NFL 13 Mid Season Picks

With week 9 almost over its time to pick my midseason picks.

AFC
East: Patriots (7-2)
Sure the Jets have beaten the Pats and the Saints; theyve also lost to the Steelers and Titans. I just dont see them finishing ahead of the Patriots.
North: Ravens Bengals (6-3)
I dont know what I was thinking. The Ravens are dead to me. Im happy the won the Super Bowl last year but Im over it now.
South: Colts (5-2)
AFC South? Who cares.
West: Broncos (7-1)
This is the division to watch. I feel like the Broncos are going to win out but its going to be up to them to stop the Chiefs because it doesnt look like anyone else is up to the challenge.
Wildcard: Chiefs (9-0), Titans (4-4)
One of the wildcard spots is going to either the Broncos or Chiefs. The other, who frickin knows. Im going to stick with the Titans, not because I think theyre any more likely than any one else but because I picked them in the early season.

NFC
East: Cowboys (5-4)
Apparently a last minute win against the 1-7 Vikings is a big deal in the NFC East.
North: Lions (5-3)
The Lions are going to need help if theyre going to beat out the Packers. This is why Ill be rooting for the Bears tomorrow night.
South: Saints (6-2)
The Panthers are only a game behind, flying high on a 4 game winning streak, but those 4 wins are against teams with a total of 6 combined wins.
West: Seahawks (8-1)
I suppose the 49ers could catch the Seahawks but its not going to happen.
Wildcard: 49ers (6-2), Packers (5-2)
The Panthers and Bears have a shot. I probably should have the Lions here if Im being honest.

So Im sticking with my initial picks, with the exception of the Ravens. I still like the Broncos and Seahawks in the Super Bowl.

Early Season Picks 2013

Holy moly, Its already week 7 of the NFL season and I havent given my early season picks. So, here they are.

AFC East: New England Patriots. Lets face it folks, this division doesnt really want to go to the playoffs this season. None of the teams have looked that great but fortunately for the Patriots, someone has to represent the East.
AFC North: Baltimore Ravens. While none of these teams are doing particularly well either (1-4 Steelers, WTF) I think the Ravens have had some tough losses and will pick things up in the second third of the season.
AFC South: Indianapolis Colts.
AFC West: Denver Broncos. 16-0? 19-0?
Wildcard: Kansas City Chiefs, Tennessee Titans

NFC East: Dallas Cowboys. Again, there has to be a division winner. I think the Cowboys lose the least amount of games.
NFC North: Detroit Lions. This may be wishful thinking but Im going for it.
NFC South: New Orleans Saints.
NFC West: Seattle Seahawks. This will be the team to beat in the playoffs.
Wildcard: Green Bay Packers, San Francisco 49ers

I havent paid nearly as much attention this year as in the past so youll have to cut me some slack for pretty much matching up with the "If the season ended now" scenario. My Super Bowl pick is the Broncos over the Seahawks.

Project 185 Update

Hudsy McBudsy and I have been busy running the last couple weeks. Weve completed the first 3 weeks of the Couch to 5K running program. This, along with keeping a pretty good record of what Ive been eating, has allowed me to lose 7.3 pound. I have about 25 pounds to go and 2 and a half months to get there.

Just the Two of Us

Apparently Ive started 3 different posts over the last few months and didnt finish any of them. Not a one of there was more than half done and they all had the same basic theme. Heres the gist...

Ive given myself 3 months to get back to the weight I was when we moved back to Michigan, 185 pounds. Theres no reason why I cant be at that weight and maintain it. Daddys gotta look good in his swim trunks while were floating around the Atlantic Ocean on our cruise. I plan on using both exercise and diet to get there. According to Wii Fit Plus, I have about 30 pounds to lose and heres how I plan on doing it.

(Boobie girl for Teresa) ---->

Hudson and I have been out doing the Couch to 5k training. (Today was day 2.) Its the same thing I started four months ago in November. I got through almost the entire training but then completely stopped 2 months ago. Weve started from the beginning but I think we might take fewer days off. In addition to the running, I plan to be a good dog owner and start walking him on non running days. I also am looking forward to the Spring so I can get the bike out.

As for the eating. Ive started counting calories, again. Im using Fat Secret to keep track of all the eating. They have a mobile app that lets you scan bar codes and automatically puts the nutrition facts in. They help you track how many calories youre burning in a day. You can join groups and challenges. Additionally, I will be using better eating practices. No more fried eggs, eat oatmeal for breakfast at least 3 mornings a week, eating only sugar free Jello after 8, no more pop. Perhaps the most difficult thing Im going to try to do is stop eating food at work that has been fried. This means no more snacking on chips. No more tortilla chips or potato chips or French fries. This is probably the most important step to my success. Theyre always out. They taste good enough.

