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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?
Just as Pitt has had their head handed to them the past two weeks, the same has been happening to me at the behest of my dad, who nearly ran the table last week going 8-2, upping his season record to 44-36, burying my weekly picks by four games, and extending his yearly lead over me to seven games.
So, basically, just bet against my picks, and you’ll be rolling in money in no time at all, as anyone I pick is destined to screw me one way or another.
Let’s see how bad I can get this week…
Week 11
Against All Odds Lines as of 11/9/2023
NCAA
Saturday, November 11th
#3 Michigan (9-0) at #10 Penn State (8-1)
Game Time: 12:00 PM
Vegas Line: Michigan -4.5
The Pick: MPD: Michigan | MJD: Michigan
Oh, baby, how we’ve been waiting for this game for quite some time. Penn State, the Turnstile Champions, have a chance to prove their worth once again against undefeated Michigan. Like so many times before, the only joy in Happy Valley will be how much they gush over how many of their fans will be in attendance… only to be dead silent and left at the altar again when the Wolverines come into town and extinguish their hopes and dreams once more. Go Blue!
Miami (FL) (6-3) at #4 Florida State (9-0)
Game Time: 3:30 PM
Vegas Line: Florida State -14.5
The Pick: MPD: Florida State | MJD: Miami
The bitter rivals meet in The Swamp where the Seminoles will be too tough for the Hurricanes to compete with.
#18 Utah (7-2) at #5 Washington (9-0)
Game Time: 3:30 PM
Vegas Line: Washington -9.5
The Pick: MPD: Washington | MJD: Utah
The Huskies continue their trek to compete in the College Football Playoffs, and the Utes will not be able pull the upset or make the cover.
Pitt (2-7) at Syracuse (4-5)
Game Time: 3:30 PM |
Vegas Line: Pitt -3.5
The Pick: MPD: Pitt | MJD: Pitt
Syracuse has lost five straight, not that Pitt has played much better, but the Panthers are due to rebound, and honestly, they should have been up 14-0 over Florida State last week, and possibly in line to pull the upset if some of the most “Pitt” things didn’t happen, like fumbling at the goal-line at what should have been an 82 yard touchdown, but turned into a touchback. Konata Mumpfield was facemasked on the play, but of course the refs missed it… and had several other questionable calls to boot. ACC Refs gonna do what they do.
West Virginia (6-3) at #17 Oklahoma (7-2)
Game Time: 7:30 PM
Vegas Line: Oklahoma -13.5
The Pick: MPD: West Virginia | MJD: West Virginia
WVU has played much better than preseason expectations, so why the hell could they not find a way to cover the spread against an overrated Oklahoma team?
NFL
Sunday, November 12th
Green Bay (3-5) at Pittsburgh (5-3)
Game Time: 1:00 PM
Vegas Line: Pittsburgh -3.5
The Pick: MPD: Pittsburgh | MJD: Pittsburgh
The Steelers are a team that does just enough to win, and with a mediocre Packers team coming to town, Pittsburgh will once again find a way to slug their way to another late victory.
Houston (4-4) at Cincinnati (5-3)
Game Time: 1:00 PM
Vegas Line: Cincinnati -6.5
The Pick: MPD: Cincinnati | MJD: Cincinnati
The Bengals and Joe Burrow are on fire, and the Texans, even with the red hot C.J. Stroud, will not be able to slow them down this week.
San Francisco (5-3) at Jacksonville (6-2)
Game Time: 1:00 PM
Vegas Line: San Francisco -3.5
The Pick: MPD: Jacksonville | MJD: San Francisco
San Francisco and Brock Purdy are showing some chinks in the armor lately, dropping three in a row… I won’t be shocked to see that streak extended to four.
Cleveland (5-3) at Baltimore (7-2)
Game Time: 1:00 PM
Vegas Line: Baltimore -6.5
The Pick: MPD: Baltimore | MJD: Cleveland
Baltimore is fresh off of destroying Seattle, and now the Browns will incur the Raven’s wrath this week.
Detroit (6-2) at LA Chargers (4-4)
Game Time: 4:05 PM
Vegas Line: Detroit -3.5
The Pick: MPD: Detroit | MJD: Detroit
The Chargers are a paper tiger, which the Lions, from Detroit, will expose.
Against All Odds Pick Results
MJD: Last Week: 8-2 | Overall: 44-36 —
MPD: Last Week: 5-5 | Overall: 37-43 -7
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
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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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