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Welcome to Against All Odds: NCAA/NFL Picks Week 8! 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?
A few weeks ago I watched my 4-0 start on Saturday go south in a hurry, resulting in a 5-5 record for the week. Disgusted was one word to describe my feelings. Last week I went undefeated on Saturday with a perfect 5-0 start. Four of those wins were in doubt most of the day before the sun decided to shine on my dog’s ass for that particular day. Sunday I went 3-2 to complete the week with a beautiful 8-2 mark, upping my season record to 38-22 and gaining three games on my dad who went 5-5 again. For the year, I now have an eight game advantage.
This week we have some great games in store for you, including USC at Notre Dame. Out of ten games, looks as if my dad and I differ on only three. Here’s to another great and warm weekend for all of you! Catch you all in Week Nine!
Lines as of 10/20/2017
NCAA Football
Saturday, October 21st
Pitt Panthers (2-5) at Duke Blue Devils (4-3)
12:20 pm | Line: Duke -8.5
Pick- PSN: Pitt | MJD: Pitt
Pitt played N.C. State tough for a half before folding like the circus on a Sunday in the 2nd half. Pitt is very young, and all you can ask for is to see noticeable improvement every week. Duke started off hot at 4-0, but has dropped their last three. This one could go either way, but I have a hunch that Pitt is going to keep this one close into the 4th quarter, if not stand tall at the end of the day.
#24 LSU Tigers (5-2) at Mississippi Rebels (3-3)
7:15 pm | Line: LSU -6.5
Pick- PSN: LSU | MJD: LSU
The Tigers are back in the Top 25 and face a struggling Ole Miss team that is there for the taking.
#19 Michigan Wolverines (5-1) at #2 Penn State Nittany Lions (6-0)
7:30 pm | Line: Penn St -10.5
Pick- PSN: Michigan | MJD: Penn State
Michigan is 5-1, but they are playing more like they are 3-3 or worse. Penn State has had a few flaws exposed and face their first true test of the season against a team they have a bad history against lately. I’m not confident in Michigan pulling the upset, but I do think they’ll make the Nittany Lions nervous and keep this one close. Dad doesn’t like what he sees from Michigan at all.
#11 USC Trojans (6-1) at #13 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (5-1)
7:30 pm | Line: Notre Dame -3.5
Pick- PSN: Notre Dame | MJD: USC
The two rivals finally meet again with more than bragging rights on the table. Winner keeps their slim hopes alive in sneaking into the College Football Playoff.
“I think it’s the best intersectional rivalry in college sports,” USC head coach Clay Helton said.
When you have two evenly matched teams, the smart money goes to the home team. Dad is banking on the USC upset.
#23 West Virginia Mountaineers (4-2) at Baylor Bears (0-6)
8:00 pm | Line: WVU -9.5
Pick- PSN: West Virginia | MJD: West Virginia
The Mountaineers were getting whooped 35-17 last week vs Texas Tech before the offense went nuclear and ripped off the next 33 points. Baylor is dead in the water, and after the Bears layed the wood to WVU a few times in the previous few years, the Couch Burners may be itching for a little payback.
NFL
Sunday, October 22nd
Carolina Panthers (4-2) at Chicago Bears (2-4)
1:00 pm | Line: Carolina -3.5
Pick- PSN: Carolina | MJD: Carolina
Chicago always plays tough at home, but Cam Newton and the Panthers should be able to secure victory in this one and make the cover.
Tennessee Titans (3-3) at Cleveland Browns (0-6)
1:00 pm | Line: Tennessee -5.5
Pick- PSN: Tennessee | MJD: Tennessee
It’s time for this week’s edition of Kick the Can… the can being played by your Cleveland Browns. If the Browns are good at one thing, it’s enabling the opposing team to cover the spread against them.
Baltimore Ravens (3-3) at Minnesota Vikings (4-2)
1:00 pm | Line: Minnesota -4.5
Pick- PSN: Minnesota | MJD: Minnesota
Two average teams mired with injuries face off… I’ll go with the home team in this one. I like what I see from the Viking’s Jerrick McKinnon at running back. I think he will be the difference in Minnesota improving to 5-2 on the year and sending the Ravens to under .500.
Seattle Seahawks (3-2) at NY Giants (1-5)
4:05 pm | Line: Seattle -5.5
Pick- PSN: Seattle | MJD: NY Giants
Eli Manning and the Giants secured their first win of the year last week in pasting the Broncos in Denver. Could they make it two in a row over a paper tiger in Seattle? I’m betting against just that.
Cincinnati Bengals (3-2) at Pittsburgh Steelers (4-2)
4:25 pm | Line: Pittsburgh -5.5
Pick- PSN: Pittsburgh | MJD: Pittsburgh
Remember when Foghorn Leghorn would go over to the dog, pulled him out of his dog house by the tail, and whack him with a paddle fifty times? That’s sorta what the Steelers do year in and year out to both pro football teams that reside in the state of Ohio.
Pick Results
PSN: Last Week: 8-2 | Overall: 38-22 — .633
MJD: Last Week: 5-5 | Overall: 30-30 -8 .500
Author Profile
- Your source for Pittsburgh sports!
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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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