 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 21 |
| 3 | West Ham | 10 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 17 | 19 |
| 4 | Birmingham | 10 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 17 |
| 5 | QPR | 10 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 17 |
| 6 | West Brom | 10 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 17 |
| 7 | Southampton | 10 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 11 | 16 |
| 8 | Stoke City | 10 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 16 |
| 9 | Blackburn | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 15 |
| 10 | Wolves | 9 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 14 |
| 11 | Millwall | 10 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 14 |
| 12 | Bristol City | 10 | 4 | 2 | 4 | -2 | 14 |
| 13 | Charlton | 10 | 3 | 5 | 2 | -3 | 14 |
| 14 | Bolton | 10 | 4 | 1 | 5 | -3 | 13 |
| 15 | Sheffield Utd | 10 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 12 |
| 16 | Portsmouth | 9 | 3 | 2 | 4 | -1 | 11 |
| 17 | Wrexham | 10 | 2 | 5 | 3 | -4 | 11 |
| 18 | Lincoln | 10 | 3 | 2 | 5 | -10 | 11 |
| 19 | Cardiff | 10 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 10 |
| 20 | Norwich | 10 | 3 | 0 | 7 | -3 | 9 |
| 21 | Burnley | 10 | 1 | 5 | 4 | -4 | 8 |
| 22 | Watford | 10 | 2 | 2 | 6 | -11 | 8 |
| 23 | Derby | 10 | 1 | 3 | 6 | -10 | 6 |
| 24 | Preston | 10 | 1 | 1 | 8 | -12 | 4 |
Prediction conclusion
The model's leading selection is Watford win, at 49.3%. Its single most likely scoreline is 1–0.
It puts both teams scoring at 46% and over 2.5 goals at 42%.
A 49% selection is expected to miss in the remaining share of matches, and football regularly produces red cards, injuries and tactical changes the data cannot see. Treat this as a probability, not a forecast of the result.
Predictions are statistical estimates generated from historical and current team data. They are provided for information and entertainment only and are not betting advice. 18+ only.