The Gazelle Man

As part of my ongoing attempt to lose weight I have decided to take up running. I went out a couple times the last couple weeks but quickly realized that Adidas Sambas are not running shoes and will only destroy my legs and feet if I attempt to run in them.

Today I took my fat ass over to the Gazelle Sports and got myself a proper pair of running shoes. After trying on about 4 different styles and a couple different sizes I settled on a pair of New Balance 860v3. They were as comfortable as any of the others I tried on. Style wise they were less flashy than most of the others. (Apparently runners really want you to look at their feet.) And the deciding factor was that they are Made in the USA (of imported materials). A fact that I think is exclusive to New Balance in the running shoe industry.

When Id made my decision, my assistant asked what kind of socks I was planning on wearing with the shoes. My response: What do you recommend? After spending more on footwear than Ive ever spent in my life I decided Id better get some good socks to go with them. We headed over to the $16-$20 per pair of sock section of the store and she explained to me all the benefits of these magical foot devices. They were also running a buy 3 get 1 free special on socks. Anyone who knows me knows that I can not say no to specials like that especially when its on items that have features. Socks with features no less. So I spent the second most I have ever spent on a pair of socks. (Second only to the pair of socks I got to keep that came with the tux I rented for the Teso wedding.)

Perhaps the best part of my trip out was the personal attention I got from my sales person. Rather than just grabbing things from the back room and walking away on she asked me questions about what I wanted the shoes for and took time to see how I walked and based her recommendations on those factors. Its things like this that make me comfortable paying a little bit more then I would have at a discount store or on Amazon. Now, to run...

NFL 12 Midseason

After week 3 I made my first set of picks for the season. I also predicted that the then 3-0 Cardinals would have blown it by now. Well, theyre 4-5, losing their last 5. Youre welcome! I also said that the 0-3 Saints would continue to suck, and they have, barely managing to defeat San Diego and Tampa Bay to become 2-5.

As for my playoff picks from early in the season.

AFC

East: Patriots (5-3)

In a division that it seems no one wants to win I still like the Patriots. Its hard to root against Brady. 

North: Ravens (6-2)

I feel like I always pick the Ravens to win this division. I also feel like Im always wrong about it. So, heres to being wrong.

South: Texans (7-1)

Its up to the Texans to lose this division. They are by far the best team in the AFC and are my pick to represent it in the Super Bowl.

West: Chargers (4-4) Broncos (5-3)

Im not sure why this division is even allowed in the NFL anymore. Its full of teams that lose over and over and over. The Chargers might be able to pull something off. Perhaps Peyton Manning pulls off something special in Denver. I dont know. I guess if I had to Id put my money on Peyton and not Giant Baby Head T Rex Arms.

Wildcard: Jets (3-5), Bengals (3-5) Colts (5-3), Steelers (5-3)

Looks like someone stupid made those picks. How about those Colts? Its starting to look like they may have made a good decision with Andrew Luck. With a big win today over the Giants, the Steelers are one of the few AFC teams that seem to want to be in the playoffs this year.

NFC

East: Cowboys (3-4) Giants (6-3)

Well, just like the Ravens, I love picking the Cowboys early in the season. And just like the Ravens, they always seem to disappoint me. Realistically its the Giants division to lose. I just hate picking Eli Manning to succeed at anything. Which means Ill just pick no one to represent from the East.

North: Packers (6-3)

This is the best division in the league and will probably produce 3 playoff teams this season. Its hard to pick against the Packers with a 4 game winning streak. But its also hard to pick against the Bears with a 6 game winning streak.

South: Falcons (7-0)

If the Falcons beat the Cowboys tonight (which they should) they will have as many wins as the rest of the division put together.

West: 49ers (6-2)

Perhaps the second best division in the league, they also have the second best team in the league. Its hard to think of the Cardinals or Seahawks having what it takes to overcome the 49ers. I think the 49ers make the Superbowl this year.

Wildcard: Eagles (3-4), Lions (4-4), Bears (7-1)

The wildcard slots in the NFC will be filled by whoever of the Packers, Bears, and Lions doesnt win the North. I know the Lions are 4-4 but if they win their next 2 games they will be tied with the Packers and ahead of the Vikings. Then, if the Bears lose their next 2 (Texans, 49ers) the Lions will be only a game behind them.

I know my AFC picks looks just like the if the season ended today scenario. But thats the way the AFC is this year. There isnt much up in the air. There are 6 or 7 teams that actually showed up this season and thats whos going to the playoffs. As for the NFC who knows whats going to happen. The Giants dont mess the end of the season up and the Falcons dont have any competition but other then those divisions everything is up in the air still. 

Weight Loss

I used to fit into these jeans. They are buttoned and zipped as far as they can be in the picture. I used to be able to run 5 kilometers in 20 minutes. Tonight I was only able to go half the distance in that time. Three years ago, when we moved back from Arizona, I weighed thirty pounds less than I weigh now. I will, by next summer, fit into them again.