Not only does the EFL kick off this week, but, of course, the CL Prediction League kicks off as well.
Everyone is welcome to join and show the world how much you know about football. The rules are simple - just pick three games from the weekly list that is published (usually on a Wednesday) and use your expert knowledge to predict the final score. It's as easy as that - you will score 3 points for a correct score and 1 point for a correct result. Each week (usually on Monday or Tuesday), the results and league tables are published with weekly awards for outstanding (or dire) performances. The full rules, if you can be bothered to read them, are on the second post this week.
Unlike the Premier League, there are no huge sums in prize money, but there is a lot of kudos attached to winning the Prediction League, which will mean you can strut about the forum as a celebrity. The Prediction Cup, when you face fellow competitors in a knock-out competition, starts after Christmas, but let's not get too far ahead of ourselves. Join the CL Prediction League Club and enjoy a bit of weekly fun and friendly banter.
So, here we go with the first week's games. There are no Premier League games this week, so there are four 'Guest' fixtures to pick from. I've no idea if there is any extra time in the Community Shield game, but the score at normal full-time counts whatever happens. Good luck, and enjoy the highs and lows over the Prediction League season as we wonder if the mighty
@GoOnYouHaddocks can retain the coveted trophy.
Championship
Sheffield Wednesday v Southampton (Friday 2000)
Blackburn Rovers v West Bromwich Albion (Saturday 1500)
Bristol City v Preston North End (Saturday 1500)
Middlesbrough v Millwall (Saturday 1500)
Plymouth Argyle v Huddersfield Town (Saturday 1500)
Swansea City v Birmingham City (Saturday 1500)
Sunderland v Ipswich Town (Sunday 1700)
League One
Cambridge United v Oxford United (Saturday 1500)
Carlisle United v Fleetwood Town (Saturday 1500)
Charlton Athletic v Leyton Orient (Saturday 1500)
Derby County v Wigan Athletic (Saturday 1500)
Northampton Town v Stevenage (Saturday 1500)
Reading v Peterborough United (Saturday 1500)
Guest fixtures
Wrexham v Milton Keynes Dons (League Two Saturday 1500)
Rochdale v Ebbsfleet United (National League Saturday 1730)
Hibernian v St Mirren (Scottish Premiership Sunday 1500)
Manchester City v Arsenal (FA Community Shield Sunday 1600)
Comments
Prediction League rules
General
Each week, several games will be listed; you must make your selection from this list. You need to choose any three games. If you pick more than three games, only the first three will count unless there are specific instructions to the contrary. If you choose fewer than three games, only the games chosen will count. You must state the teams participating and select your predicted score for each match chosen. The first named team should be the home team and the second named team should be the away team. If the game takes place at a neutral ground, the teams should be listed in the same order as the published list of matches available. Note: Avoid jokes with team names as I have to edit your entries for the scoring system to work automatically – please, nothing like Stripey Wotsits v Blaydon Races mob.
Errors in posting
Regardless of whether a prediction is correct or not, zero points will be awarded in the following circumstances: • Where the prediction is not in the list of matches available • Where one or both of the teams are unclear or wrong • Where a game has already kicked off at the time that the prediction is made • Where one or both of the goals scored is missing or ambiguous
Scores used
The reported scores on the BBC Football website will be used when checking the predictions. If a game is abandoned, the score at the time of the abandonment will count. If a game goes to extra time, the score at the end of normal time will count in all cases. Where a game is postponed, no points will be scored unless the game was originally scheduled for Friday, Saturday and Sunday is replayed by the Monday following the original date.
Posting errors
All matches on the list indicate the date and time of each game. While every effort will be made to ensure there are no errors, it will be the responsibility of the person making the predictions that the dates and times are correct and/or whether a date/time has been changed after the list being posted.
Postponements
When a game is postponed, a competitor may choose an alternative game for each postponed game. This selection can be made after the scheduled kick-off time of the postponed game but must be before the kick-off time of the alternative choice.
Reposting
A competitor can repost predictions at any time provided the above rules are followed. Where predictions are reposted, whether intentionally or unintentionally, the latest post will in all cases replace any earlier posts.
Points awarded
Subject to the conditions above, 3 points will be awarded for a correct score, 1 point for a correct result and no points for an incorrect result. A bonus point will be added for three correct scores.
Forgetting to post/not posting your predictions
You are allowed to miss three weeks over the season. If you make no post, you will score the week’s average, rounded to the nearest whole number for the first three occasions.
Disputes
Where there are any disputes, the organiser will try to resolve the matter as quickly as possible. If a resolution cannot be reached, a vote between the organiser and a moderator will rule on the dispute.
Derby County v Wigan Athletic 2-1
Manchester City v Arsenal 3-1
Cambridge United v Oxford United 0-2
Reading v Peterborough United 1-3
Reading v Peterborough United 1-2
Middlesbrough v Millwall 1-1
Derby County 2-0 Wigan Athletic
Wrexham 3-1 Milton Keynes Dons
Reading v Peterborough United 0-2
Middlesbrough v Millwall 2-0
Cambridge United v Oxford United 1-2
Charlton Athletic v Leyton Orient 3-1
Cambridge v Oxford 1-2
Middlesbrough v Millwall 1-1
Reading v Peterborough 0-2
Cambridge Utd v Oxford 0-2
Swansea City v Birmingham City 4-1
Reading v Peterborough United 1-3
Charlton Athletic v Leyton Orient 2-0
Derby County v Wigan Athletic 2-0
Charlton 3 Orient 1
Reading 1 Peterborough 2
Charlton Athletic v Leyton Orient 3-1
Derby County v Wigan Athletic 2-0
Derby County v Wigan Athletic 3-1
Reading v Peterborough United 0-2
Derby County v Wigan Athletic (Saturday 1500) 2-0
Manchester City v Arsenal (FA Community Shield Sunday 1600) 2-0
Sunderland v Ipswich Town 2-1
Wrexham v Milton Keynes Dons 2-1
Camb Utd v Oxford Utd 0-2
Derby v Wigan 2-0
Derby County v Wigan Athletic 2-1
Wrexham v Milton Keynes Dons 2-1
Swansea City v Birmingham City 2-1
Sunderland v Ipswich Town 2-1
Rochdale v Ebbsfleet United 2-0
Hibernian v St Mirren 2-1
Carlisle United v Fleetwood Town (Saturday 1500) 1-1
Charlton Athletic v Leyton Orient (Saturday 1500) 2-1
Middlesbrough v Millwall 2-1
Carlisle United v Fleetwood Town 2-1
Bristol City v Preston North End 1-1
Middlesbrough v Millwall 1-1
Charlton Athletic v Leyton Orient 3-1
Derby County v Wigan Athletic 1-0
Derby v Wigan 2-0
Reading v Peterborough 1-1
Hibs v St Mirren 2-1
Charlton v Leyton Orient 3-1
Northampton Town v Stevenage 1-1
Reading v Peterborough United 1-2
Cambridge United v Oxford United 2-0
Derby County v Wigan Athletic 3-1
Wrexham v Milton Keynes Dons (League Two Saturday 1500) 2-1
Rochdale v Ebbsfleet United (National League Saturday 1730) 2-1
Hibernian v St Mirren (Scottish Premiership Sunday 1500) 2-1
Derby County 2-0 Wigan Athletic (Saturday 1500)
Wrexham 2-1 Milton Keynes Dons (League Two Saturday 1500)