Unlike in the Premier League, every side in League Two will get their season underway on Saturday afternoon so there is a full card of matches for us punters to wade into.
Of course this early in the season we have to display an air of caution but with 12 matches on the card we can pick and choose the best bets and leave the other sides alone for another day when there is some form and things to go by.
The fixtures sees AFC Wimbledon hosting Plymouth. Accrington take on Luton, newly promoted Bristol Rovers play their first game back in the league at home to Northampton, Cambridge host Newport, Exeter face Yeovil, Hartlepool play Morecambe while there is a London derby at Brisbane Road as Leyton Orient host the other newcomers from the Conference in Barnet.
In the rest of the matches Mansfield take on Carlisle, Oxford go up against Crawley, Portsmouth take on Dagenham & Redbridge, Stevenage face Notts County and last year’s surprise package Wycombe host York.
I’m taking two bets in this set of fixtures which I’ll come onto shortly but just quickly running down the other fixtures I think Wimbledon vs Plymouth looks tough to call. Bristol Rovers will be well up for their first game back in the league but I haven’t really got a feel for them yet.
I’d fancy Hartlepool to see off Morecambe but something in the back of my mind is stopping me opposing Morecambe there. Orient face a tricky test in Barnet and I’ll let those sides settle down before getting involved but Barnet look value on the face of it. Exeter and Yeovil look well matched.
Carlisle could be value to beat a poor Mansfield side but only slight value if they are. Oxford are likely to beat Crawley but opening day odds on shots aren’t for me which is why I’m leaving Portsmouth alone. It will be interesting to see what effect Teddy Sheringham has had on Stevenage already. They face a tricky game against Notts County which could go either way as could Wycombe vs York.
Two matches which don’t look even matches are at Accrington and Cambridge. Accrington love punching above their weight and taking out the top sides but they have a really poor opening day record and face a Luton side who will be out to put a marker down to the rest of the division.
This is a big ask for Accrington. In fairness they have some lively players although the likes of James Gray and Kai Naismith being elsewhere this season doesn’t help them but where it could get hard for them is the longer the match goes on. Luton’s squad is so strong that they will have plenty of strength to bring on and plenty of options if they need to change things up which Accrington won’t have.
I’m sure Accrington will put up a good fight but Luton won at Carlisle on the opening day last season and their army of fans, with well over 1000 travelling up for the game, are likely to be coming home happy. It is the opening day of the season though so it is probably worth having some draw cover on the Asian markets especially as you can still get odds against on that.
The other bet I like is for Cambridge to beat Newport. These two sides look to be going in opposite directions right now. Cambridge have invested their FA Cup windfall well with a raft of new players and some of them have real quality about them for this level. Newport are struggling finally and have seen a lot of players leave in the summer.
I’ve already detailed my thoughts on Newport in my relegation preview and I can’t help but think their long season will get off to a losing start. Cambridge beat Plymouth at home on the opening day of last season and look set for a much improved campaign this time around. That can begin with a win in front of their own fans.
Back Luton (-0.25AH) to beat Accrington for a 4/10 stake at 2.12 with BetVictor
Back Cambridge to beat Newport for a 4/10 stake at 2.00 with Stan James
