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Welcome to Against All Odds: NCAA/NFL Picks Week 6! 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?
Talk about a brutal week of football! If you are a fan of the Steelers, Pitt, or Penn State, chances are, last weekend just plain sucked. To add insult to injury, I started off 2-0 only to lose three straight and finish 2-3, which now puts me below .500 for the year by one game. Dad got it even worse, turning in a Blutarski-esque zero, point, zero… 0-5! With that horrible record, it puts me back into the overall lead by one filthy game over him.
So, it’s time for a major rebound. We ramp it up to ten games this week with hopes of a big winning week and getting over .500 in fashion.
Till next week…peace!
Lines as of 10/4/2018
NCAA Football
Saturday, October 6th
Kansas Jayhawks (2-3) at #9 West Virginia Mountaineers (4-0), 12:00 pm
Line: WVU -28.5
Pick: PSN: West Virginia | MJD: West Virginia
WVU is rolling and look for the good times to keep coming, as everyone’s favorite whipping boy in the Big 12, Kansas, makes the trek to Morgantown. The game is at Noon, so the crowd won’t be as boozed up as they usually are, but beware Jayhawk fans, it’s early, so those WVU fans will be hungry. Stay in well lit places and travel in groups.
Syracuse Orange (4-1) at Pitt Panthers (2-3), 12:20 pm
Line: Syracuse -4.5
Pick: PSN: Syracuse | MJD: Syracuse
Another year of disappointment for Pitt fans… will it ever end? Syracuse comes to Heinz Field and the Panthers will have to be up to the task of stopping the high scoring Orange led by Eric Dungey. It’s Homecoming for Pitt, so perhaps they will dig down deep and find the resolve to spur an upset, but I have my doubts. The last time these two hooked up in Pittsburgh, it was an insane scoring affair, with Pitt besting Syracuse 76-61!
Florida State Seminoles (3-2) at #17 Miami Hurricanes (4-1), 3:30 pm
Line: Miami -14.5
Pick: PSN: Florida State | MJD: Miami
FSU is having a bit of a down year, but even so, I find it hard to believe they will lose by more than two touchdowns to their rivals from the south. The U is a good team, but they are by no means great. Look for a close one in South Florida this weekend.
#5 LSU Tigers (5-0) at #22 Florida Gators (4-1), 3:30 pm
Line: LSU -2.5
Pick: PSN: LSU | MJD: LSU
LSU has ramped up their game again and are looking to keep the positive momentum going forward. This week they have a big test on the road in Gainesville. Geaux Tigers!
#13 Kentucky Wildcats (5-0) at Texas A&M Aggies (3-2), 7:00 pm
Line: Texas A&M -5.5
Pick: PSN: Kentucky | MJD: Texas A&M
It’s not often you see Kentucky and ranked in the same sentence, but here we are! The Wildcats will get to justify their high ranking when they pay a visit to Texas A&M this weekend. Vegas isn’t all in on Kentucky either, as A&M comes in this game at 3-2 and still are favored by 5.5! My hunch says Kentucky goes all Raylan Givens on the Aggies.
NFL
Sunday, October 7th
Atlanta Falcons (1-3) at Pittsburgh Steelers (1-2-1), 1:00 pm
Line: Pittsburgh -3.5
Pick: PSN: Pittsburgh | MJD: Pittsburgh
The Steelers are playing well below par with the talent they possess, as are their opponents in the Atlanta Falcons. The loser of this game is going to be in big trouble, especially with any dreams of making the playoffs. It’s not often the Steelers lose at home, let alone three straight times in a row, as they have to the Jaguars, Chiefs, and Ravens last week. Maybe I’m a sucker, but this team HAS to turn it around somewhere, right? Ben Roethlisberger and his offense had better figure out their problems scoring in the 2nd half of games, and the defense, well, needs to stop playing scared. Pittsburgh gave Joe Flacco enough time to order a pizza on 3rd downs last week while throwing.
Tennessee Titans (3-1) at Buffalo Bills (1-3), 1:00 pm
Line: Tennessee -3.5
Pick: PSN: Tennessee | MJD: Tennessee
Tennessee is nowhere near as good as their 3-1 record indicates, but Buffalo is as awful as their 1-3 record shows. The Titans win and cover over the Bills on the road.
Baltimore Ravens (3-1) at Cleveland Browns (1-2-1), 1:00 pm
Line: Baltimore -2.5
Pick: PSN: Baltimore | MJD: Baltimore
I’m going with Baltimore here, but honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Browns win outright here. They are getting better, but they just haven’t found a way to win these close games just yet.
Green Bay Packers (2-1-1) at Detroit Lions (1-3), 1:00 pm
Line: EVEN
Pick: PSN: Green Bay | MJD: Green Bay
Aaron Rodgers isn’t anywhere near 100%, and one good shot at his knee could put him out. Somehow, the Lions have lost to the Jets, 49ers, and Cowboys, but smoked the Patriots by 16. Explain that one to me. I’ll stick with the Pack here.
Jacksonville Jaguars (3-1) at Kansas City Chiefs (4-0), 1:00 pm
Line: Kansas City -3.5
Pick: PSN: Jacksonville | MJD: Jacksonville
Patrick Mahomes had a good test last week in Denver, and now faces an even stiffer one this week when Jacksonville comes to town. I think the Chiefs win, but on a last second field goal, which means the Jags will cover.
Pick Results
PSN: Last Week: 2-3 | Overall: 12-13 — .480
MJD: Last Week: 0-5 | Overall: 11-14 -1 .440
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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