The highly-anticipated League One action in England returns this week with teams in the third tier determined to make a positive start to the campaign with the hope of playing Championship football next season.
Here are six selections to form a League One Saturday accumulator, with some of this season’s title contenders tipped to make flying starts.
- BIRMINGHAM CITY TO BEAT READING
- PETERBOROUGH UNITED TO BEAT HUDDERSFIELD TOWN
- BRISTOL ROVERS TO BEAT NORTHAMPTON TOWN
- BOLTON WANDERERS TO BEAT LEYTON ORIENT
- LINCOLN CITY TO BEAT BURTON ALBION
- EXETER CITY TO BEAT ROTHERHAM UNITED
Bet On League One
Birmingham City vs Reading
Starting with the heavy favourites to win the League One title this season, Birmingham City will be looking forward to their opening game of the campaign at home to Reading.
The Blues suffered the heartbreak of relegation on the final day of the regular season last term and the club’s hierarchy have been busy in the summer window to bring in new recruits.
City should be optimistic of overcoming a Royals side who had a campaign to forget last season and finished down in 17th place in the standings.
Ending 23 points off the play-offs, the Royals were well off the pace and even with new recruits, it’s hard to see them leaving St Andrew’s with anything to show for their efforts this weekend.
BIRMINGHAM CITY TO BEAT READING
Peterborough United vs Huddersfield Town
Huddersfield Town were relegated alongside Birmingham last season and they too will have aspirations of bouncing back at the first time of asking.
However, the West Yorkshire side could be given a rude awakening when they travel to a Peterborough United side who fell short in the play-off semi-finals last season.
Posh had the fifth-best home record in League One last season, only losing five of their 23 games.
They scored the most home goals of any team in the division last term and they are good value to beat a Town side who have failed to win on their last four visits to Weston Homes Stadium, with one draw and three defeats.
PETERBOROUGH UNITED TO BEAT HUDDERSFIELD TOWN
Bristol Rovers vs Northampton Town
Just three points separated 14th-place Northampton Town and 15th-place Bristol Rovers in League One last season and the clubs meet in their campaign opener at Memorial Stadium on Saturday.
Northampton’s away form was a major factor in the East Midlands outfit's failure to challenge up near the play-off places last season.
Win just one win in their last 10 away games in League One, it’s an area the Cobblers will need to improve on if they are to enjoy a successful season.
However, the Memorial Stadium has not been a happy hunting ground for Town, who have lost on their last three visits.
We expect that losing run to continue and for Rovers to make a strong start to the League One campaign.
BRISTOL ROVERS TO BEAT NORTHAMPTON TOWN
Leyton Orient vs Bolton Wanderers
The Gaughan Group Stadium has not been a happy hunting ground for Bolton in recent years but Wanderers can put that right on Saturday.
Behind Birmingham, Bolton are the second shortest price in the outright market to win the League One title this season.
Falling just short in the play-off final against Oxford United, the Trotters will have to dust themselves off from their Wembley disappointment and go again.
Bolton have lost on their last two visits to Gaughan Group Stadium without scoring a goal, while on their own patch in Lancashire you have to go back to September 1970 for their last defeat to Leyton Orient.
Winning just one of their last six home games at the end of last season, the O’s were far from formidable on their own patch and Saturday looks to be a good opportunity for Bolton to end their losing run at Brisbane Road.
BOLTON WANDERERS TO BEAT LEYTON ORIENT
Burton Albion vs Lincoln City
Lincoln City will be looking to continue their impressive record at Burton Albion when the two sides lock horns at Pirelli Stadium on Saturday.
The Imps missed out on the play-offs by just two points last season, while at the other end of the table Burton finished just two points above the relegation zone.
Pirelli Stadium should bring back happy memories for Lincoln City, who have come on leaps and bounds since Michael Skubala joined the club from Leeds United.
Lincoln have won on four of their last five visits to Burton, including in their last meeting, in which a Reeco Hackett-Fairchild helped the 10-man Imps to a 1-0 win after the second off of Alex Mitchell in the 29th minute.
Of course, Lincoln will be hoping to keep their full complement of players on the field this time and they are good value to pick up another three points at the home of the Brewers this weekend.
LINCOLN CITY TO BEAT BURTON ALBION
Exeter City vs Rotherham United
Rotherham United begin life back in League One with an almost 500-mile round trip to Exeter City to look forward to on Saturday.
Losing just one of their last six home games at the end of last season, Exeter showed St James Park is a tough place for opposition sides to win at.
It’s not a good sign for the visitors, who had a shocking away record in the Championship last season on their way to relegation to the third tier.
The Millers failed to record a single away win in the Championship last season, earning just four draws, while scoring just 13 goals in their 23 games on the road.
While the step down to League One should make things easier for Rotherham, snapping out of that losing mentality on the road will take work.
A long trip to Exeter is hardly the desirable game to see that change in away fortunes and Rortherham might well have to wait a little longer for that elusive first league win on the road.
EXETER CITY TO BEAT ROTHERHAM UNITED
