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Welcome to Against All Odds: NCAA/NFL Picks! From the opening weekend of the NCAA football season through Super Bowl LIV, 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?
Against all odds last week, I guaranteed going 7-3 or better, and I did as promised going 7-3. Dad had a very good week as well, going 6-4. For the year, I am now ten games over .500 with a 35-25 record… dad is now at 31-29, just four games back.
No Pitt this week, but that allows us an extra NCAA game to play with.
Against All Odds: NCAA/NFL Picks Week 7
Lines as of 10/10/2019
NCAA Football
Friday, October 11th
#20 Virginia Cavaliers (4-1) at Miami Hurricanes (2-3)
Game Time: 8:00 pm at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, FL.
Line: Miami -2.5
Pick: PSN: Virginia | MJD: Miami
Virginia faces a tough road assignment, and honestly, this should be a win for the Cavs, but who knows what Miami team is going to show up? They were getting curbed stomped last week vs VaTech before coming back and losing anyway. Personally, most Pitt fans should be rooting for the U to take care of business and hand the Cavs their first ACC loss. Maybe me picking Virginia will do the trick. Dad envisions the Turnover Chain making a few appearances this week.
Saturday, October 12th
#16 Michigan Wolverines (4-1) at Illinois Fighting Illini (2-3)
Game Time: Noon at Memorial Stadium, Champaign, IL.
Line: Michigan -19.5
Pick: PSN: Michigan | MJD: Michigan
The Wolverines have sorta bounced back from their trouncing at the hands of Wisconsin. Nice warm up game for their future opponent against a weak Illinois team that Big Blue should blow away.
Iowa State Cyclones (3-2) at West Virginia Mountaineers (3-2)
Game Time: 4:00 pm at Mountaineer Field, Morgantown, WV.
Line: Iowa State -10.5
Pick: PSN: WVU | MJD: WVU
I doubt Iowa State is as good as Texas, who barely made the cover last week vs WVU in Morgantown, winning by 11. The Mountaineers hung tough until the end, something they will probably do again before falling back to .500 for the season. Wear a good jacket this week WVU fans, there will be no couches burning to keep you warm this weekend.
#10 Penn State Nittany Lions (5-0) at #17 Iowa Hawkeyes (4-1)
Game Time: 7:30 at Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, IA.
Line: Penn State -3.5
Pick: PSN: Iowa | MJD: Iowa
Penn State faces a team that always seems to have their number. With this game being at home for Iowa, who is coming off a tough loss to Michigan, I think the Hawkeyes will continue to be a thorn in the collective asses of Nittany Lions fans and players. This is the first of a nasty three game stretch for PSU, who face Michigan and Michigan State after this one.
#7 Florida Gators (6-0) at #5 LSU Tigers (5-0)
Game Time: 8:00 pm at Tiger Stadium, Baton Rouge, LA.
Line: LSU -13.5
Pick: PSN: Florida | MJD: LSU
This should be a fun game to watch. I took the Gators lightly last week vs Auburn, so what the hell, I’ll go with them this week, to at least make the cover, if not win outright. Chomp, chomp, baby.
NFL
Sunday, October 13th
Seattle Seahawks (4-1) at Cleveland Browns (2-3)
Game Time: 1:00 pm at Browns Stadium, Cleveland, OH.
Line: Seattle -1.5
Pick: PSN: Seattle | MJD: Seattle
Huge game for the Browns, who come back from the west coast with their tails between their legs after being squashed by the 49ers. A loss here will drop Cleveland to 2-4 on the year with the Patriots waiting next week. I see Russell Wilson doing just enough to lead Seattle to a close win. Toss that dawg a bone!
Houston Texans (3-2) at Kansas City Chiefs (4-1)
Game Time: 1:00 pm at Arrowhwad Stadium, Kansas City, MO.
Line: Kansas City -4.5
Pick: PSN: Kansas City | MJD: Kansas City
KC is coming off an upset at the hands of Indianapolis. Houston is one of those teams that you never know quite what to expect from. How will Pat Maholmes and the Chiefs respond? I think in a big way.
Washington Redskins (0-5) at Miami Dolphins (0-4)
Game Time: 1:00 pm at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, FL.
Line: Washington -3.5
Pick: PSN: Washington | MJD: Miami
If you are suffering from lack of sleep, perhaps this is what the doctor ordered for you. I’m guessing the Mike Tomlin wanting Redskins will have just enough offense to keep the Fish winless and hand me another easy pick against the odds.
New Orleans Saints (4-1) at Jacksonville Jaguars (2-3)
Game Time: 1:00 pm at TIAA Bank Field, Jacksonville, FL.
Line: Jacksonville -1.5
Pick: PSN: New Orleans | MJD: New Orleans
Teddy Bridgewater looked sharp last week, and he will have to again with the Jacksonville’s Jaylen Ramsey returning to action this week.
Pittsburgh Steelers (1-4) at LA Chargers (2-3)
Game Time: 8:20 pm at Dignity Health Sports Park, Carson, CA.
Line: LA Chargers -6.5
Pick: PSN: Pittsburgh | MJD: Pittsburgh
The Steelers, thanks to a terrible AFC North, still have life and hopes… all of which will disappear with one more defeat here. Finally, before their bye week, I think the Steelers will play a complete game, regardless of whether Mason Rudolph or Devlin Hodges lines up under center Sunday night. I like the Steelers defense to make Phillip Rivers life miserable, and atone for last year’s loss the the Chargers.
Pick Results
PSN: Last Week: 7-3 | Overall: 35-25 — .583
MJD: Last Week: 6-4 | Overall: 31-29 -4 .516
Against All Odds: NCAA/NFL Picks History
2018 Champion: MJD
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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