Against All Odds: Thanksgiving and Rivalry Edition

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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?

Another week of futility for yours truly, coming in with a dismal record of 3-7. Dad, however, is still rolling along strong as ever, and even though he went 5-5, he managed to extend his lead over me to 13 games, as he stands at 55-45 for the year.

It’s Thanksgiving Week, so we get treated to football from early Thursday all the way until Sunday night!

It’s also Rivalry Week, so we’ll get in as many incredible games as we can find this edition. It doesn’t get any better than Ohio State vs Michigan. Then again, tell me it wouldn’t be more fun this weekend with Pitt facing Penn State or West Virginia?

Who knows, maybe I’ll find a way to get a week above .500… if the Pittsburgh Steelers can fire offensive coordinator Matt Canada as they did Tuesday, anything is possible.

More than likely, it’ll be dad carving me up like the turkey we’ll all be eating around mid-afternoon this Thursday.

I’d like to say I am very thankful for any of the support you all give me with this weekly article, and my Pitt and Steelers Game Previews.

Also thankful for the best of friends and family, and for the awesome guys at NGSC Sports.

May you and all of your families have the best holiday possible!

Week 13

Against All Odds Lines as of 11/21/2023

NCAA

Thursday, November 23rd

#12 Mississippi (9-2) at Mississippi State (5-6)

Game Time: 7:30 PM

Vegas Line: Ole Miss -9.5

The Pick: MPD: Mississippi | MJD: Mississippi

The Rebels dispatch the Bulldogs easily in this one.

Friday, November 24th

#11 Penn State (9-2) at Michigan State (4-7)

Game Time: 7:30 PM

Vegas Line: Penn State -20.5

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

Not a big game, not a problem winning for Penn State, who will dismantle a very bad Spartans squad.

Texas Tech (6-5) at #7 Texas (10-1)

Game Time: 7:30 PM

Vegas Line: Texas -12.5

The Pick: MPD: Texas | MJD: Texas

The Longhorns keep their slim playoff hopes alive with ease vs the Red Raiders.

#16 Oregon State (8-3) at #6 Oregon (10-1)

Game Time: 8:30 PM

Vegas Line: Oregon -13.5

The Pick: MPD: Oregon | MJD: Oregon State

Ducks offense will be too much for the Beavers on Black Friday.

Saturday, November 25th

Pitt (3-8) at Duke (6-5)

Game Time: 12:00 PM

Vegas Line: Duke -6.5

The Pick: MPD: Pitt | MJD: Pitt

Pitt played quite well with Nate Yarnell under center and will do so again in their 2023 finale.

#2 Ohio State (11-0) at #3 Michigan (11-0)

Game Time: 12:00 PM

Vegas Line: Michigan -3.5

The Pick: MPD: Michigan | MJD: Michigan

Michigan once again crushes the hopes and dreams of their bitter rivals, with or without Jim Harbaugh on the sidelines.

#8 Alabama (10-1) at Auburn (6-5)

Game Time: 3:30 PM

Vegas Line: Alabama -14.5

The Pick: MPD: Alabama | MJD: Alabama

Roll Tide will bury War Eagle in this fierce rivalry in the South.

West Virginia (7-4) at Baylor (3-8)

Game Time: 7:00 PM

Vegas Line: WVU -8.5

The Pick: MPD: West Virginia | MJD: West Virginia

WVU bounced back well last week and should have no problem against a weak Baylor team, even on the road.

#4 Florida State (11-0) at Florida (5-6)

Game Time: 7:00 PM

Vegas Line: Florida State -6.5

The Pick: MPD: Florida State | MJD: Florida State

The Seminoles take care of business and keep their college football dreams intact over the Gators in The Swamp.

#1 Georgia (11-0) at Georgia Tech (6-5)

Game Time: 7:30 PM

Vegas Line: Georgia -24.5

The Pick: MPD: Georgia | MJD: Georgia Tech

The Dawgs will have little problem burying the Yellow Jackets.

NFL

Thursday, November 23rd

Green Bay (4-6) at Detroit (8-2)

Game Time: 12:30 PM

Vegas Line: Detroit -7.5

The Pick: MPD: Green Bay | MJD: Detroit

Detroit is finally playing a meaningful Thanksgiving Day game! The Lions will win here, but Green Bay will keep it closer than they will like.

Washington (4-7) at Dallas (7-3)

Game Time: 4:30 PM

Vegas Line: Dallas -10.5

The Pick: MPD: Dallas | MJD: Dallas

By the time the turkey is on the table, or at my house when we’ll be on our second helpings, Dallas will be ready to carve Washington’s defense up with a resurgent offense that is clicking under Dak Prescott. Question is… can they do this when it counts?

San Francisco (7-3) at Seattle (6-4)

Game Time: 8:20 PM

Vegas Line: San Francisco -6.5

The Pick: MPD: San Francisco | MJD: Seattle

The nightcap for Thanksgiving could be a blowout, as the 49ers are just playing above board now that they are fully healthy.

Friday, November 24th

Miami (7-3) at NY Jets (4-6)

Game Time: 3:00 PM

Vegas Line: Miami -9.5

The Pick: MPD: Miami | MJD: Miami

A Black Friday game in the NFL! Miami and their high powered offense pick up where the Bills left off in bombing the Jets defense.

Sunday, November 26th

Pittsburgh (6-4) at Cincinnati (5-5)

Game Time: 1:00 PM

Vegas Line: Pittsburgh -1.5

The Pick: MPD: Pittsburgh | MJD: Pittsburgh

No more Matt Canada!! Now the Steelers can finally begin to see what they have in quarterback Kenny Pickett, who was shackled under Canada’s tenure, as was Mitch Trubisky and Ben Roethlisberger before him. Under Canada, the team scored 42 touchdowns in 43 games.

Against All Odds Pick Results

MJD: Last Week: 5-5 | Overall: 55-45 —

MPD: Last Week: 3-7 | Overall: 42-58 -13

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!

[email protected]

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!