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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 minded 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 2024-25 Against All Odds Champion?
It’s been 24 weeks since we began the 2024-25 Against All Odds season, and yet it feels like it’s gone by in a flash.
In this year’s final edition, it all comes down to Super Bowl LIX between the two time defending champion Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles… and this game will also decide who takes the Against All Odds Championship.
Through eleven years, dad leads the series 6-4-1, and going into the last game of the year, I have a one game lead over him, with a record of 117-88 to his 116-89.
The easy way out would be to match his pick, but what fun would that be?
He is going with the Chiefs to cover and become the first team in NFL history to Three-Peat. I, as much as it pains me to ever, and I mean EVER pull for a team from Philadelphia, am going with the Eagles.
Let’s check out the preview to see just why.
Thank you all for reading my work week in and week out, from Against All Odds to my weekly Pittsburgh Steelers and Pitt Panthers GameDay Previews.
Be on the lookout in the coming days for my weekly Commentary (The DraX-Files: This Week in Pittsburgh Sports) to keep me busy until we start it all over again next September!
Week 23
Against All Odds Lines as of 2/7/2025
NFL
Sunday, February 9th
Super Bowl LIX
#2 Philadelphia (17-3) at #1 Kansas City (17-2)
Game Time: 6:30 PM | Venue: Superdome, New Orleans, LA.
Vegas Line: Kansas City -1.5
The Pick: MPD: Philadelphia | MJD: Kansas City
Super Bowl LIX is set, and once again the football world has yet to get rid of the Kansas City Chiefs, who will be going for the 3rd consecutive Lombardi Trophy, when they face-off against the Philadelphia Eagles, which will be a rematch of Super Bowl LVII, this Sunday at the Superdome in New Orleans.
The Chiefs have Patrick Mahomes at quarterback, and even though Mahomes isn’t surrounded by top notch offensive talent other than an aging Travis Kelce, he is the most clutch quarterback in the history of the game.
In other words, if he has the ball on the last drive, and he has the chance to either put your team away or make a game winning drive, your ass belongs to him.
He’ll make a back breaking play to someone, whether that be Kelce, Xavier Worthy, Juju Smith-Schuster, or as the Bills witnessed two weeks ago, Samaje Perine.
The Chiefs also seem to benefit from a game changing call now and then… or should I say calls?
The Kansas City defense is equal to the task with defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo dialing up calls out of nowhere to disrupt the opposing offenses.
As Adrian Balboa said to Rocky on the stairs in Rocky IV before departing to Russia… “You can’t win!!”
Not so fast, my friend.
To Adrian’s surprise, and Ivan Drago’s to boot, that dude from Philadelphia had other plans.
It’s true that the Chiefs have the better quarterback when comparing Mahomes to Jalen Hurts, and in coaching with Andy Reid going against Nick Sirianni, but the Eagles have the better team, from top to bottom.
Hurts has a great duo at wide receiver in A.J. Brown and DeVonte Smith, along with Dallas Goedert at tight end.
Philadelphia also has the resurgent Saquon Barkley, who lead the league with 2005 yards rushing and 13 touchdowns.
Barkley also caught 33 passes for 278 yards and another two touchdowns.
Hurts wasn’t too bad himself, passing for 2,903 yards, with 18 touchdown passes to just five interceptions, while adding 630 yards on the ground, and 14 rushing touchdowns.
The Eagles defense was also ranked #1 giving up just 278.4 yards per game, and 2nd in points allowed at 17.8.
Dad has the Chiefs here, and if he wins, we tie for the 2nd year in a row.
I could take the safe route, and win the season by going with Kansas City, but what fun would that be, especially when I truly think Mahomes and the Chiefs luck is going to run out on Sunday night?
Expect another great game, and one with plenty of points, but in the end, it pains me to say that the E-A-G-L-E-S will fly high, and knock off the back to back champs to claim their 2nd Super Bowl Championship in team history.
Against All Odds Results
MPD: Last Week: 0-2 | Overall: 117-88 — | (.571)
MJD: Last Week: 1-1 | Overall: 116-89 -1 | (.566)
Against All Odds: NCAA/NFL Picks History
2024-25 Champion:
2023-24 Champion: MPD & MJD
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 6-4-1)
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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