Against All Odds: NCAA/NFL Picks- Week 15

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Welcome to Against All Odds: NCAA/NFL Picks- Week 15! 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?


It was an ugly week for yours truly who went below .500 for the first time in 14 weeks with a brutal 3-7 record. My dad gained two games on me by going 5-5. We’re down to the last regular season game of the year in the NCAA with the annual Army-Navy Game.

It gets crazy after this week as we will bring you every Bowl game starting next Saturday through the National Championship, so this column will sometimes be published on crazy days like Wednesday.

Till next week… let’s see what’s on tap for week 15.

 

Lines as of 12/7/2017

NCAA Football

Saturday, December 9th

Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, PA.

Army Black Knights (8-3) at Navy Midshipmen (6-5) 

3:00 pm | Line: Navy -2.5

Pick- PSN: Army | MJD: Army

Army looks to make it two in a row and II like what I see out of the Black Knights. Don’t expect much passing in this one… Army (368.1 rushing yards per game) and Navy (347.5) boast the top ground attacks in the nation. Army senior quarterback Ahmad Bradshaw set the school record for rushing yards in a season with 1,472 after recording 244 in a 52-49 loss at North Texas on Nov. 18. This is the first time since 2012 that the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy is on the line for both teams after Navy defeated Air Force 48-45 on Oct. 7.

 

NFL

Sunday, December 3rd

Chicago Bears (3-9) at Cincinnati Bengals (5-7)

1:00 pm | Line: Cincinnati -6.5

Pick- PSN: Cincinnati | MJD: Cincinnati

The Bengals showed me that they have a pretty good team last week before blossoming back into the Bungles again. The Bears have already beaten both the Steelers and Ravens… could they continue their AFC North winning streak? No.

 

Green Bay Packers (6-6) at Cleveland Browns (0-12)

1:00 pm | Line: Green Bay -3.5

Pick- PSN: Green Bay | MJD: Green Bay

The Packers look to extend the season long misery of the win-less Browns. They will. The Pack hold on to slim playoff hopes with Aaron Rodgers possibly back soon.

 

Dallas Cowboys (6-6) at NY Giants (2-10) 

1:00 pm | Line: Dallas -3.5

Pick- PSN: Dallas | MJD: Dallas

Hmmm… which Dallas team will show up? Then again, which Giants team will show up with Eli Manning back at the helm after being screwed by former HC Ben McAdoo? The Cowboys should prevail here.

 

Minnesota Vikings (10-2) at Carolina Panthers (8-4)

1:00 pm | Line: Minnesota -2.5

Pick- PSN: Minnesota | MJD: Carolina

An early playoff preview here? I’m not sold on Carolina. I am on Minnesota who is rolling through everyone. They will continue their winning ways and hold on to one of the top two seeds in the NFC. Dad likes the Panther’s home field advantage here.

 

San Francisco 49ers (1-11) at Houston Texans (4-8)

1:00 pm | Line: Houston -2.5

Pick- PSN: Houston | MJD: Houston

Both teams suck, but the 49ers suck worse. Basically, that’s it in a nutshell. You might need four liters of Mountain Dew and speed to stay awake for this one.

Tennessee Titans (8-4) at Arizona Cardinals (5-7)

4:05 pm | Line: Tennessee -2.5

Pick- PSN: Arizona | MJD: Tennessee

The Titans are 8-4 but they’re a pretty average squad in my opinion. I see Arizona springing the upset at home while my dad thinks Marcus Mariota will be too much for the Cardinals to handle.

 

Seattle Seahawks (8-4) at Jacksonville Jaguars (8-4)

4:25 pm | Line: Jacksonville -1.5

Pick- PSN: Seattle | MJD: Jacksonville

Like the Titans, both teams are 8-4 but are beneficiaries of a friendly schedule. I think Seattle has just enough in the tank to pull the mild upset despite the cross-country travel. Of course, my dad, like my future wife, think Jacksonville will prevail. They’re both gonna sad.

Philadelphia Eagles (10-2) at LA Rams (9-3)

4:25 pm | Line: LA Rams -1.5

Pick- PSN: LA Rams | MJD: Philadelphia

The Game of the Week! The Rams have a chance to vault into one of the top two seeds while handing the Eagles their 2nd straight loss! I really like what I see out of Carson Wentz and Philadelphia, but the Rams play really well at home.

Baltimore Ravens (7-5) at Pittsburgh Steelers (10-2)

8:30 pm | Line: Pittsburgh -4.5

Pick- PSN: Pittsburgh | MJD: Pittsburgh

Expect another AFC North bloodbath between these bitter rivals. It will be Ben Roethlisberger and the Steeler’s fourth straight Prime Time game. With the AFC North Title on the line and the game at Heinz Field, I see Pittsburgh raising another AFC North Banner around 11:30 pm Sunday night.


Pick Results

PSN: Last Week: 3-7 | Overall: 77-53   —    .616

MJD: Last Week: 5-5 | Overall: 59-71  -18    .450

 

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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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