2013 Week 1

@QIKSTICKLAX IS BAAAAAACK!!!!

Can you really believe that it's been over a year since I spent 20 hours pouring over data from 2011 to predict the 2012 season? I can. Oh how things have changed since then!

A real quick recap on how I fared with my predictions last year...I selected 3 teams that would surprise and be in the Top 20 at the end of the year and 3 teams that would disappoint and finish outside.  I was wildly successful on one team from each group (Loyola #1 and Penn #33), however the other teams did ok enough to prove me wrong. Skipping ahead to the NCAA field of 16 tourny....I successfully guessed.....er...picked 10 of the 16 teams. However, I only got one of the final four teams right. So shows what I know.

ANYWAY. Enough living in the past. What's up this year? Well Top 20 reactions Surprised by the inclusion of Ohio St and Fairfield also my perennial dislike for Princeton has renewed. I don't think they will do much of anything this year. Also, No love for the boys in Orange? Guess they will have to prove themselves.

Only doing three picks per week this year. Makes it an easier commitment for me since I will be sharing this blog with another venture of mine (to be previewed later). Hopefully my buddy @LongStick Lax joins in. Should be fun.

This weeks picks:

Duke v. Notre Dame      Final Duke 7 Notre Dame 9
I love teams who come out of the gate swinging, and Duke seems to do that every year. If they don't find and stick to a goalie though it's going to be a long year on both ends of the field. Offense basically has to score on every possession.

Notre Dame is on the same program with it's first 6 games coming against Top 20 teams. We all know one thing ND won't have a game with over 13 goals scored on them. You heard it here first remember that. 

Umass v. UNC              Final Umass 12 UNC 13

Umass had a great year last year and made it all the way to Memorial Day weekend. This year they return 3 of their top 4 scored including a guy named Will Manny. I don't know him, but I think thats good.

Have you seen UNC's "Welcome to the Grind" video? Here it is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptiWGFHfeh8. I'll wait for you to watch it......Doesn't it just make you want to go do 100 push ups then run a mile? WOO! UNC seems to have a safter schedule this year when compared to past seasons, so every big game counts extra. Lots of scorers on both sides. Who's defense will hold up long enough?

Denver v. Penn St.        Final Denver 15 Penn St. 7
Running out of time.....Denver wins big. Penn St. isn't quite ready to hang with the big boys yet.

One final note. I will be sharing this blog with another project I am running. I will be keeping a weight loss journal. I'll have another post soon to intro that but the basics....I'm 24 years old 6' 1" tall and currently weigh 290 pounds. I'm not shy about it nor am I proud. I started a weight loss program this morning and figure the more people know about it the more accountable I will be to stay on track. Any and all support is greatly appriciated. Also follow along on Twitter @ManDisappearing.

Thanks all. Good luck to everyone this weekend, and play smart play safe.