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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 the best five Bowl games of the week 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?
Like the Steelers and Pitt offenses, the bottom fell out for both my dad and I last week in Odds. My dad beat me with a record of 3-7… that’s pretty bad. I went 2-8 thanks to about six teams screwing me in the final few minutes of the game. As for WVU shafting me for the 6th straight week? They got kicked from the island for the last full week of NCAA games… enough was enough.
Next week it’s all NFL as there is only one NCAA regular season game left… that being Army vs Navy on December 14th.
Against All Odds: NCAA/NFL Picks- Thanksgiving/Rivalry Week!
Lines as of 11/27/2019
NCAA Football
Saturday, November 30th
#1 Ohio State Buckeyes (11-0) at #13 Michigan Wolverines (9-2)
Game Time: Noon at Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, MI.
Line: Ohio State -9.5
Pick: PSN: Michigan | MJD: Michigan
The Team From Up North as my dad wrote back in picks is rolling right now. They have been since halftime of the Penn State game. Ohio State is ranked #1 right now, already blowing away Michigan State and Wisconsin while they were ranked. They were on their way to another big victory last week before imitating Baker Mayfield and turning the ball over like six drives in a row, allowing Penn State to cover and costing me a win in odds. The Wolverines haven’t beaten the Buckeyes in seven years, but what better way to make up for those losses than booting your most hated rival right out of the college football playoffs? Yes, I am calling not only for the cover, but Michigan outright… chalk it up! Go Blue!
Rutgers Scarlet Knights (2-9) at #10 Penn State Nittany Lions (9-2)
Game Time: 3:30 at Beaver Stadium, University Park, PA.
Line: Penn State -38.5
Pick: PSN: Penn State | MJD: Penn State
Penn State shouldn’t have any problem doing what they do best…. beating up bad teams when it doesn’t count.
#5 Alabama Crimson Tide (10-1) at #15 Auburn Tigers (8-3)
Game Time: 3:30 p.m. at Jordan-Hare Stadium, Auburn, AL.
Line: Alabama -4.5
Pick: PSN: Alabama | MJD: Alabama
I find myself conflicted in this one, especially with the War Eagle being at home, but in the end, I ended up going with Alabama, as even without Tua Tagovailoa, the Tide remains formidable. Mac Jones keeps Bama’s slim hopes alive for a CFP berth.
Boston College Eagles (5-7) at Pitt Panthers (7-4)
Game Time: 3:30 pm at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, PA.
Line: Pitt -9.5
Pick: PSN: Pitt | MJD: Pitt
Pitt ends the regular season not as they wanted to… playing for a chance to win the ACC Coastal division. Those hopes disappeared last week in their lackluster appearance vs Virginia Tech, in which Pitt’s receivers had more drops than an AT&T call in the country. 8-4 sounds better than 7-5, so expect the Panther’s defense to shut down the Eagles and the offense to bounce back from last week’s debacle.
Florida State Seminoles (6-5) at #11 Florida Gators (9-2)
Game Time: 7:30 pm at Florida Field, Gainesville, FL.
Line: Florida -17.5
Pick: PSN: Florida State | MJD: Florida
Florida State has sucked all season, but in a rivalry game such as this, I can’t envision the Seminoles getting carved up by that much by their rivals from up north.
#7 Oklahoma Sooners (10-1) at #21 Oklahoma State Cowboys (8-3)
Game Time: 8:00 p.m. at Boone-Pickens Stadium, Stillwater, OK.
Line: Oklahoma -12.5
Pick: PSN: Oklahoma State | MJD: Oklahoma
Like the game above, this is a rivalry, and these games almost always come down to the 4th quarter, if not the end. Oklahoma wins, but not by double digits.
NFL
Thanksgiving Day
Chicago Bears (5-6) at Detroit Lions (3-7-1)
Game Time: 12:30 pm at Ford Field, Detroit, MI.
Line: Chicago -3.5
Pick: PSN: Chicago | MJD: Detroit
The Lions are coming apart like that dummy in Airplane!, and with Matt Stafford out and Jeff Driskel hurting, the Detroit figures to be an early turkey dinner for the Bears.
Buffalo Bills (8-3) at Dallas Cowboys (6-5)
Game Time: 4:30 pm at AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX.
Line: Dallas -6.5
Pick: PSN: Dallas | MJD: Dallas
Buffalo is 8-3 somehow… oh, yeah, they play a weak schedule. As for Dallas, if you thought Jerry Jones was pissed last week when they lost up at New England, God help them if they find a way to lose this week.
New Orleans Saints (9-2) at Atlanta Falcons (3-8)
Game Time: 8:20 pm at Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Line: New Orleans -6.5
Pick: PSN: New Orleans | MJD: New Orleans
The Saints have been very average despite their lofty 9-2 record. They lost to these very same Falcons a few weeks ago, costing me my run in my Yahoo! Elimination Poll. By the time you are polishing off your 3rd feeding of the day, the Saints will have this wrapped up.
Sunday, December 1st
Cleveland Browns (4-6) at Pittsburgh Steelers (6-5)
Game Time: 1:00 pm at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, PA.
Line: Cleveland -2.5
Pick: PSN: Pittsburgh | MJD: Pittsburgh
Cleveland wanted their rivalry back with Pittsburgh. Well, the bug does not have a rivalry with the windshield. It’s funny the scum from that filthy city in Ohio are acting like they’ve won the Super Bowl, but honestly fools… you’ve beaten the Steelers EIGHT times in 25 years. EIGHT! You won’t get to nine this year, as revenge is a dish best served cold, and it will be very cold on Sunday afternoon. The Steelers, even with Duck Hodges, will send the Browns hopes of making the playoffs right into the rubble that was Municipal Stadium.
Pick Results
PSN: Last Week: 2-8 | Overall: 69-61 — .530
MJD: Last Week: 3-7 | Overall: 66-64 -3 .507
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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