Against All Odds: NCAA/NFL Picks
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?
Ho hum,,, another week, another 5-5 finish. That’s three weeks in a row now for your selectors in Against All Odds.
This week we have an early edition with both Pitt and the Steelers playing Thursday night.
Against All Odds: NCAA/NFL Picks Week 12
Lines as of 11/13/2019
NCAA Football
Thursday, November 14th
North Carolina Tar Heels (4-5) at Pitt Panthers (6-3)
Game Time: 8:00 p.m. at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, PA.
Line: Pitt -3.5
Pick: PSN: Pitt | MJD: Pitt
They say all good things must end, but in this freaking case, it’s bad things, as in The Curse against UNC. The Tar Heels have found every single way to defeat Pitt the last six games. Their luck, and Sam Howell’s personal space, has run out. The Pitt defense will chew up Howell and the offense will finally some killer instinct on a cold night at Heinz Field. Who’s the jagoff that also decided to schedule the Steelers at Browns the same night and time?
Saturday, November 16th
Indiana Hoosiers (7-2) at #9 Penn State Nittany Lions (8-1)
Game Time: Noon at Beaver Stadium, University Park, PA.
Line: Penn State -14.5
Pick: PSN: Indiana | MJD: Penn State
Indiana has lost two games this year and only Ohio State blew them away. Penn State is no OSU, as they will find out in a week.
Michigan State Spartans (4-5) at #15 Michigan Wolverines (7-2)
Game Time: Noon at Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, MI.
Line: Michigan -13.5
Pick: PSN: Michigan | MJD: Michigan
Bitter rivals meet up at The Big House where Michigan seems to have found it’s footing. Could be a fun finale vs Ohio State and a major wrench in the CFB Playoffs.
West Virginia Mountaineers (3-6) at Kansas State Wildcats (6-3)
Game Time: 3:30 pm at Bill Snyder Stadium, Manhattan, KS.
Line: Kansas State -14.5
Pick: PSN: Kansas State | MJD: Kansas State
That’s enough picking WVU for me. Hopefully K-State lays 70 on them.
#1 LSU Tigers (9-0) at Mississippi Rebels (4-6)
Game Time: 7:00 pm at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, Oxford, MS.
Line: LSU -19.5
Pick: PSN: LSU | MJD: LSU
LSU looks to avoid a letdown after taking care of Alabama last week. No sweat for the Tigers.
NFL
Thursday, November 14th
Pittsburgh Steelers (5-4) at Cleveland Browns (3-6)
Game Time: 8:20 pm at Browns Stadium, Cleveland, OH.
Line: Cleveland -3.5
Pick: PSN: Pittsburgh | MJD: Pittsburgh
Big game for both teams, as a Steelers win put them at 6-4, with Cinci and these same Browns in the next two games. 8-4 sounds mighty tasty! The Browns, though, could find rejuvenation with a win tonight, which would be two straight, with Miami next up. The Steelers defense will force enough Baker turnovers where he could set up a factory to sell them to the Dawg Pound. Hope they’re hungry.
Sunday, November 17th
Buffalo Bills (6-3) at Miami Dolphins (2-7)
Game Time: 1:00 pm at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami, FL.
Line: Buffalo -5.5
Pick: PSN: Buffalo | MJD: Buffalo
The Fish don’t appear to be in tanking mode anymore, so this game actually makes me nervous. The Bills lost to Cleveland last week so them screwing me here wouldn’t be too big of a surprise…
New Orleans Saints (7-2) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-6)
Game Time: 1:00 pm at Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL.
Line: New Orleans -5.5
Pick: PSN: New Orleans | MJD: New Orleans
Speaking of getting screwed… I had the Saints in a Survivor Poll last week, where they lost to a 1-7 Falcons team. I had better get reparations in this game, big time, or I’m setting up protests.
Houston Texans (6-3) at Baltimore Ravens (7-2)
Game Time: 1:00 pm at M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, MD.
Line: Baltimore -4.5
Pick: PSN: Houston | MJD: Houston
The Ravens have been on a roll, but so have the Texans. I smell an upset in the making behind the arm and legs of Deshaun Watson.
New England Patriots (8-1) at Philadelphia Eagles (5-4)
Game Time: 4:25 pm at Lincoln Financial Stadium, Philadelphia, PA.
Line: New England -3.5
Pick: PSN: New England | MJD: New England
Tom Brady should be frothing at the mouth in anticipation of carving up the Eagle’s secondary.
Pick Results
PSN: Last Week: 5-5 | Overall: 60-50 — .545
MJD: Last Week: 5-5 | Overall: 58-52 -2 .527
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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