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Welcome to Against All Odds: NCAA/NFL Picks Week 2! 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 EVERY Bowl Game 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 2018-19 Against All Odds Champion?
One week is in the books and thanks to Bama, I have a slim one game lead over my dad with a 3-2 record. Roll Tide!
The NFL is back this week so we will stick with five games to choose from before we ramp it up to ten every week. I’m feeling IT this weekend and expect no worse than a 4-1 record, allowing a little wiggle room for one of those WTF games, like Penn State last weekend.
Till next week…
Lines as of 9/6/2018
NCAA Football
Saturday, September 8th
Youngstown State Penguins (0-1) at #14 West Virginia Mountaineers (1-0), 6:00 pm | Line: WVU -20.5
Pick- PSN: WVU | MJD: WVU
WVU went on the road to Tennessee and thumped the Vols. Now they face YSU, where they will have to concentrate on not having any sort of letdown after a nice road victory to start the year. Being in the confines of home filled with 60,000 people hungry for squirrel, raccoon, and Mountaineer football outta do the trick.
#13 Penn State Nittany Lions (1-0) at Pitt Panthers (1-0), 8:00 pm | Line: Penn St -9.5
Pick- PSN: Pitt | MJD: Pitt
It was once one of the best rivalries in college football before arrogance killed it in Happy Valley, whom in their delusional ways, think they are “Unrivaled”… They sneer down at their counterparts from across the state, endlessly yapping about their turnstile statistics like it means they are special or something.
“Clap-Clap” from this guy on your attendance… the more fans you bring to Heinz Field, the more shamwows are gonna be needed when they all crawl back to their cars after Pitt hands them their 2nd defeat in two years vs the Panthers. Then Pitt’s head coach Pat Narduzzi can perhaps say in his post-game press conference that, “It was just like beating Albany.”
I like what I see from Kenny Pickett from Pitt. He is the “It” factor at QB. He has plenty of toys to play with, including the likes of Paris Ford every now and then. Appalachian State was able to provide a balanced attack last week in their near upset of the Nittany Lions. If Pitt avoids costly turnovers, they will head back to Oakland sky high with a 2-0 record.
Hopefully, with the ridiculous parking restrictions put forth by ALCO Parking and the Pirates, people will be able to get into the game by the end of the 1st half to witness it.
NFL
Sunday, September 9th
Pittsburgh Steelers (0-0) at Cleveland Browns (0-0), 1:00 pm | Line: Pittsburgh -4.5
Pick- PSN: Pittsburgh | MJD: Pittsburgh
The Steelers open the 2018 season without their, ahem, “Bell Cow”, as Le’Veon Bell is being a jagoff and will more than likely sign his Tender on Saturday, and watch his mates take on Cleveland from the sidelines while collecting a check for close to $900,000… No biggie, as I feel James Conner will be able to handle the load at RB, not to mention, Ben Roethlisberger is the quarterback for Pittsburgh, and he has made his second home at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland with the amount of times he has tarred and feathered the Dawgs.
The Browns are talking a good game, but since returning to the league in 1999, they have NEVER won their season opener. NEVER.
That disturbing trend will continue as the Steelers will thrash the Browns once-more, leaving the Dawg Pound members whining like puppies at a mall store window.
Kansas City Chiefs (0-0) at LA Chargers (0-0), 4:05 pm | Line: LA -3.5
Pick- PSN: LA Chargers | MJD: LA Chargers
The Chargers came on like gangbusters at the end of 2017 and hope to keep their winning ways going to start 2018. Phillip Rivers has plenty of weapons at his disposal, and should be able to lead LA to victory at home over the Chiefs, who have moved on from Alex Smith, and will start strong armed Patrick Mahomes.
Chicago Bears (0-0) at Green Bay Packers (0-0), 8:20 pm | Line: Green Bay -8.5
Pick- PSN: Green Bay | MJD: Green Bay
Aaron Rodgers is back, and so shall be winning ways at Lambeau for Green Bay. This one may be closer than anticipated as the Bears are much improved, but I think we’ll see that improvement as the season goes along. Starting off in Green Bay with all the energy that will be pumping through the stands to see Rodgers back taking snaps will be too much for Jordan Howard and the Bears to, ahem, bear…
Pick Results
PSN: Last Week: 3-2 | Overall: 3-2 — .600
MJD: Last Week: 2-3 | Overall: 2-3 -1 .400
2017 Champion: PSN
2016 Champion: MJD
2015 Champion: MJD
2014 Champion: PSN
2013 Champion: PSN
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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