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Are you a degenerate gambler? Perhaps you’re someone who picks games against the spread just for fun and to see how smart you really aren’t? If this describes you, or if you just like to be entertained by a crazy sports columnist, you’re in luck, because you’ve stumbled across Against All Odds: NCAA and NFL Picks, a weekly post from the start of the football season, all the way to the Super Bowl, where me, Mike Drakulich (PSN), the man behind Pittsburgh SportsNation, takes on my father, Michael J. Drakulich (MJD), in picking NCAA and NFL games against the Vegas line! Check out the Draftkings welcome offer to see how you can win big and find many bonuses.
I cover both the Pittsburgh Steelers and Pitt Panthers during the season for the fabulous NGSCSports.com!
Normally, we always include the local teams here in Western Pennsylvania, which are Pitt, Penn State, West Virginia, and the Pittsburgh Steelers among our weekly picks. This gives me the chance to take shots at the opposing teams I really dislike, enraging certain readers, and adding delight to my busy weekends.
All in all, both my dad and I are pretty good at picking these games, but don’t take our word for it. You’re on your own when you place your bets, so don’t blame us if you lose… but you can share your winnings with us if you wish.
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 2021-22 Against All Odds Champion?
Against All Odds: NCAA and NFL Picks
Week 1
It’s September, and although Summer is coming to an end, football season certainly softens the blow from beautiful weather to cooler days and eventually….Winter.
Against All Odds enters it’s ninth season as my dad and I square off for another year picking vs the Vegas line.
Checking our stats against other “experts” shows me that we both do a pretty good job in picking these games, and believe me, when it comes to winning, to quote Captain Kirk, “I don’t like to lose.”
So sit back, relax, and get your remote ready… football is back, as are we! Enjoy the show, this will be our best year yet!
Lines as of 9/1/2021
NCAA
Saturday, September 4th
#19 Penn State (0-0) at #12 Wisconsin (0-0)
Game Time: 12:00 PM at Camp Randall Stadium, Madison, WI.
Vegas Line: Wisconsin -4.5
The Pick: PSN: Wisconsin | MJD: Wisconsin
Last season was an abject disaster for Penn State, who started off 0-5 before winning their last four to finish 4-5. The Nittany Lions have also won four straight vs Wisconsin. That streak will end as the Badgers will prove to be too much to handle at home.
#1 Alabama (0-0) at #14 Miami (FL) (0-0)
Game Time: 3:30 PM at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA.
Vegas Line: Alabama -20.5
The Pick: PSN: Alabama | MJD: Alabama
This would’ve been a great game in the 90’s, but “The U” isn’t quite what they used to be. The Tide is gonna roll and club Miami like a pinata.
#17 Indiana (0-0) at #18 Iowa (0-0)
Game Time: 3:30 PM at Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, IA.
Vegas Line: Iowa -3.5
The Pick: PSN: Iowa | MJD: Iowa
Indiana had a nice year last year, but it’s tough to bet against Iowa at home. Hawkeyes survive a close one.
West Virginia (0-0) at Maryland (0-0)
Game Time: 3:30 PM at Maryland Stadium, College Park, MD.
Vegas Line: WVU -3.5
The Pick: PSN: WVU | MJD: Maryland
This will be WVU’s shortest road-trip all season, so the roadkill pickings will be slim coming back from a hard fought victory in the season opener. Hey, beggars can’t be choosers. Cheers to moonshine and raccoon kabobs around the bonfire Saturday night in Morgantown.
UMass (0-0) at Pitt (0-0)
Game Time: 4:00 PM at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, PA.
Vegas Line: Pitt -37.5
The Pick: PSN: Pitt | MJD: Pitt
Panther fans, like yours truly, are weary of the excuses and four decades of average football. The heat is on for Pat Narduzzi, so the Pitt head coach had better deliver a product that Pitt fans can finally be proud of. This year’s team has all the tools available and we will get a good glimpse of what to expect if Pitt hands UMass a beating like it should receive. Look for QB Kenny Pickett, WR Jordan Addison, and RB Isreal Abanikanda to shine offensively, and for the Panthers to continue their dominance getting to the opposing quarterbacks.
#23 LA Lafayette (0-0) at #21 Texas (0-0)
Game Time: 4:30 PM at Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium, Austin, TX.
Vegas Line: Texas -9.5
The Pick: PSN: Texas | MJD: LA Lafayette
This might be a tougher game than it looks, but if the Longhorns want to return to the spotlight, they will need to carve up teams that enter their house. Hook ’em horns… Texas wins big.
San Jose State (1-0) at #15 USC (0-0)
Game Time: 5:00 PM at LA Coliseum, Los Angeles, CA.
Vegas Line: USC -13.5
The Pick: PSN: USC | MJD: USC
The Trojans, like Texas and Miami, haven’t put up teams that many of us expect of such a great program, so an opening game thumping of a team they should dominate should put them on the path we’ve always known them to be on.
#5 Georgia (0-0) at #3 Clemson (0-0)
Game Time: 7:30 PM at Bank of America, Charlotte, NC.
Vegas Line: Clemson -3.5
The Pick: PSN: Georgia | MJD: Clemson
Trevor Lawrence is gone and the beating Clemson took at the hands of Ohio State still loom large entering the 2021 season. D.J. Uiagalelei takes over at QB and has a chance to show right off the bat that Clemson football is still at the top of their game. This game will be played at the home of the Carolina Panthers, and even though this game is closer for the Tigers than it is for Georgia, I think the Bulldogs will find a way to be the ones standing tall at the end of this one.
#16 LSU (0-0) at UCLA (1-0)
Game Time: 8:30 PM at Rose Bowl, Pasadena, CA.
Vegas Line: LSU -3.5
The Pick: PSN: LSU | MJD: UCLA
Big opportunity for UCLA to vault back into the national spotlight if they can find a way to defeat one of the game’s premier programs in LSU. Be sure to check out rising prospect #37 Quentin Lake, a defensive back for the Bruins who is the son of Steeler’s great Carnell Lake.
Sunday, September 5th
#9 Notre Dame (0-0) at Florida State (0-0)
Game Time: 7:30 PM at Doak Campbell Stadium
Vegas Line: Notre Dame -7.5
The Pick: PSN: Notre Dame | MJD: Notre Dame
Florida State has fallen on hard times, and it won’t get much better after the Irish come to town and handle their business on Sunday night. Memory Eternal to the late great Bobby Bowden.
Against All Odds Pick Results
PSN: Last Week: 0-0 | Overall: 0-0 — (.000)
MJD: Last Week: 0-0 | Overall: 0-0 — (.000)
Against All Odds: NCAA/NFL Picks History
2020 Champion: MJD
2019 Champion: MJD
2018 Champion: MJD
2017 Champion: PSN
2016 Champion: MJD
2015 Champion: MJD
2014 Champion: PSN
2013 Champion: PSN
(MJD leads series 5-3)
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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