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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!
This is where, I, Mike Drakulich (MPD), the man behind Pittsburgh SportsNation, takes on my dad, 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 if you do make a wager!
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 week.ly 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?
Two weeks!
No, we’re not talking about how much longer it’s going to be till Walter Fielding’s house is no longer under construction, that’s all that’s left in this season of Against All Odds.
Dad almost had an undefeated week, but those pesky Chicago Bears took the LA Rams to overtime and that resulted in his lone loss. That was good for me, cause if that didn’t happen, we both would be tied… but, thankfully for me, I hold a two game lead with three games to play with a record of 110-103 to his 108-105.
It’s the NFC and AFC Championship Games this time around, and we have two games that should come down to the wire, and decide who will be playing in Super Bowl LX.
Let’s see what we have on tap…
Week 23
Against All Odds Lines as of 1/23/2026
NFL
Sunday, January 25th
AFC Championship
#2 New England (16-3) at #1 Denver (15-3)
Game Time: 3:00 PM
Vegas Line: New England -5.5
The Pick: MPD: New England | MJD: New England
Two teams that have very tough defenses and young quarterbacks… well, one of those young QB’s should have been Bo Nix, but he broke his ankle in Overtime against Buffalo, so it will be up to Jarrett Stidham, a six-year back-up out of Auburn, to lead the Broncos back to the Super Bowl.
Not going to happen, bub.
I think Drake Maye will stay calm, cool, and collected, and elevate his play just enough to send the dreaded New England Patriots back to chasing another Lombardi Trophy.
NFC Championship
#5 LA Rams (14-5) at #1 Seattle (15-3)
Game Time: 6:30 PM
Vegas Line: Seattle -2.5
The Pick: MPD: LA Rams | MJD: LA Rams
The Seahawks have been on quite a roll since losing to… the LA Rams 21-19 in Week 11. They’ve won eight straight games since.
Honestly, many have forgotten that the Rams should have swept Seattle, as LA blew a 30-14 4th quarter lead on December 18th, stunning the Rams 38-37 in Overtime when the Seahawks converted a two-point conversion to win the game with no time left.
As good as Sam Darnold and Jaxon Smith-Njigba has been, their luck will run out this time as Matthew Stafford, Puka Nacua, and Davante Adams will prove to be too much to overcome when they meet for the rubber match.
Against All Odds Results
MPD: Last Week: 3-2 | Overall: 110-103 — | (.516)
MJD: Last Week: 4-1| Overall: 108-105 -2 | (.507)
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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