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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 two is in the books, and as bad a week as both my dad and I had, it was bland in comparison to the games played by both Pitt and the Steelers.
Two teams with high expectations had those visions shattered, both at home to boot.
Overcoming adversity is all about bouncing back, which is what both dad and I plan to do in the week three edition, where we differ on just one game.
Come week four, will everyone feel retribution has been served? We shall see…
Week 3
Against All Odds Lines as of 9/14/2023
NCAA
Saturday, September 16th
#7 Penn State (2-0) at Illinois (1-1)
Game Time: 12:00 PM | Venue: Memorial Stadium, Champaign, IL.
Vegas Line: Penn State -14.5
The Pick: MPD: Penn State | MJD: Illinois
Penn State has looked good at home, but face a stiffer test on the road. Will this be a game where the Nittany Lions stumble a bit? Nah, not this week. Dad likes the Illini to at least make the cover.
Pitt (1-1) at West Virginia (1-1)
Game Time: 7:30 PM | Venue: Mountaineer Stadium, Morgantown, WV.
Vegas Line: West Virginia -1.5
The Pick: MPD: Pitt | MJD: Pitt
The Backyard Brawl… a fierce rivalry that dates back to 1896. The two foes are separated by just an hour or so, and the hate and vitriol is as evident as ever.
WVU fans will be hungry in prime time to watch their Mountaineers defeat the hated city boys, but like last year, the only satisfaction the ‘Eers fanbase is going to get is finding roadkill on the way back to their huts in the hills. The WVU secondary is below average, and that is the weakness that Pitt will prey upon, as Phil Jurkovec will have a major bounceback game, and the Panthers will silence a belligerent crowd once again, as they did in 2007… oh yeah, remember that 13-9 game?
NFL
Sunday, September 17th
Baltimore (1-0) at Cincinnati (0-1)
Game Time: 1:00 PM | Venue: M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, MD.
Vegas Line: Cincinnati -3.5
The Pick: MPD: Cincinnati | MJD: Cincinnati
Joe Burrow and the Bengals were pasted by the Browns last week, and face the danger of 0-2 at the hands of the Ravens. Backed into a corner, I believe Cincinnati will find their footing and take down a Baltimore team hit by injuries.
Seattle (0-1) at Detroit (1-0)
Game Time: 1:00 PM | Venue: Ford Field, Detroit, MI.
Vegas Line: Detroit -4.5
The Pick: MPD: Detroit | MJD: Detroit
Detroit shocked everyone by taking down the Chiefs in the NFL season opener. Now the Lions look to keep their winning ways going vs the Seahawks who were clobbered by the Rams in week one.
Monday, September 18th
Cleveland (1-0) at Pittsburgh (0-1)
Game Time: 8:15 PM | Venue: Acrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh, PA.
Vegas Line: Cleveland -2.5
The Pick: MPD: Pittsburgh | MJD: Pittsburgh
It was a beating of epic proportions. That’s what the 49ers did to the Steelers last week. Now the Browns come to town, favored, to send the Steelers to an 0-2 record… I don’t think so Joel. The Steelers love prime time games, and Kenny Pickett will get the offense going this week and get a much needed win. Why? If not, it could be curtains for the season. The Browns being favored is a sucker bet.
Against All Odds Pick Results
MJD: Last Week: 1-4 | Overall: 4-6 —
MPD: Last Week: 2-3 | Overall: 4-6 —
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)
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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