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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 2025-26 Against All Odds Champion?
Nothing like being kicked when you’re down.
Kick, after kick, after kick.
That would be Clemson, Pitt, the Steelers, Lions, Chargers, Broncos, and Packers… all losses.
A brutal 3-7 week now drops me back below .500 at 94-96. The same fate fell upon my dad, but he still holds a two game lead at 96-94.
It’s the last week of the NFL regular season, and now the quarterfinals of the College Football Playoffs, so we should have some great games in store in Week 20.
Hope everyone had a superb Christmas… now I say Happy New Year to all!
Catch you in 2026!
Week 20
Against All Odds Lines as of 12/29/2025
NCAA Football
Wednesday, December 31st
Cotton Bowl
#10 Miami (11-2) at #2 Ohio State (12-1)
Game Time: 7:30 PM
Venue: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX.
Vegas Line: Ohio State -9.5
The Pick: MPD: Miami | MJD: Miami
Can Miami’s Carson Beck muster up enough offense to keep pace with the Buckeyes? Something tells me this is going to be another defensive battle regardless, so I like the Hurricanes to keep this one close, if not pull off the upset.
Thursday, January 1st
Orange Bowl
#5 Oregon (12-1) at #4 Texas Tech (12-1)
Game Time: 12:00 PM
Venue: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, FL.
Vegas Line: Oregon -2.5
The Pick: MPD: Oregon | MJD: Texas Tech
This is going to be a fun one to watch, and as much as Ohio State vs Miami might be a defensive war, this one might be who scores last. I like Dante Moore and the Ducks to stand tall when this one ends.
Rose Bowl
#9 Alabama (11-3) at #1 Indiana (13-0)
Game Time: 4:00 PM
Venue: Rose Bowl, Pasadena, CA.
Vegas Line: Indiana -6.5
The Pick: MPD: Indiana | MJD: Alabama
Old Guard vs New Guard. It’s pretty refreshing to see the Hoosiers infusing some new blood into the playoffs. I watched Fernando Mendoza when he was at Cal and faced Pitt at Acrisure Stadium. Never saw this coming, but his hard work and effort has paid off, and he’ll be the reason Indiana takes care of business against the Tide in this one.
Sugar Bowl
#6 Ole Miss (12-1) at #3 Georgia (12-1)
Game Time: 8:00 PM
Venue: Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, LA.
Vegas Line: Georgia -6.5
The Pick: MPD: Ole Miss | MJD: Ole Miss
Two very good teams here, so I’m having a hard time not seeing this one come down to a field goal.
NFL
Saturday, January 3rd
Carolina (8-8) at Tampa Bay (7-9)
Game Time: 4:30 PM
Vegas Line: Tampa Bay -2.5
The Pick: MPD: Carolina | MJD: Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay has been in a free fall, and that will continue as Bryce Young and the Panthers will shock the Bucs again and win the NFC South division title.
Seattle (13-3) at San Francisco (12-4)
Game Time: 8:00 PM
Vegas Line: Seattle -1.5
The Pick: MPD: San Francisco | MJD: San Francisco
Winner becomes the #1 seed in the NFC, and with how Brock Purdy and the 49ers have been rolling despite the many injuries they’ve suffered, I’m not betting against them at home against the Seahawks.
Sunday, January 4th
Cleveland (4-12) at Cincinnati (6-10)
Game Time: 1:00 PM
Vegas Line: Cincinnati -6.5
The Pick: MPD: Cincinnati | MJD: Cincinnati
The Bengals and Joe Burrow will show the Steelers how to play offense against an inept Browns team.
Indianapolis (8-8) at Houston (11-5)
Game Time: 1:00 PM
Vegas Line: Houston -11.5
The Pick: MPD: Indianapolis | MJD: Indianapolis
Houston will be playing to secure the top wild card spot, but I don’t like their offense enough to take down the Colts by double digits.
NY Jets (3-13) at Buffalo (11-5)
Game Time: 4:25 PM
Vegas Line: Buffalo -6.5
The Pick: MPD: Buffalo | MJD: Buffalo
Yoi… if Buffalo can’t muster up enough offense to beat the Jets by more than a touchdown, how do they expect to make a run in the AFC playoffs?
Baltimore (8-8) at Pittsburgh (9-7)
Game Time: 8:20 PM
Vegas Line: Baltimore -3.5
The Pick: MPD: Pittsburgh | MJD: Pittsburgh
The Steelers are the most unreadable team in modern history. It would only make sense for them to beat the Ravens and win the AFC North division after choking it away last week in Cleveland.
Against All Odds Results
MJD: Last Week: 3-7 | Overall: 96-94 — | (.505)
MPD: Last Week: 3-7 | Overall: 94-96 -2 | (.495)
Against All Odds: NCAA/NFL Picks History
2025-26 Champion:
2024-25 Champion: MPD
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 6-5-1)
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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