Gab Sutton is back with a huge EFL acca for Saturday, one that has odds of 41/1 with Paddy Power.
Stoke to beat Huddersfield – 17/10
Huddersfield are a shadow of last season’s side.
The Terriers have had three games so far this season, two in the league and one in the EFL Cup, and the worrying thing for Danny Schofield would be that each of them have followed a similar pattern.
Town have been appalling in the first half of those encounters. They have looked meek, tame and passive, trying to play out from the back but looking uncomfortable when doing so, while no pressing whatsoever has been on offer.
There has been an incremental improvement from Schofield’s side in the second halves, partly dictated by game-state, but still miles off the required standard for a team that reached the Play-Off Final the year before.
Stoke, therefore, can hope to complete back-to-back league wins, after getting off-and-running on week two by beating Blackpool 2-0.
Southampton loanee Will Smallbone made a difference by coming into midfield, which helped the Potters issues from the 2-0 loss at Millwall the week before when it came to progressing the ball into the danger men, Jacob Brown and Dwight Gayle.
Smallbone’s midfield trio with Josh Laurent and Lewis Baker looks capable of running games with the appealing blend of qualities, and could consign Huddersfield to another defeat.
Bolton to beat Port Vale – 6/5
Bolton managed a top half finish in their first season back in League One and now are intent on securing a top six berth.
Ian Evatt’s side claimed a valuable point at Ipswich on the opening day thanks to James Trafford’s second half goalkeeping heroics, before a 3-0 victory over Wycombe the following week.
A brace from Kyle Dempsey and a second of the season for Aaron Morley gave the Trotters a victory that will give them confidence that they are ready to run games at this level.
Wanderers should do that at Port Vale, who began with a 2-1 victory over Fleetwood before suffering a 4-0 crushing by Exeter.
Darrell Clarke has since bolstered his squad in key areas with the signings of goalkeeper Jack Stevens, on loan from Oxford, and Ellis Harrison, on a permanent deal from Fleetwood.
These are decent additions for the Vale but they may still come up short against Bolton, who have a lot more strength-in-depth – as the midweek 5-1 mauling of Salford proved.
Portsmouth to beat Cheltenham – 11/10
After finishing 11 points off the Play-Offs last season, Portsmouth are intent on playing a more prominent role in League One’s promotion race this time around.
It’s two draws from two league games so far for Danny Cowley’s side, who were in an enthralling 3-3 opening day tie with Sheffield Wednesday before a more forgettable first home game of the campaign against Lincoln.
Pompey did, though, play Championship side Cardiff off the park in a 3-0 midweek EFL Cup victory in the Welsh capital, which has the potential to kick-start their season.
Graceful creator Tommy Lowery and energetic wide man Owen Dale, part of Crewe’s golden generation, made an instant impression for Cowley’s troops, while Arsenal recruit Zak Swanson, athletic defender Haji Mnoga and talented midfielder Jay Mingi all staked compelling claims to be part of the boss’ league plans.
The standard for the top six was high last year, though – Plymouth Argyle missed out with 80 points – so it’s important Portsmouth take their cup performance into their league form straightaway, so they do not find themselves playing catch-up come September.
Cheltenham, by contrast, will want to forget about their own cup performance, having been thrashed 7-0 by Exeter.
It wasn’t a best XI that Wade Elliott named on Tuesday, but nor a group that shouldn’t be expected to challenge for a fringe or rotation role in the league, so the capitulation highlights concerns over the Robins’ possible lack of depth.
There may be an instant reaction to the midweek drubbing from Town, who could be competitive in the first half, but don’t be surprised to see Portsmouth take control after the interval.
Wimbledon to beat Doncaster – 19/20
It’s been a solid start to the league season for Wimbledon, who beat Gillingham 2-0 on the opening day before a goalless draw at Hartlepool.
Alex Pearce has brought the Dons the organisational qualities they arguably missed last year, forging a stable back-five with Chris Gunter, Will Nightingale, Lee Brown and Jack Currie.
Gunter, Nightingale and Brown are all experienced defenders, but Currie is a new kid on the block who has backed up an exciting pre-season with a strong start to his competitive campaign.
If Josh Davison and Ayoub Assal can start to forge the partnership they are capable, the Wombles should justify odds-on quotes against Doncaster.
Rovers have taken four points from their first two games, largely through perseverance: they showed great spirit to claim a point at Bradford when playing a whole second half with 10-men, then score two goals in injury-time to defeat Sutton 2-1.
Gary McSheffrey’s side look narrow, predictable and unlikely to create chances for large portions of their games, and it’s hard to say whether they will solve those issues until around October time, when they hope several key players will return from injury.
Northampton to beat Hartlepool – 3/4
Northampton are gunning for promotion to League One at the second attempt, having been denied the champagne in cruel circumstances last year.
It’s been a good start for the Cobblers, four points from two games, though Jon Brady may feel his side has another gear to find.
What Teyn have to their advantage, though, is plenty of strength in depth, especially in midfield, which could be crucial with five substitutes permitted this season rather than three.
Shaun McWilliams and Jack Sowerby, the first choice pairing last year, started the 1-1 draw at Grimsby, but on the bench was one of the stars of the 2021-22 National League in Ben Fox and a highly-rated Brighton loanee in Marc Leonard.
That strength in reserve could be crucial to defeating Hartlepool, who have began the campaign with a thin squad and a yet to score a league goal, after a 4-0 opening day capitulation at Walsall before a goalless draw with Wimbledon on week two.
Paddy Power Acca
Stoke – 17/10
Bolton – 6/5
Portsmouth – 11/10
Wimbledon – 19/20
Northampton – 3/4
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