I suspect that most of you don’t need any more numbers thrown at you. If I were to show you a map of the country, you might run away screaming. But I apologize; I feel compelled to report on the most nail-biting race of them all: the race to the Super Bowl.

I'll tell you about it in a minute, but before that, I must file my report on the first half of the NFL season and my own returns. My first-half record was 73.5 - 45.5 or 62%. There were surprise returns — I mean, upsets — early in the season, and those held my numbers down, but I surged in the last few weeks, tallying more correct picks in key battle grounds. 

What about those gridiron warriors behind my numbers? Remember them? Just a few weeks ago, they were grabbing all the headlines — before football suits and helmets were replaced by blue suits and ties. What is happening with all those candidates who would like to head to Tampa in February?

Looking like big winners today are the boys from Scranton — I mean, Pittsburgh. The last undefeated team in the NFL just knocked off their top opponent, the Ravens. But there are many uncounted ballots in several battle ground states, like Missouri, Tennessee, New York, Nevada and more.

On the other side of the country, right now, it looks like the Seahawks in a landslide out west, while the defending NFC champion 49ers bring up the rear, watching a lot of injured players coming and going.
 
Overall, both conferences are a dead heat. In the NFC, the Hawks, Saints, Packers and Bucs all look like strong candidates to hoist the trophy — but we are far from finished counting votes in Arizona (Cardinals) and California (Rams). In the AFC, the Chiefs, Ravens, Titans and Bills could challenge the front-running Steelers.
 
Now, in Week Nine, we will get to put in place a few more pieces of the electoral map — I mean, playoff picture. The top contests involve the Lions and Vikings, the Ravens versus the Colts and the Seahawks visiting the Bills. And we will cap the whole thing off with the Sunday night showdown between the Saints and Bucs — the second meeting of Brees and Brady.
 
Here is the entire ballot — I mean, schedule — and my votes (oh, what the heck).
       
 Away                     Home              My Pick
 
1.     Packers           49ers               Packers                                   
2.     Giants             Washington      Giants             
3.     Bears               Titans              Titans                         
4.     Lions                Vikings            Lions                           
5.     Panthers          Chiefs              Chiefs                         
6.     Texans             Jaguars           Texans                        
7.     Ravens             Colts               Ravens                        
8.     Seahawks        Bills                 Seahawks                               
9.     Broncos           Falcons            Falcons                                   
10.  Raiders            Chargers          Raiders                       
11.  Steelers            Cowboys          Cowboys                    
12.  Dolphins           Cardinals         Cardinals                                
13.  Saints               Bucs                 Bucs                           
14.  Patriots            Jets                   Patriots          
 
If this action-packed lineup doesn’t help me de-stress, I plan to turn off the TV and go for a long walk!