Taking on the Impossible: NCAA and NFL Picks That Defy Expectations
Are you the kind of person who loves taking wild bets on football games, just to test your luck or to prove how unpredictable sports really are? Or maybe you just enjoy following a bold, off-the-wall sports columnist who dares to challenge the odds. If that sounds like you, you’ve come to the right place. Welcome to "Against All Odds: NCAA and NFL Picks," a weekly showdown running from the first kickoff of the football season all the way through the Super Bowl. I’m Mike Drakulich (MPD), the guy behind Pittsburgh SportsNation, and I’m locking horns with my father, Michael J. Drakulich (MJD), in a friendly yet fierce competition to pick NCAA and NFL games against the Vegas betting lines!
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During the football season, I also cover the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Pitt Panthers for the fantastic NGSCSports.com.
Each week, we make sure to include our favorite Western Pennsylvania teams—like Pitt, Penn State, West Virginia, and the Steelers—in our picks. This gives me plenty of chances to poke fun at rival teams I’m not a fan of, which sometimes stirs up a little heat from readers—but hey, it keeps weekends interesting!
Both my dad and I are pretty skilled at predicting outcomes, but don’t just take our word for it. Betting is a gamble, so when you decide to place your money on the line, it’s all on you. And if you win? Feel free to share your triumph with us!
The sports world is full of legendary rivalries—think Itchy vs. Scratchy, Pepsi vs. Coke, Black Spy vs. White Spy, or Cheers vs. Gary’s Old Towne Tavern. But none quite compare to the classic father vs. son battle! Who will emerge victorious as the 2025-26 "Against All Odds" champion? That’s the drama we’re watching unfold.
Last week promised a lot but left both of us disappointed. I ended up 5-5, clawing back a couple of wins on Dad, who had his roughest week at 3-7. After 60 games, we're neck-and-neck with identical 32-28 records.
It was a tough break, especially when teams like Penn State and the Philadelphia Eagles—both favorites—let me down. BYU’s last-minute defensive lapse let West Virginia sneak in a win, and Michigan once again couldn’t cover the spread for me.
Week 7 Picks (Lines as of October 8, 2025)
NCAA Football — Saturday, October 11
#1 Ohio State (5-0) vs. #17 Illinois (5-1) at 12:00 PM
- Vegas Line: Ohio State -14.5
- Picks: MPD bets on Ohio State; MJD chooses Illinois
- Ohio State’s tough defense should allow them to cover this generous two-touchdown spread against Illinois.
Pitt (3-2) at #25 Florida State (3-2) at 12:00 PM
- Vegas Line: Florida State -10.5
- Picks: Both MPD and MJD are siding with Pitt
- What a turnaround for Pitt! After switching quarterbacks from Eli Holstein to Mason Heintschel, they crushed Boston College 48-7. With a real threat under center, I expect the Panthers not just to cover the spread on the road but to hand Florida State their third straight loss.
#7 Indiana (5-0) at #3 Oregon (5-0) at 3:30 PM
See AlsoOhio State vs. Wisconsin: Players React to Bielema's Comments, Carnell Tate's Big Game Prediction!- Vegas Line: Oregon -8.5
- Picks: MPD picks Indiana; MJD bets on Oregon
- Oregon is undeniably strong, but Indiana’s offense can keep the game tight, possibly making this a one-possession battle in Eugene.
Northwestern (3-2) at Penn State (3-2) at 3:30 PM
- Vegas Line: Penn State -22.5
- Picks: MPD takes Northwestern; MJD goes with Penn State
- Penn State, once a powerhouse, is now unranked and struggling. Could this massive spread be an overestimation?
#15 Michigan (4-1) at USC (4-1) at 7:30 PM
- Vegas Line: USC -2.5
- Picks: Both MPD and MJD back Michigan
- If Michigan hopes to break into the College Football Playoff conversation, this road win against USC is critical.
NFL — Sunday, October 11
Cleveland (1-4) at Pittsburgh (3-1) at 1:00 PM
- Vegas Line: Pittsburgh -4.5
- Picks: Both of us trust Pittsburgh here
- The Steelers are shaping up to be a solid defensive team, facing a Browns squad struggling to find the end zone.
Denver (3-2) at NY Jets (0-5) at 1:00 PM
- Vegas Line: Denver -6.5
- Picks: Both choose Denver
- After Denver and Bo Nix’s upset over undefeated Philadelphia last week, as long as they don’t underestimate the winless Jets, expect Denver to win comfortably.
LA Rams (3-2) at Baltimore (1-4) at 1:00 PM
- Vegas Line: LA Rams -6.5
- Picks: Both sides back the Rams
- Just when the Ravens think things can’t get worse, they face the Rams’ explosive offense. Watch for LA and Matt Stafford to put on a scoring clinic.
Cincinnati (2-3) at Green Bay (2-1-1) at 4:25 PM
- Vegas Line: Green Bay -14.5
- Picks: MPD goes for Cincinnati; MJD picks Green Bay
- Usually the easy call would be Green Bay, but with Joe Flacco now in Cincinnati, throwing deep to Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, the Bengals could keep it closer than expected, maybe within 10 to 13 points, especially remembering Green Bay’s recent loss to the Browns.
San Francisco (4-1) at Tampa Bay (4-1) at 4:25 PM
- Vegas Line: Tampa Bay -2.5
- Picks: Both sides bet on Tampa Bay
- Baker Mayfield’s entertaining style, armed with talented weapons, could finally trip up the injury-riddled 49ers. This might be the week their luck runs out.
Against All Odds Weekly Results
- MJD Last Week: 3-7 | Overall: 32-28 (Winning Percentage: .533)
- MPD Last Week: 5-5 | Overall: 32-28 (Winning Percentage: .533)
History of Champions
- 2025-26: TBD
- 2024-25: MPD
- 2023-24: MPD & MJD (tie)
- 2022-23: MPD
- 2021-22: MJD
- 2020-21: MJD
- 2019-20: MJD
- 2018-19: MJD
- 2017-18: MPD
- 2016-17: MJD
- 2015-16: MJD
- 2014-15: MPD
- 2013-14: MPD
(MJD currently leads the overall series 6-5-1.)
About the Author
Mike Drakulich hails from Midland, dubbed "The Basketball Capital of Pennsylvania," located about 35 miles northwest of Pittsburgh along the Ohio River. This former steel town boasts a legacy of legendary athletes, including Dave Alston, Norm Van Lier, Simmie Hill, and the iconic 1965 Midland High School Basketball Team.
There is simply no place on earth more passionately devoted to its sports teams than Western Pennsylvania and the city of Pittsburgh. The pride and loyalty of Pittsburgh fans are unmatched, spanning the NFL, NHL, MLB, NCAA football and basketball, and the high school level through W.P.I.A.L. “The City of Champions” truly lives up to its name.
As Editor of Pittsburgh SportsNation, Mike offers insightful, well-informed opinions and coverage on the Pittsburgh Steelers, Penguins, Pirates, the Pitt Panthers football and basketball teams, Robert Morris Colonials basketball, Duquesne Dukes basketball, and all Western Pennsylvania sports squads including high school football.
For a fresh take on sports mixed with humor and candid commentary, be sure to follow Pittsburgh SportsNation on Facebook, Twitter (@PghSportsNation), and catch their videos on YouTube, which have amassed over 1,000,000 views.
Now, what’s your take? Do you think the Panthers can really shock Florida State? Is Joe Flacco the X-factor that will make Cincinnati competitive against Green Bay? Or is this just another set of predictions that will fall short? Let us know your thoughts and join the heated debate in the comments below!
