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Welcome to Against All Odds: NCAA/NFL Picks Thanksgiving Edition! 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?
Things were looking swell two games into last week when I was 2-0 after the Pitt and Penn State games, only to watch me lose games in every possible fashion the rest of the way. New Orleans was kind enough to stop the bleeding at the end. So ends the hot streak I was on, going 3-7, falling two more games behind my dad who went 5-5. Dad now leads the year at 51-44, good for a four game lead.
Here we are at Turkey Day! Three games from the NFL, and WVU plays the day after. Get out, play a little football, come home, wash up, watch some games, and stuff yourself until you can’t move!
May you and your families have a great and joyous Thanksgiving!
Catch you next week for the Conference Championship Games!
Lines as of 11/20/2018
NCAA Football
Friday, November 23rd
#6 Oklahoma Sooners (10-1) at #12 West Virginia Mountaineers (8-2), 8:00 pm
Line: Oklahoma -1.5
Pick: PSN: Oklahoma | MJD: WVU
I’ve been high on WVU all year, even after getting whooped by Iowa State. Like most Big 12 teams, they have no defense. How do you choke away a 31-14 lead? If the Mountaineers couldn’t put away Oklahoma State, then I could care less if this game is at Morgantown or not. Oklahoma will send the Mountaineers to their 2nd straight loss, and probably eliminate them from the Big 12 Championship Game.
Saturday, November 24th
#13 Florida Gators (8-3) at Florida State Seminoles (5-6), 12:00 pm
Line: Florida -5.5
Pick: PSN: Florida | MJD: Florida
Normally these two teams are both in the Top 15 or higher, but FSU is having a dismal year. The Gators will take advantage of this below average Seminoles team in a big way and carve them up like a fresh out of the oven turkey.
#4 Michigan Wolverines (10-1) at #10 Ohio State Buckeyes (10-1), 12:00 pm
Line: Michigan -3.5
Pick: PSN: Michigan | MJD: Michigan
Chase Winovich and Michigan’s Revenge Tour has one last stop… thee Ohio State. Question is, will Winovich be healthy enough to play? Michigan has lost 13 of the last 14 meetings between the archrivals. The Wolverines will take care of business and move one step closer the the College Football Playoffs.
Maryland Terrapins (5-6) at #14 Penn State Nittany Lions (8-3), 3:30 pm
Line: Penn State -13.5
Pick: PSN: Maryland | MJD: Penn State
Penn State has been having scoring troubles lately, which is why I took Rutgers and 28.5 last week vs them. Now they face a Maryland team that has lost four of five, but put up 51 last week vs Ohio State. The Nittany Lions will win, but it looks as if it will be another game that doesn’t get put away until the 4th quarter. The Terrapins will cover.
#24 Pitt Panthers (7-4) at Miami Hurricanes (6-5) 3:30 pm
Line: Miami -5.5
Pick: PSN: Pitt | MJD: Pitt
Rumors are the peeps at The U are looking for a little payback against Pitt, who buried them in the last game of the season last year when the Canes were ranked #2.
May I say, be careful what you wish for.
The ACC Coastal Champions have just Miami left before they face Clemson for the ACC Championship a week from Saturday. Pitt won’t be overlooking the ‘canes, and there would be nothing sweeter than capping off the regular season by whipping Miami again. Look for Pitt’s rushing attack to get back on track this week vs The U.
NFL
Thanksgiving Thursday, November 22nd
Chicago Bears (7-3) at Detroit Lions (4-6), 12:30 pm
Line: Chicago -3.5
Pick: PSN: Chicago | MJD: Detroit
Chances are, but the time this game starts, you’ll be either waking up from one helluva bender from the local bar’s Thanksgiving Party, or showering up and looking for Tylenol after playing in your yearly Turkey Bowl… perhaps a combo of both! Regardless, dinner will be on the table at our house by kickoff, which starts about 10 or so consecutive hours of nonstop football!
Detroit had high hopes entering this season, but they’re back to sucking again, and the Bears, who used to suck, are actually playing quite well again. Problem is, QB Mitch Trubisky is banged up and is unlikely to play, thus enters Chase Daniels for da Bears. There is still a sliver of hope for Detroit’s playoff hopes, so they had better take advantage of Trubisky’s absence or they’ll be leftovers in the NFC playoff picture.
Washington Redskins (6-4) at Dallas Cowboys (5-5), 4:30 pm
Line: Dallas -9.5
Pick: PSN: Washington | MJD: Dallas
Could the similarities between Alex Smith and Joe Theismann be any spookier? The Redskins were rolling along and now face life without their quarterback. That spells trouble heading into Dallas where the Cowboys now have a prime opportunity to make a run at the NFC East title.
Atlanta Falcons (4-6) at New Orleans Saints (9-1), 8:20 pm
Line: New Orleans -12.5
Pick: PSN: New Orleans | MJD: New Orleans
It’s hard to believe how terrible Atlanta has become, and now, by the time you’ll be going for your 6th helping of turkey, the Saints will be busy carving up the Falcons.
Sunday, November 25th
New England Patriots (7-3) at NY Jets (3-7), 1:00 pm
Line: New England -10.5
Pick: PSN: New England | MJD: New England
Having problems with your offense New England? We have just the cure for you… the New York Jets!
Pittsburgh Steelers (7-2-1) at Denver Broncos (4-6), 4:25 pm
Line: Pittsburgh -3.5
Pick: PSN: Pittsburgh | MJD: Pittsburgh
It’s a tough road assignment for the Steelers, but so was Jacksonville. Pittsburgh has a pretty tough schedule from here on out, so keeping focus against the 4-6 Broncos is a must. Remember, Denver was just a FG away from being 5-5. Still, with the way Pittsburgh’s offense is rolling behind Ben Roethlisberger, it’s hard to bet against them.
Pick Results
MJD: Last Week: 5-5 | Overall: 51-44 — .541
PSN: Last Week: 3-7 | Overall: 47-48 -4 .517
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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