Against All Odds: NCAA/NFL Picks Week 4

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Welcome to Against All Odds: NCAA/NFL Picks Week 4! From the opening weekend of the NCAA football season through Super Bowl LII, Mike Drakulich (PSN), the man behind Pittsburgh SportsNation, takes on his father, Michael J. Drakulich (MJD), in picking NCAA and NFL games against the Vegas spread. 

Mike Drakulich covers both the Pittsburgh Steelers and Pitt Panthers during the season for NGSCSports.com!

To appease the taste buds of Pittsburgh’s local coverage area, Pitt, Penn State, and West Virginia, when they are playing, will always be on the docket among the NCAA games chosen, as will the Pittsburgh Steelers for NFL games.

Once Bowl Season arrives, we’ll bring you ALL 42 games and then continue throughout the conclusion of the NFL Playoffs.

Itchy vs Scratchy. Black Spy vs White Spy. Cheers vs Gary’s Old Towne Tavern. History is full of rivalries, but none are better than father vs son! Who will rise above the other this season and become the 2017-18 Against All Odds Champion?


Three weeks into the season and so far I am hitting at a .700 clip and have established a six game lead over my dad in the standings.

This week the whole landscape could change for the better or the worse (depending on viewpoint) as my dad and I differ on no less than five games!

I’d like to thank the Pitt Panthers for accounting for three of my six losses on the year. I’m sure that since I am taking Georgia Tech this week that they will weasel their way into a win this week and cost me another victory. I could go on and on about how numb I am about Pitt, but I’m ready to watch the Fall premier of Gotham, so… till next week, cheers!

 

Lines as of 9/22/2017

NCAA Football

Saturday, September 23rd

West Virginia Mountaineers (2-1) at Kansas Jayhawks (1-2), 12:00 pm | Line: WVU -20.5

Pick- PSN: WVU | MJD: Kansas

Kansas has mastered the art of being an opponent’s punching dummy for years. They are also useful in the other team covering the spread. I got WVU all day here. Dad believes in the “Rock Chalk Jayhawk!”. Both him and Kansas are meat pie this week.

Pitt Panthers (1-2) at Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (1-1), 12:20 pm | Line: Georgia Tech -7.5

Pick- PSN: Georgia Tech | MJD: Georgia Tech

I’ve all I can take with the underperforming Panthers. Last week was an embarrassment on all levels from the crowd down to the team having the intensity of a Pop Warner squad. There is hope with fullback George Aston and SS Jordan Whitehead returning this week, but until I see it with my own eyes, I won’t believe it. We’re all going to see what this team is made of this week. Excuse time is over.

 

#8 Michigan Wolverines (3-0) at Purdue Boilermakers (2-1), 4:00 pm | Line: Michigan -10.5

Pick- PSN: Michigan | MJD: Purdue

A dangerous road game awaits the Wolverines, but I think it’s about time for the Michigan offense to get rolling. Dad says the Wolverines will win, but won’t cover. I’ll admit…I’m a little nervous here.

#4 Penn State Nittany Lions (3-0) at Iowa Hawkeyes (3-0), 7:30 pm | Line: Penn St -12.5

Pick- PSN: Iowa | MJD: Iowa

The Hawkeyes always seem to have Penn State’s number. We’ll see if Jimmy Franklin gets the chance to ice a kicker on the opposing team leading by 50 points this week.

 

Notre Dame Fighting Irish (2-1) at Michigan State Spartans (2-0), 8:00 pm | Line: Notre Dame -5.5

Pick- PSN: Michigan St | MJD: Michigan St 

This isn’t your normal Spartan squad, but the same can be said about Notre Dame. Both are average at best. I’ll go with the home team in Michigan State to win and cover.

 

 NFL

Sunday, September 24th

Pittsburgh Steelers  (2-0) at Chicago Bears (0-2), 1:00 pm | Line: Pittsburgh -8.5

Pick- PSN: Pittsburgh | MJD: Pittsburgh

Poor Bears got whacked last week by Tampa Bay. The Steelers have only won once in Chicago, but they’ll double that total come 4 pm on Sunday. Ben Roethlisberger and the offense should be able to put points up, and Mike Glennon has no chance against a vastly improved Pittsburgh defense.

