Ten draws: Hull v Bristol City, Millwall v Stoke, Wigan v Preston, Morecambe v Shrewsbury, Plymouth v Barnsley, Sheffield Wednesday v Portsmouth, Wimbledon v Portsmouth, Salford v Mansfield, Kilmarnock v Dundee United, Dunfermline v Alloa.
Best draws: Millwall v Stoke, Plymouth v Barnsley, Sheffield Wednesday v Portsmouth, Wimbledon v Gillingham, Salford v Mansfield.
Best weekend bets: Six aways: Norwich, Swansea, MK Dons, Peterborough, Swindon, Arbroath.
Best weekend bets: Ten homes: Blackpool, Luton, Sunderland, Lincoln, Wycombe, Bradford City, Leyton Orient, Northampton, Stockport, Walsall.
Pick of the draws: Millwall v Stoke is not the most attractive fixture to start the football season. These two Championship sides don't give much away and this has stalemate written all over it. Plymouth, who were unlucky not to make the League One play-offs last season, host relegated Barnsley, who should be strengthened by the appointment of former Cheltenham boss Michael Duff as manager. I expect Portsmouth to do better this season but they may have to settle for a point at Sheffield Wednesday, who finished above them. There was little to choose between Wimbledon and Gillingham, who were both relegated to League Two, and I suspect it will be a similar story on Saturday. Mansfield are one of my fancies for promotion but they have a tricky task at Salford, who were disappointed to end up outside the play-off places last season.
Away days: Norwich went out of the Premier League with barely a whimper but they are much more at home in the Championship and I think they'll start their campaign with a win at Cardiff. I believe Swansea, who underperformed last season, will have too much for promoted Rotherham. MK Dons will probably be in the League One promotion mix again and are worth backing at Cambridge. Relegated Peterborough will want to put last season's pain behind them and I rate their chances at Cheltenham. Swindon were the League Two away specialists last season and I tip them to return from Harrogate with three points. Arbroath, so close to being promoted to the Scottish Premiership last season, look good for a maximum haul at Ayr in the Scottish Championship.
Homes sweet homes: Sunderland have at last escaped from League One and I reckon they'll celebrate the fact by beating Coventry in Sunday's Championship fixture. There will be pressure on League Two Bradford City to improve on last season when they failed to make the top half of the table and they are worth a wager against relegated Doncaster. Another League Two side worth following are Stockport, last season's National League champions. They are recommended against Barrow, who battled against relegation for most of last term.
