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Welcome to Against All Odds: NCAA/NFL Picks Thanksgiving Edition! 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?
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your families! Last week I continued my recent trend at just being average, finishing at 5-5 again. Dad ended up 4-6 and fell yet another game back in the standings to me, which has grown to 19 now!
Personally, I think he’s playing possum and waiting to strike at me during the Bowl Games…
Lines as of 11/22/2017
NCAA Football
Friday, November 24th
#2 Miami Hurricanes (10-0) at Pitt Panthers (4-7)
12:00 pm | Line: Miami -14.5
Pick- PSN: Pitt | MJD: Pitt
The Hurricanes have one more little test before facing Clemson in the ACC Championship Game. The winner of that game will be set for the College Football Playoffs… that is, unless one of them slips up this week. I’m not saying that is likely to happen, but I have a funny feeling about this game, especially now that Kenny Pickett will be the man slinging the ball for the Panthers. A win here for Pitt wouldn’t make them Bowl Eligible, but it would set the foundation for the 2018 season…
Saturday, November 25th
#9 Ohio State Buckeyes (9-2) at Michigan Wolverines (8-3)
12:00 pm | Line: Ohio State -11.5
Pick- PSN: Ohio St | MJD: Ohio St
Last week proved to me that Michigan is no more than a sham despite their 8-3 record. Historically, this is always a hard fought battle up until the end, but Ohio State will be looking to win in impressive fashion so they can be in striking distance of the playoff should a few teams falter and they dispatch of Wisconsin next weekend in the Big Ten Championship.
#10 Penn State Nittany Lions (9-2) at Maryland Terrapins (4-7)
3:30 pm | Line: Penn St -21.5
Pick- PSN: Penn St | MJD: Penn St
Penn State has screwed both me and my dad twice the past two weeks failing to make the cover. I guess we’re both suckers for believing in them again against a horrible Maryland squad.
#1 Alabama Crimson Tide (10-0) at #6 Auburn Tigers (9-2)
3:30 pm | Line: Alabama -4.5
Pick- PSN: Alabama | MJD: Alabama
It’s gonna get ugly in this one as two bitter rivals lock horns. Auburn would vault into the top four with a victory, which would cause some controversy over a two loss team being ranked ahead of one loss ones. Still, no matter how many chants of “War Eagle” you hear Saturday night, the last one uttered coming off the field will be “Roll Tide!”
West Virginia Mountaineers (7-4) at #4 Oklahoma Sooners (10-1)
3:45 pm | Line: Oklahoma -22.5
Pick- PSN: Oklahoma | MJD: Oklahoma
The Mountaineers stumbled badly last week against a bad Texas team and now have the honor of being blown away by the vaunted Sooner’s offense to end their season face down in the mud.
NFL
Thursday, November 23rd
Minnesota Vikings (8-2) at Detroit Lions (6-4)
12:30 pm | Line: Minnesota -3.5
Pick- PSN: Minnesota | MJD: Detroit
It’s the first game of the Against All Odds week, right about the time you will be stuffing yourself with a huge plate of turkey, stuffing, mash potatoes, yams, corn, and whatever the hell else you can find to devour. Speaking of devour, that’s what the Vikings did the my Rams last week, thumping them 24-7. That made me a believer out of the Purple People Eaters, even though they face a tough Lions squad that can score with the best of them under Matt Stafford.
LA Chargers (4-6) at Dallas Cowboys (5-5)
4:30 pm | Line: LA Chargers -1.5
Pick- PSN: LA Chargers | MJD: LA Chargers
The Chargers are the best 4-6 team you’re ever gonna see. They have had some tough losses to swallow this year. Grab your second slice of pumpkin pie about now and watch the Cowboy’s offense flounder around like a fish outta water without Ezekiel Elliot.
NY Giants (2-8) at Washington Redskins (4-6)
8:30 pm | Line: Washington -7.5
Pick- PSN: Washington | MJD: Washington
The Giants shocked everyone last week when they upset the Chiefs. It wouldn’t be much of an upset here against the Redskins, but as you stuff your face for about the 6th time Thursday, you’ll have this fun game to watch and fall asleep to.
Sunday, November 19th
Cleveland Browns (0-10) at Cincinnati Bengals (4-6)
1:00 pm | Line: Cincinnati -9.5
Pick- PSN: Cincinnati | MJD: Cincinnati
Ahhh, the Browns. They were about to make the cover last week when they remembered who they were and fumbled into the end zone with about a minute left, allowing the Jaguars to score and send Cleveland to 0-10, and everyone who bet on them into the Cuyahoga…
Green Bay Packers (5-5) at Pittsburgh Steelers (8-2)
8:25 pm | Line: Pittsburgh -13.5
Pick- PSN: Pittsburgh | MJD: Pittsburgh
Rah roh George. That Steeler offense everyone was looking for all season? It seemed to awaken last week against the Titans, as the Steelers dropped 40 on Tennessee. It’s another Prime Time game for Pittsburgh and that spells bad news for the wounded Packers.
Pick Results
PSN: Last Week: 5-5 | Overall: 67-43 — .609
MJD: Last Week: 4-6 | Overall: 48-62 -19 .436
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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