Bolton vs. Blackpool (Saturday, 12.30pm)
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Bolton Wanderers square off against Blackpool on Saturday afternoon looking for the win that will move them into the top 10 of the League One table.
Meanwhile, the visitors make the short trip to the Toughsheet Community Stadium looking to end a prolonged winless streak that has left them in 18th place.
We say: Bolton Wanderers 2-1 Blackpool
Bruce will hope that facing a North-West rival will inspire his side against the odds. However, we can only see a home win here, albeit in a competitive contest that may be decided in the closing stages.
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Shrewsbury vs. Birmingham (Saturday, 12.30pm)
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Looking for a change in fortunes following a managerial alteration, Shrewsbury Town will welcome title favourites Birmingham City to The Croud Meadow for a League One match on Saturday afternoon.
The Shrews are fighting hard to prevent relegation to the fourth tier of English football, whilst Blues are on a mission to gain automatic promotion to the Championship at the first time of asking.
We say: Shrewsbury Town 0-3 Birmingham City
Under the influence of new manager Ainsworth, Shrewsbury should be raring to put up a fight on Saturday despite a disrupted week of training due to wintry conditions in Shropshire.
Birmingham are overwhelming favourites heading into this clash and should have more than enough quality on the pitch and in reserve to earn a comfortable victory.
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Stevenage vs. Leyton Orient (Saturday, 12.30pm)
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Stevenage play host to Leyton Orient on Saturday with the opportunity to move clear of the relegation zone in the League One table.
However, the 20th-placed visitors sit just four points adrift of their upcoming opponents and have their own chance to put some breathing space between themselves and the bottom four.
We say: Stevenage 1-1 Leyton Orient
The visitors will be backing themselves to make it three wins from four and finally make some headway up the table. However, we feel that Stevenage will do enough to earn a share of the spoils, even if it only extends their growing winless streak.
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Barnsley vs. Wigan (Saturday, 3.00pm)
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Promotion-chasing Barnsley are favourites against Wigan Athletic heading into Saturday's gameweek 17 League One match at Oakwell.
The Tykes, 14 places higher than their opponents in the standings, are undefeated in five league fixtures and aim to extend that run against a side without maximum points since the start of October.
We say: Barnsley 2-1 Wigan Athletic
Although Barnsley are clear favourites, the hosts drawing three of their last four matches in South Yorkshire and Wigan playing out three draws in four recent road games suggest a close encounter at Oakwell.
We back the Tykes to record their third league win on home turf, thus extending their five-match unbeaten run in this fixture.
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Burton Albion vs. Stockport (Saturday, 3.00pm)
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Two teams at opposite ends of the League One table meet on Saturday, as Burton Albion host Stockport County at the Pirelli Stadium.
The Brewers are currently 23rd in League One after a difficult start to the season, while the visitors are flying high in fourth place.
We say: Burton Albion 1-2 Stockport County
Stockport have adapted well to life in League One, and while Burton have improved under Hounsell, we expect the visitors to take the points this weekend.
With Barry spearheading the attack, the Hatters should have too much firepower for a leaky Burton defence to cope with.
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Crawley vs. Rotherham (Saturday, 3.00pm)
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Aiming to leave the relegation zone, Crawley Town welcome a Rotherham United side four places higher than them in the League One table in Saturday's gameweek 17 match at the Broadfield Stadium.
Rob Elliot's side are unbeaten in three, and extending that run could see them leave the bottom four places against an opponent keen to avoid three consecutive away losses.
We say: Crawley Town 1-1 Rotherham United
While Crawley hope to capitalise on Rotherham's recent losing run on their travels, the club with the third-worst home record may have to settle for a point when the Millers visit East Sussex this weekend.
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Huddersfield vs. Charlton (Saturday, 3.00pm)
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Aiming to move back into the top six of the League One table, Huddersfield Town will welcome Charlton Athletic to the John Smith's Stadium on Saturday.
On their return from the international break, the hosts trail the playoff spots by three points, while their visitors are four more points behind after a dip in form.
We say: Huddersfield Town 1-1 Charlton Athletic
Charlton Athletic do boast more quality than their position in the table and recent results suggest and will certainly pose a tough test for Huddersfield Town on Saturday.
With both keen to regain ground in the climb towards the playoffs, we see a share of the spoils as the most likely outcome in Yorkshire.
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Lincoln vs. Wycombe (Saturday, 3.00pm)
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Wycombe Wanderers will be looking to preserve their status at the top of the League One table when they travel to LNER Stadium to face Lincoln City on Saturday afternoon.
The two teams do battle for the first time since January when they shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw at Adams Park.
We say: Lincoln City 1-2 Wycombe Wanderers
Wycombe may have struggled in recent visits to Lincoln, but they travel to LNER Stadium in buoyant mood this weekend and in fine form, making them favourites to come out on top in this one.
Lincoln will fancy their chances of success as they aim to climb up to third in the table, but we are backing a refreshed Chairboys outfit to claim maximum points from this intriguing contest.
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Mansfield vs. Bristol Rovers (Saturday, 3.00pm)
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Fresh from a two-week hiatus corresponding with the November international break, promotion-chasing Mansfield Town host mid-table Bristol Rovers in Saturday afternoon's League One scrap.
Nigel Clough's side were on the wrong end of a 1-0 scoreline against Wrexham last time out, while their upcoming foes have had a week to reflect on a 1-1 draw versus Crawley Town.
We say: Mansfield Town 1-0 Bristol Rovers
With 11 League One losses on the road in total in 2024, only Cambridge United (13) have performed worse on rival soil than Bristol Rovers in the current calendar year, and the Gas' pitiful attacking display against relegation-threatened Crawley will hardly inspire optimism for Saturday.
A two-week reset arguably came at the perfect time for Mansfield after a rare road setback, and Clough's men have our vote to reignite their promotion charge with a slender success here.
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Northampton vs. Cambridge (Saturday, 3.00pm)
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Two League One teams in the bottom half of the table meet at Sixfields Stadium on Saturday afternoon, as Northampton Town play host to Cambridge United.
Eight months have passed since these two sides last butted heads in the third tier, sharing the spoils in a 1-1 draw at Abbey Stadium.
We say: Northampton Town 1-1 Cambridge United
A closely-fought contest between two teams keen to swifty return to winning ways could be in store on Saturday. Playing at Sixfields may give Northampton a slight psychological edge, but we feel that Cambridge will do just enough to grind out a draw on this occasion.
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Peterborough vs. Reading (Saturday, 3.00pm)
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Peterborough United will look to claim a fourth consecutive victory in all competitions when they welcome Reading to the Weston Homes Stadium.
The hosts are currently sitting in 12th place in League One, while the Royals are two points better off in 10th position.
We say: Peterborough United 3-1 Reading
Peterborough have been in free-scoring form in recent times, netting 14 goals in their last three matches, and we think they will showcase their firepower once again to sweep past Reading to record a fourth consecutive victory in all competitions.
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Wrexham vs. Exeter (Saturday, 3.00pm)
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Promotion-chasing Wrexham will welcome Exeter City to the Racecourse Ground for Saturday's League One encounter.
The hosts will head into the weekend in third place in League One, while the visitors are five points further back in ninth position.
We say: Wrexham 2-1 Exeter City
Exeter may be enjoying a four-game unbeaten run in all competitions, but we think that impressive spell of form will be brought to an end when they go up against a Wrexham side that have won six of their seven home league games this season.
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Ben Knapton