Denver Broncos (2-0) at Buffalo Bills (1-1), 1:00 pm | Line: Denver -2.5

Pick- PSN: Denver | MJD: Buffalo

Is Denver as good as their 2-0 record? No. But Buffalo seems stuck in a rut right now offensively, and I think the Broncos will have just enough to win and cover.

Houston Texans (1-1) at New England Patriots (1-1), 1:00 pm | Line: New England -14.5

Pick- PSN: New England | MJD: Houston

14.5 points is A LOT to be handing over in an NFL game, so my dad is all over this one, but Tom Brady and the Patriots beat the hell out of the Saints last week, and Houston can’t even find a way to score if they had $20 and were living at a truckers motel.

Atlanta Falcons (2-0) at Detroit Lions (1-0), 1:00 pm | Line: Atlanta -3.5

Pick- PSN: Atlanta | MJD: Atlanta

The Falcons are flying… pun intended, but so are the Lions who look pretty good. I’d like to see more yardage through the air from Matt Stafford, but he’s getting the job done. This is a chance for the Lions to establish themselves as true contenders this week. Home game against the NFC’s best team. Solid offense and a nice defense. I wouldn’t be surprised if they did win, but Detroit is a lot like Pitt… they gotta make me a believer before I fall for that old song and dance again.

Miami Dolphins (1-0) at NY Jets (0-2), 1:00 pm | Line: Miami -6.5

Pick- PSN: Miami | MJD: NY Jets

The Jets are playing the NFL’s version of the Kansas Jayhawks so far this year in allowing the opponent to kick them around and make the cover. Man do I wish I could hear the material that will be coming from the stands directed at the Jets bench this week.


Pick Results

PSN: Last Week: 7-3 | Overall: 14-6    —    .700

MJD: Last Week: 5-5 | Overall: 8-12    -6    .400

 

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Mike Drakulich

From Midland, "The Basketball Capital of Pennsylvania", located 35 miles NW of Pittsburgh along the Ohio River. This former steel town was home to storied athletes such as Dave Alston, Norm Van Lier, Simmie Hill, and the legendary 1965 Midland High School Basketball Team. There's nowhere on earth that is more dedicated to its sports teams like Western Pennsylvania and the city of Pittsburgh. The passion and pride of Pittsburgh's fan base is second to no one. From the NFL, NHL, MLB, NCAA football and basketball, to W.P.I.A.L. high school sports, "The City of Champions" has it all! As Editor of Pittsburgh SportsNation, Mike Drakulich provides top notch opinions and coverage of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Pittsburgh Pirates, Pitt Panthers football & basketball, Robert Morris Colonials basketball, and Duquesne Dukes basketball, as well as all sports teams that represent Western Pennsylvania, including WPIAL High School Football. For a refreshing view of sports, mixed with humor and uncensored opinions, check out Pittsburgh SportsNation today on Facebook, Twitter @PghSportsNation and videos with over 1,000,000 views on YouTube!
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Mike DrakulichYour source for Pittsburgh sports!
From Midland, "The Basketball Capital of Pennsylvania", located 35 miles NW of Pittsburgh along the Ohio River. This former steel town was home to storied athletes such as Dave Alston, Norm Van Lier, Simmie Hill, and the legendary 1965 Midland High School Basketball Team.

There's nowhere on earth that is more dedicated to its sports teams like Western Pennsylvania and the city of Pittsburgh. The passion and pride of Pittsburgh's fan base is second to no one. From the NFL, NHL, MLB, NCAA football and basketball, to W.P.I.A.L. high school sports, "The City of Champions" has it all!

As Editor of Pittsburgh SportsNation, Mike Drakulich provides top notch opinions and coverage of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Pittsburgh Pirates, Pitt Panthers football & basketball, Robert Morris Colonials basketball, and Duquesne Dukes basketball, as well as all sports teams that represent Western Pennsylvania, including WPIAL High School Football.

For a refreshing view of sports, mixed with humor and uncensored opinions, check out Pittsburgh SportsNation today on Facebook, Twitter @PghSportsNation and videos with over 1,000,000 views on YouTube!

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