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Welcome to Against All Odds: NCAA/NFL Picks Week 11! 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 40 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?
Remember Thomas Magnum? If you’re under 40, probably not, but Magnum always talked about having a “little voice in his head”. Last week, I should have listened to mine, as I labored over changing my picks to Michigan State, WVU, and Dallas. In the past, that little voice has caused me to lose more often than not, but this year I have been pretty much spot on with my picks, so I should’ve heeded it’s advice…
So, instead of an 8-2 week, I turned in a 5-5 one. My dad matched me in week 10. For the year, I am 57-33, good enough for a 15 game lead over my dad.
This week we have some interesting challenges ahead. Only a few weeks remain in the college football regular season before we expand to ten NFL games a week until Bowl Season.
Lines as of 11/10/2017
NCAA Football
Thursday, November 9th
North Carolina Tar Heels (1-8) at Pitt Panthers (4-5)
7:30 pm | Line: Pitt -8.5
Pick- PSN: Pitt | MJD: Pitt
Pitt enters this game on a two game winning streak, and by all accounts, they freaking owe UNC one! The Tar Heels have won the last four in mostly agonizing fashion to Panther fans. UNC has a hard time stopping the run, so I see Pitt handing the ball to Darrin Hall a lot as he and the offensive line trample the goats and set up a big time test at Virginia Tech next week.
Saturday, November 11th
Rutgers Scarlett Knights (4-5) at #16 Penn State Nittany Lions (7-2)
12:00 pm | Line: Penn St -30.5
Pick- PSN: Penn St | MJD: Penn St
30.5 is A LOT of points. Poor Penn State has dropped two in a row and should be in a foul mood when they see the Scarlett Knights trespass on their field.
#23 West Virginia Mountaineers (6-3) at Kansas State Wildcats (5-4)
3:30 pm | Line: Kansas St -2.5
Pick- PSN: WVU | MJD: Kansas St
This one is basically a coin flip. Not sure which Mountaineer team will show up, but the home teams usually fare well in the Big 12. That said, I think WVU will have just enough in the tank to pull the mild upset and move to 7-3 on the season.
#1 Alabama Crimson Tide (9-0) at #18 Mississippi State Bulldogs (7-2)
7:00 pm | Line: Alabama -13.5
Pick- PSN: Alabama | MJD: Alabama
Bama faces a halfway decent test in the Bulldogs, BUT… honestly, it doesn’t matter if this game is at home for Mississippi St or if it were played on the moon, the result would still be a Roll Tide clubbing.
#3 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (8-1) at #7 Miami Hurricanes (8-0)
8:00 pm | Line: Notre Dame -3.5
Pick- PSN: Notre Dame | MJD: Notre Dame
Notre Dame, with the exception of Georgia in a one point loss, has bested all comers. The U has a big chance to prove it’s record is not a fluke and that they belong among the whispers of a College Football Playoff berth.
NFL
Sunday, November 12th
Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2) at Indianapolis Colts (3-6)
1:00 pm | Line: Pittsburgh -11.5
Pick- PSN: Pittsburgh | MJD: Pittsburgh
Jacoby Brissett has been on his back more than the Kardashians, or however you spell their names. The Steeler defense will have a field day at Brissett’s expense. That, combined with a healthy and fully loaded Steeler offense will result in an easy Pittsburgh victory.
LA Chargers (3-5) at Jacksonville Jaguars (5-3)
1:00 pm | Line: Jacksonville -4.5
Pick- PSN: LA Chargers | MJD: LA Chargers
Don’t get me wrong… I think Jacksonville is a pretty decent team. I just happen to think the Chargers are much better than their 3-5 record shows. I have a feeling Phillip Rivers and the San–I mean LA offense will keep the Bolts miniscule playoff hopes alive.
Cleveland Browns (0-8) at Detroit Lions (4-4)
1:00 pm | Line: Detroit -13.5
Pick- PSN: Detroit | MJD: Cleveland
If it’s Brown, flush it down. Another season in the toilet for the Brownies, who are already studying which college quarterback’s career they’d like to evaporate in next year’s NFL Draft.
Houston Texans (3-5) at LA Rams (6-2)
4:05 pm | Line: LA Rams -12.5
Pick- PSN: LA Rams | MJD: LA Rams
The Rams just keep on rolling for me here. I’m all on board. This week their high powered offense will have no problem outscoring a wounded Texans team.
New England (6-2) at Denver Broncos (3-5)
8:30 pm | Line: New England -8.5
Pick- PSN: New England | MJD: New England
That little voice I was talking about above… He is speaking, but it’s mumbled. I’m pretty sure he is saying take New England. I tell ya though, if there was ever a trap game for the Patriots, this would be the one.
Pick Results
PSN: Last Week: 5-5 | Overall: 57-33 — .633
MJD: Last Week: 5-5 | Overall: 42-48 -15 .466
Author Profile
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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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