Ten draws: Crystal Palace v Southampton, Barnsley v Luton, Bristol City v Coventry, Huddersfield v Norwich, Queens Park Rangers v Nottingham Forest, Wycombe v Rotherham, Lincoln v Oxford, Swindon v Rochdale, Oldham v Leyton Orient, Salford v Exeter.
Best draws: Barnsley v Luton, Bristol City v Coventry, Lincoln v Oxford, Swindon v Rochdale, Oldham v Leyton Orient.
Weekend's best bets: Six aways: Arsenal, Brentford, Reading, Charlton, Newport, Hibernian.
Weekend's best bets: Ten homes: Bournemouth, Preston, Northampton, Plymouth, Bolton, Bradford City, Cheltenham, Port Vale, Walsall, Rangers.
Pick of the draws: Barnsley and Luton performed miracles to avoid the drop into League One and both won League Cup ties against the odds last Saturday. With the Football League programme starting this weekend it's hard to separate them. Promoted Coventry showed their intent when their 10 men won at MK Dons last Saturday. It shouldn't be beyond them to gain a point at Bristol City, whose promotion challenge faded at the end of last season. Oxford were unlucky not to be promoted to the Championship but won't underestimate their task at Lincoln, who are hoping to improve on last season's mid-table position. I believe promoted Swindon will recover from last week's League Cup home defeat by Charlton and share the spoils with Rochdale. Leyton Orient began the 2020-21 campaign by winning at Forest Green but may have to settle for a point at Oldham, who had a comfortable home victory over Carlisle.
Away days: Arsenal's morale is high after lifting the FA Cup and Community Shield and intend to put down an early marker at Fulham's Craven Cottage, where they have a good record. Brentford, who were so close to the Premier League last season, are fancied to triumph at Birmingham, who don't inspire the same confidence. Reading, first-round League Cup winners last Saturday, are worth a punt at Derby, who only beat League newcomers Barrow via a penalty shoot-out. Charlton's impressive 3-1 win at Swindon last weekend will make them favourites to come away from Crewe with maximum points. In League Two, Newport should be too strong for Scunthorpe while Hibernian seem to have the measure of St Mirren in the Scottish Premiership.
Homes sweet homes: Despite selling striker Callum Wilson to Newcastle, I expect Bournemouth to bounce back from last season's demotion and they will be disappointed with less than three points from the visit of Blackburn. Northampton's 3-0 success over Championship team Cardiff was possibly the best result of last weekend and if they play half as well this Saturday they should account for Wimbledon. Plymouth, like Northampton promoted to League One, also beat higher opposition when hosting Queens Park Rangers and they can see off visitors Blackpool.
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