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Welcome to Against All Odds: NCAA/NFL Picks- Week 16/Bowls! 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’s Bowl Season! I know everyone is excited to watch a bunch of 6-6 and 7-5 teams play each other night in and night out, so to amplify the exhilaration, why not place some bets to make the games even more interesting?
This week we have eight Bowl games and two NFL games until we up the ante next Friday.
Last week, I sucked once again, posting a 4-6 record while my dad continues to rebound, as he went 6-4. For the year, I still hold a 16 game advantage.
After two weeks of disappointment, let’s see if I can get back on track this week and keep my dad from pulling a Patriots-Falcons on me.
Lines as of 12/14/2017
NCAA Football
Saturday, December 16th
New Orleans Bowl
Superdome, New Orleans, LA.
Troy Trojans (10-2) at North Texas Mean Green (9-4)
1:00 pm | Line: Troy -6.5
Pick- PSN: Troy | MJD: North Texas
It’ll be a week of beads, boobs, and Trojans…the ones from Troy you dirty minded people! I think dad is going with North Texas for sentimental reasons in Mean Joe Green.
Cure Bowl
Camping World Stadium, Orlando, FL.
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (6-6) at Georgia State Panthers (6-5)
2:30 pm | Line: Western Kentucky -4.5
Pick- PSN: Western Kentucky | MJD: Georgia State
We’re headed to Disney for a week of disappointing Star Wars movies, Princesses, and one weird assed mascot in whatever that Hilltopper is. Western Kentucky is pretty good offensively so I’ll go with them.
Las Vegas Bowl
Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas, NV.
#25 Boise State Broncos (10-3) at Oregon Ducks (7-5)
3:30 pm | Line: Oregon -7.5
Pick- PSN: Boise St | MJD: Oregon
Best game of the week is in Sin City as two teams that are used to being near the Top Ten will be playing on the first day of Bowl Season. It’s kinda hard to go against Oregon, but 7.5 points is a bit much in my opinion, and these types of games usually go down to the wire.
New Mexico Bowl
Dreamstyle Stadium, Albuquerque, NM.
Marshall Thundering Herd (7-5) at Colorado State Rams (7-5)
4:30 pm | Line: Colorado State -3.5
Pick- PSN: Colorado St | MJD: Colorado State
Bugs Bunny always makes a wrong turn here, and on Saturday, Marshall will wish it did too against Colorado State.
Camellia Bowl
Crampton Bowl, Montgomery, AL.
Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders (6-6) at Arkansas State Red Wolves (7-4)
8:00 pm | Line: Arkansas State -3.5
Pick- PSN: Arkansas St | MJD: Arkansas State
Montgomery Alabama may not be an exciting place, but Arkansas State’s offense will liven it up a bit with how they sling the ball around.
Tuesday, December 19th
Boca Raton Bowl
FAU Stadium, Boca Raton, FL.
Akron Zips (7-6) at Florida Atlantic Owls (10-3)
1:00 pm | Line: Florida Atlantic -22.5
Pick- PSN: Akron | MJD: Florida Atlantic
Florida Atlantic has one helluva offense, but seriously, 22.5 points better than Akron? I think not. Even if they are playing at home… err, uh, oh.
Wednesday, December 20th
DXL Frisco Bowl
Toyota Stadium, Frisco, TX.
Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (6-6) at SMU Mustangs (7-5)
4:05 pm | Line: SMU -5.5
Pick- PSN: SMU | MJD: SMU
This game is in Texas… SMU is from Texas. Everyone in Texas roots for EVERY team in Texas. The Mustangs will roll in this one.
Thursday, December 21st
Gasparilla Bowl
Tropicana Field, Tampa, FL.
Temple Owls (6-6) at Florida International Golden Panthers (8-4)
4:25 pm | Line: Temple -7.5
Pick- PSN: Florida International | MJD: Florida International
When I hear the name Temple, it usually means futility. This game is in Florida, where, ah, Florida International resides, so that’s who I’m riding with in this one.
NFL
Sunday, December 17th
Baltimore Ravens (7-6) at Cleveland Browns (0-13)
1:00 pm | Line: Baltimore -7.5
Pick- PSN: Baltimore | MJD: Cleveland
The Browns have burned me two weeks in a row. I practically dare them to make it three straight.
New England Patriots (10-2) at Pittsburgh Steelers (11-2)
4:25 pm | Line: New England -2.5
Pick- PSN: Pittsburgh | MJD: Pittsburgh
It is the game of the year in the NFL. Yea, we know the Patriots have been successful against the Steelers since Tom Brady took over, and everyone keeps yapping about on “what Brady is going to do to” the suddenly inept Steeler defense, but has anyone thought of what Ben Roethlisberger and this now high flying Steeler offense is going to do to the Patriot’s defense? Steelers all but wrap up the #1 seed in the AFC Sunday evening.
Pick Results
PSN: Last Week: 4-6 | Overall: 81-59 — .578
MJD: Last Week: 6-4 | Overall: 65-75 -16 .464
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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