With the Championship starting next week and the Premier League season still a fortnight away, League One takes centre stage when the campaign begins on Friday evening.

• AFC Wimbledon's final nine matches of last season all featured under 2.5 goals

• Peterborough conceded 45 away goals last term - the second-worst in League One

• Only Birmingham (47) scored more home goals than Stockport's 42 last season

We have put together correct-score predictions for all 12 matches in the opening round of fixtures in the third tier.

Luton vs AFC Wimbledon (Friday, 8pm)

Luton are among the leading contenders to win League One and can start their season with a victory. However, promoted AFC Wimbledon finished last season with four straight clean sheets and will not be easily breached.

Score prediction: Luton 1-0 AFC Wimbledon

Cardiff vs Peterborough (Saturday, 12.30pm)

Cardiff have designs on a Championship return under new boss Brian Barry-Murphy and they should prove too strong for Peterborough, who claimed just 20 points on their travels in 2024/25, largely due to defensive deficiencies.

Score prediction: Cardiff 2-1 Peterborough

Blackpool vs Stevenage (Saturday, 3pm)

Blackpool's play-off push last season was undermined by too many home draws (11), and they could have to share the points when they host Stevenage, who signed off the 2024/25 campaign with two stalemates.

Score prediction: Blackpool 1-1 Stevenage

Bradford vs Wycombe (Saturday, 3pm)

Valley Parade was a fortress for Bradford in their promotion-clinching League Two campaign. The Bantams lost just twice on their own patch and look capable of earning a point against Wycombe.

Score prediction: Bradford 1-1 Wycombe

Burton vs Mansfield (Saturday, 3pm)

Burton won three of their final five home matches to stave off the drop last term and can earn three points against local rivals Mansfield, who claimed just one win from their last 11 on the road.

Score prediction: Burton 2-1 Mansfield

Doncaster vs Exeter (Saturday, 3pm)

Doncaster finished with a flourish to take the League Two title and they can start life in the third tier with a win over Exeter, who finished the 2024/25 campaign with back-to-back road losses.

Score prediction: Doncaster 2-0 Exeter

Huddersfield vs Leyton Orient (Saturday, 3pm)

Huddersfield have been talked up as promotion contenders, but Leyton Orient beat them 4-1 in this fixture in May, so the hosts should not underestimate them.

Orient continue to punch above their weight and can claim a point.

Score prediction: Huddersfield 2-2 Leyton Orient

Lincoln vs Reading (Saturday, 3pm)

Reading did well to finish just outside the play-offs last year given the instability at the club, but they could find Lincoln tough to crack at Sincil Bank. The Imps claimed 10 victories on home turf last term.

Score prediction: Lincoln 2-1 Reading

Plymouth vs Barnsley (Saturday, 3pm)

Home Park is where the heart is for Plymouth, who picked up 36 of their 46 Championship points at home last season. New Argyle boss Tom Cleverley can start with a narrow win over Barnsley.

Score prediction: Plymouth 1-0 Barnsley

Rotherham vs Port Vale (Saturday, 3pm)

Traditional yo-yo club Rotherham had a rare dull season in 2024/25, finishing 13th and doing their best work at home. They can account for promoted Port Vale, who could be in for a relegation scrap.

Score prediction: Rotherham 2-0 Port Vale

Wigan vs Northampton (Saturday, 3pm)

These two teams drew 1-1 in the final match of the previous campaign and it would be no surprise if that scoreline was repeated in their season opener.

Wigan finished the season with six draws from eight matches, while Northampton played out eight stalemates on their travels.

Score prediction: Wigan 1-1 Northampton

Stockport vs Bolton (Sunday, 12pm)

Stockport came up short in the play-offs, but only runaway champions Birmingham won more matches at home than County last term.

Expect them to start with a win over Bolton, who finished the 2024/25 campaign on a six-match winless run.

Score prediction: Stockport 3-1 Bolton