0
0
Welcome to Against All Odds: NCAA/NFL Picks! From the opening weekend of the NCAA football season through Super Bowl LIII, 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 line.
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 2019-20 Against All Odds Champion?
Week Two is in the books and I was able to pull off a winning week with a 6-4 record. Dad came close at 5-5, but for the year, I now have a three game lead over my him with a 11-9 record. Let’s just say I am not happy with Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence throwing a late interception that allowed Texas A&M to make the cover. 7-3 and even 8-2 was just a few idiotic plays from becoming reality. As for the Steelers being demolished by the Patriots?
No comment… though, how about we discuss one Antonio Brown.
How many chances does this guy get? Ben Roethlisberger was originally suspended for six games over an allegation… not a conviction. Tom Brady missed four games over some ridiculous deflated footballs. Antonio Brown weaseled his way out of Pittsburgh to Oakland for a 3rd and 5th round pick. He then missed just about all of Raiders Camp with frostbitten feet, and bitching and moaning about being forced to wear a new league mandated helmet.
That was just a warm-up, as Brown then threatened Raider’s GM Mike Mayock with violence, called him a racial slur, apologized the very next day, before going crazy again that night, illegally taping a phone conversation with Raider’s head coach Jon Gruden, then putting it on YouTube, and then exploding again the next day, demanding the Raiders release him after he found out Oakland fined him over 250K, thus forfeiting Mr. Big Chest’s guaranteed contract of nearly $30 million.
Oakland did adhere to his wishes, of which he celebrated like no human would ever celebrate upon learning they just pissed away 30 million dollars… that is due to the fact he knew the New England Patriots were ready and eager to snatch him up to their already tainted legacy.
Let’s not forget about Brown’s other offseason troubles in which he tossed furniture off of a balcony at one of his apartment residences, nearly hitting a small kid in the process, angry over a dispute with the building landlords. He also stiffed a chef out of 40 thousand dollars over a dinner he had prepared for Brown and his Pro Bowl teammates.
Now Brown stands accused of sexual assault… yet the league just stands idly by, as he prepares to suit up for the Patriots in Week Two vs the Dolphins.
What a joke.
Lines as of 9/12/2019
NCAA Football
Saturday, September 14th
Pitt Panthers (1-1) at #13 Penn State Nittany Lions (2-0)
Game Time: Noon at Beaver Stadium, University Park, PA.
Line: Penn State -17.5
Pick: PSN: Pitt | MJD: Pitt
Call me crazy, call me what you want, but this Saturday, Pitt is going to shock over 100,000 people into dead silence. Mark that down.
N.C. State Wolf Pack (2-0) at West Virginia Mountaineers (1-1)
Game Time: Noon at Mountaineer Field, Morgantown, WV.
Line: N.C. State -6.5
Pick: PSN: N.C. State | MJD: N.C. State
WVU is fresh off a beating by Missouri. Can they make amends at home vs North Carolina State? Nope.
#2 Alabama Crimson Tide (2-0) at South Carolina Gamecocks (1-1)
Game Time: 3:30 pm at Williams-Brice Stadium, Columbia, SC.
Line: Alabama -25.5
Pick: PSN: Alabama | MJD: Alabama
Alabama is certainly good for one thing… and that is covering spreads. Roll Tide Roll!
#24 USC Trojans (2-0) at BYU Cougars (1-1)
Game Time: 3:30 at LaVell Edwards Stadium, Provo, UT.
Line: USC -4.5
Pick: PSN: USC | MJD: USC
USC faces a stern test on the road at BYU. Tough game, but I like the Trojans to cover late.
#9 Florida Gators (2-0) at Kentucky Wildcats (2-0)
Game Time: 7:30 pm at Kroger Field, Lexington, KY.
Line: Florida -7.5
Pick: PSN: Florida | MJD: Kentucky
How real are the Wildcats of Kentucky? We’re about to find out real quick. I see a chomping coming…
NFL
Sunday September 15th
Seattle Seahawks (1-0) at Pittsburgh Steelers (0-1)
Game Time: 1:00 pm at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, PA.
Line: Pittsburgh -3.5
Pick: PSN: Pittsburgh | MJD: Pittsburgh
The Steelers will bounce back after their deplorable performance against the Patriots. Seattle wasn’t exactly impressive in narrowly defeating the Bungles at home.
Minnesota Vikings (1-0) at Green Bay Packers (1-0)
Game Time: 1:00 pm at Lambeau Field, Green Bay, WI.
Line: Green Bay -2.5
Pick: PSN: Green Bay | MJD: Green Bay
The Packers escaped Chicago in one of the ugliest games I’ve watched ever last week. This week should provide a little more firepower offensively. The Pack had better keep tabs on the Vikings Dalvin Cook…
New England Patriots (1-0) at Miami Dolphins (0-1)
Game Time: 1:00 pm at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, FL.
Line: New England -17.5
Pick: PSN: New England | MJD: New England
This is almost a mismatch of epic proportions… I will say, though… Miami has always found ways to give New England fits, and with Antonio Brown already causing distractions for the Patriots, perhaps there is a sliver of hope for the tanking Miami Fish… nah.
Arizona Cardinals (0-0-1) at Baltimore Ravens (1-0)
Game Time: 1:00 pm at M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, MD.
Line: Baltimore -13.5
Pick: PSN: Arizona | MJD: Arizona
Kyler Murray started slow, but was impressive in leading his team back to a tie with Detroit. Larry Fitzgerald looked rejuvenated. The Ravens smashed a terrible Dolphins team. They’ll win, but they won’t cover two touchdowns in this one.
Dallas Cowboys (1-0) at Washington Redskins (0-1)
Game Time: 1:00 pm at FedEx Field, Landover, MD.
Line: Dallas -4.5
Pick: PSN: Dallas | MJD: Dallas
The Redskins are not very good. Now they have to rely on Adrian Peterson again as Darrius Guice is injured again.
Pick Results
PSN: Last Week: 6-4 | Overall: 11-9 — .550
MJD: Last Week: 5-5 | Overall: 8-12 -3 .400
2018 Champion: MJD
2017 Champion: PSN
2016 Champion: MJD
2015 Champion: MJD
2014 Champion: PSN
2013 Champion: PSN
Author Profile
- Your 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 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!
Latest entries
FeaturesMarch 18, 2024The DraX-Files: This Week in Pittsburgh Sports
FeaturesMarch 12, 2024The DraX-Files: This Week in Pittsburgh Sports
FeaturesMarch 3, 2024The DraX-Files: This Week in Pittsburgh Sports
FeaturesFebruary 25, 2024The DraX-Files: This Week in Pittsburgh Sports