Against All Odds: NCAA/NFL Picks- AFC/NFC Championship Games

By Mike Drakulich
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Updated: January 19, 2018

Welcome to Against All Odds: NCAA/NFL Picks- AFC/NFC Championship Games! 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?

Hard to believe this is the second to last Against All Odds of the 2017-18 season… but, here we are, and it’s time for the AFC and NFC Championship games.

Last week I went 2-2, continuing my horrible second half of the season, bringing my record to 104-95, good enough for an 18 game lead over my dad who is at 86-113. I guess he was due for a bad year after two tremendous years in which his record was as good as anyone’s in the country.

Catch you in two weeks when we preview Super Bowl LII and the season finale of Against All Odds!

Lines as of 1/19/2017

AFC Championship Game

Sunday, January 21st

#3 Jacksonville Jaguars (12-6) at #1 New England Patriots (14-3)

3:05 pm | Line: New England -8.5

Pick- PSN: Jacksonville | MJD: New England

Maybe it’s fate with the Jaguars. Honestly, they have no business being in this game, other than the Pittsburgh Steelers employ the dumbest coaching staff in football when it comes down to games that count. The Steelers did everything possible to hand Jacksonville a trip to New England to face the Patriots for the right to go to Super Bowl LII. I think the Patriots will prevail, but with the way Jacksonville plays offense and the way Brady and the Patriots play offense, this could be a bad match-up for New England.

NFC Championship Game

#2 Minnesota Vikings (13-3) at #1 Philadelphia Eagles (14-3)

6:40 pm | Line: Minnesota -3.5

Pick- PSN: Minnesota | MJD: Philadelphia

The Atlanta Falcons did what they did best last week, choked, and let the shorthanded Eagles escape into the NFC Championship Game, where they face the equally lucky Vikings, who won on a last second, 61 yard touchdown pass to shock the New Orleans Saints. The Vikings aren’t just playing for a chance to play in the Super Bowl, they’re playing for a chance to play the Super Bowl in their own home stadium, as Super Bowl LI will be in Minnesota in two weeks from Sunday.

Pick Results

PSN: Last Week: 2-2 | Overall: 104-95 — .523

MJD: Last Week: 1-3 | Overall: 86-113 -18 .435

Author Profile

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 Football.

For a refreshing view of sports, mixed with humor and uncensored opinions, check out Pittsburgh SportsNation today on Facebook, Twitter and videos with over 1,000,000 views on YouTube!

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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 Football. For a refreshing view of sports, mixed with humor and uncensored opinions, check out Pittsburgh SportsNation today on Facebook, Twitter and videos with over 1,000,000 views on YouTube!

Against All Odds: NCAA/NFL Picks- AFC/NFC Championship Games

AFC Championship Game