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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?
Week seven was as ugly as the Steelers’ bumblebee jerseys, as I posted a 3-7 record. Dad, who stumbled out of the gate, is now in hot pursuit, going 6-4, which closed my lead over him to just one damned game.
I can only laugh at some people who get so mad because I didn’t pick their team… relax peeps, we’re going AGAINST THE SPREAD, and as I always say… I call it as I see it.
Like Sid Crosby, I absolutely despise losing, as my basement door found out as I watched all five games from last Saturday end up as losses. So, I am guaranteeing I’ll go 8-2 or better this week, or I’ll post myself wearing enemy colors next week.
Against All Odds: NCAA/NFL Picks Week 8
Lines as of 10/16/2019
NCAA Football
Friday, October 18th
Pitt Panthers (4-2) at Syracuse Orange (3-3)
Game Time: 7:00 pm at Carrier Dome, Syracuse, NY.
Line: Pitt -3.5
Pick: PSN: Pitt | MJD: Pitt
Syracuse’s offensive line is awful, serving up Tommy DeVito 26 times. Pitt is 2nd in the nation with 27 takedowns off the opposing QB. That’s a bad recipe for the Orange. Pitt will squeeze the life outta the Orange Friday night.
#4 Ohio State Buckeyes (6-0) at Northwestern Wildcats (1-4)
Game Time: 8:00 pm at Ryan Field, Evanston, IL.
Line: Ohio State -27.5
Pick: PSN: Ohio State | MJD: Northwestern
Thee Ohio State also plays on Friday night, so why not include them as well? Giving up 27.5 points on the road isn’t easy, but the Buckeyes have been on a roll, and I have a feeling the Wildcats will be tossing in the white towel by halftime.
Saturday, October 19th
West Virginia Mountaineers (3-3) at #5 Oklahoma Sooners (6-0)
Game Time: Noon at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, Norman, OK.
Line: Oklahoma -27.5
Pick: PSN: Oklahoma | MJD: Oklahoma
If you have any yard work to do this week in Morgantown, perhaps some roadside shopping, this is the Saturday to do it. Save yourselves from the epic thrashing that is likely to take place in Norman, Oklahoma. Can you say, “BOOMER SOONER!!”
#2 LSU Tigers (6-0) at Mississippi State Bulldogs (3-3)
Game Time: 3:30 pm at Scott Field, Starkville, MS.
Line: LSU -18.5
Pick: PSN: LSU | MJD: LSU
LSU is coming off clubbing Florida like a baby seal, and next on the menu are the Bulldogs of Mississippi State. You may need a translator to understand the Tiger’s coach, but you won’t need a calculator to see if LSU covers this spread.
#16 Michigan Wolverines (5-1) at #7 Penn State Nittany Lions (6-0)
Game Time: 7:30 pm at Beaver Stadium, University Park, PA.
Line: Penn State -8.5
Pick: PSN: Penn State | MJD: Michigan
I’m conflicted here… I’ll be pulling for Michigan to win this game, but I doubt they even come close to covering this spread. How on earth do you take a 28-0 lead over Illinois only to watch them cut the deficit to 28-25? Penn State by ten or more…
NFL
Sunday, October 20th
LA Rams (3-3) at Atlanta Falcons (1-5)
Game Time: 1:00 pm at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA.
Line: LA Rams -2.5
Pick: PSN: LA Rams | MJD: LA Rams
Everyone was wondering what the hell the Rams were doing trading away their best cornerback last week, that is, until hours later when they traded to acquire the services of Jaylen Ramsey from the Jaguars. The Rams have been sloppy on defense, but they have been even worse on offense. They can’t run the ball, and their offensive line is like the turnstiles at a subway. The Falcons are an even worse surprise in 2019, managing just one win so far. They won’t find #2 this week either.
Minnesota Vikings (4-2) at Detroit Lions (2-2-1)
Game Time: 1:00 pm at Ford Field, Detroit, MI.
Line: Minnesota -1.5
Pick: PSN: Minnesota | MJD: Detroit
So, which Kirk Cousins are we gonna see this week? For my fantasy team purposes, it had better be the one that carved up the Eagles last week. The Lions were screwed by the officials at Green Bay. Toss up, but I’ll go with the Purple People Eaters in this one.
Oakland Raiders (3-2) at Green Bay Packers (5-1)
Game Time: 1:00 pm at Lambeau Field, Green Bay, WI.
Line: Green Bay -5.5
Pick: PSN: Green Bay | MJD: Green Bay
Somehow the Raiders are 3-2. Green Bay is 5-1. Neither team is anywhere near as good as their record indicates. That said, the Packers will bury Oakland and have this wrapped up by the end of the 3rd quarter.
San Francisco 49ers (5-0) at Washington Redskins (1-5)
Game Time: 1:00 pm at FedEx Field, Landover, MD.
Line: San Francisco -9.5
Pick: PSN: San Francisco | MJD: San Francisco
The Redskins are a joke, and were sparred major embarrassment last week when the Dolphins couldn’t convert a two point conversion to beat them last week, although it looked as if Miami had no intention of scoring that play. I’ve seen better plays drawn up in the friggin’ sand. The 49ers roll easily.
Baltimore Ravens (4-2) at Seattle Seahawks (5-1)
Game Time: 4:25 pm at CenturyLink Field, Seattle, WA.
Line: Seattle -3.5
Pick: PSN: Seattle | MJD: Seattle
The Seahawks go for the sweep of the AFC North this week at home. I like the heart and the effort of Lamar Jackson, but if he keeps running the ball as many times as he has been, he’s going to end up in the ICU. ‘Hawks cover, but late in the game.
Pick Results
PSN: Last Week: 3-7 | Overall: 38-32 — .583
MJD: Last Week: 6-4 | Overall: 37-33 -1 .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
- Your source for Pittsburgh sports!
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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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