Against All Odds: NCAA and NFL Picks

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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 (MPD), 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. Pepsi vs Coke. 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 2023-24 Against All Odds Champion?

Week One is in the books, and after being backdoored not once, but twice, I ended up with a 2-3 record on the week to dad’s 3-2.

This week we’ll stick with five games again before ramping up to our normal ten!

Week 2

Against All Odds Lines as of 9/7/2023

NCAA

Saturday, September 9th

Delaware (1-0) at Penn State (1-0)

Game Time: 12:00 PM | Venue: Beaver Stadium at University Park, PA.

Vegas Line: Penn State -42.5

The Pick: MPD: Penn State | MJD: Penn State

Should be an easy go for James Franklin to run up the score this week. Guess he should get his kicks in while he can before facing better teams that may return the favor.

Duquesne (1-0) at West Virginia (0-1)

Game Time: 6:00 PM | Venue: Mountaineer Stadium, Morgantown, WV.

Vegas Line: West Virginia -27.5

The Pick: MPD: West Virginia | MJD: Duquesne

The Mountaineers face off against a Pittsburgh based team, but not the one they truly hate… they’ll have to wait another week for that one. If WVU doesn’t get caught looking ahead, they should cover. Then again, they didn’t look that impressive vs Penn State, so this game makes me a little nervous. Dad likes the Dukes to cover.

Cincinnati (1-0) at Pitt (1-0)

Game Time: 6:30 PM | Venue: Acrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh, PA.

Vegas Line: Pitt -7.5

The Pick: MPD: Pitt | MJD: Pitt

Much better competition for both squads who enjoyed toying with FCS teams last week.

Overall, Pitt is more talented than the Bearcats, who boast QB Emory Jones, a nifty dual threat. But Jones hasn’t seen the likes of what Pitt’s defense does in hunting quarterbacks, so he could be in for a long day. Pitt’s offense looked good last week with the debut of QB Phil Jurkovec, and for the most part, they held back from what they can really do. Pitt will open up that offense this week and by the 4th quarter, this game will be wrapped up by the Panthers.

NFL

Sunday, September 10th

San Francisco (0-0) at Pittsburgh (0-0)

Game Time: 1:00 PM | Venue: Acrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh, PA.

Vegas Line: San Francisco -2.5

The Pick: MPD: Pittsburgh | MJD: Pittsburgh

So you’re going to tell me a team is going to come 3,000 some miles across the country to play IN Pittsburgh against a vastly improved Steelers team and be favored? Not gonna happen.

The 49ers are one of the better teams in the NFC, but Pittsburgh is primed to make a run this year, and starting off at home in the opener for the first time since 2014 will see a mighty jazzed up Steelers team that feels a bit disrespected.

They’ll earn that respect by 4pm Sunday.

Cincinnati (0-0) at Cleveland (0-0)

Game Time: 1:00 PM | Venue: Cleveland Browns Stadium, Cleveland, OH.

Vegas Line: Cincinnati -2.5

The Pick: MPD: Cincinnati | MJD: Cincinnati

The Battle of Ohio… Will Joe Burrow be ok after suffering a calf injury early in camp? Will Deshaun Watson play like he did in previous years? This will be a fun game to watch alongside the Steelers game. I like the Bengals to win on a late field goal.

Against All Odds Pick Results

MJD: Last Week: 3-2 | Overall: 3-2 —

MPD: Last Week: 2-3 | Overall: 2-3 -1

Against All Odds: NCAA/NFL Picks History

2023-24 Champion:

2022-23 Champion: MPD

2021-22 Champion: MJD

2020-21 Champion: MJD

2019-20 Champion: MJD

2018-19 Champion: MJD

2017-18 Champion: MPD

2016-17 Champion: MJD

2015-16 Champion: MJD

2014-15 Champion: MPD

2013-14 Champion: MPD

(MJD leads series 6-4)

About Post Author

Mike Drakulich

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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http://ngscsports.com

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Mike DrakulichYour source for Pittsburgh sports!

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!