OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH Junk Food Nation its MORE playoff predictions time! This is quite possibly my favorite football weekend of the year.  The Super Bowl is a little too hyped.  The AFC/NFC Championship games are good, but it’s only two games. The four game Wildcard Weekend is always fun – but it’s the NFL DIVISIONAL weekend, with all the #1 and #2 seeds back in the mix for four games that forms the absolute best weekend of football EVER. So let’s do this:

1)      SAINTS @ SEAHAWKS, 430pm Saturday.  The line is Seattle favored by -8.  Seattle was 7-1 at home while New Orleans was 3-5 on the road this year.  Plus, CenturyLink Field is a LOUDEST place to play in the NFL.  I predicted Seattle to go all the way this year, and with an amazing ground game and superior defense, I think there’s no doubt Seattle wins this. Don’t forget that the last time they faced each other, in Seattle, the ‘Hawks gave the beat down 34-7.  I don’t think this will be THAT bad, but I expect the Seahawks to win …and cover? Sure, and cover.  I’m going to predict… 30-20, Seahawks.

2)      COLTS @ PATRIOTS, 815pm Saturday. New England favored by -7. The Pats were a perfect 8-0 at home, but the Colts weren’t horrible on the road (5-3).  It’ll be cold there, for sure.  They haven’t played each other since last year where NE beat INDY by like 29 points, but this is a different Colts team, and a different New England team.  Despite having NO weapons (Edelman? You gotta be kidding me), I can’t bet against Brady.  I would NOT be shocked, however, if the Colts shocked the world.  For now, I’ll take the Pats to win, but not cover…I’m guessing 34-31 Patriots.

3)      NINERS @ PANTHERS, 100pm Sunday.  Currently the game is a pick’em; no one favored.  These are two EXTREMELY similar teams. Mobile QBs. Amazing defenses.  Almost identical average yards rushing, passing, and total.  Niners might have a slight skill player edge with Vernon Davis, but guys like LaFell on CAR are unsung heroes.  I think Cam is better than Kaep physically, but is he smarter? I don’t know yet.  I honestly think this game goes as Cam Newton goes.  If Cam can elevate his game, the Niners have a tough battle.  Otherwise, the comfort that Kaep has will shine through.  I’m rooting for the Niners because of the Junk Food Gal, but there’s a reason this game is currently a pick’em.

4)      CHARGERS @ BRONCOS, 440pm Sunday. Denver favored by -10.  Remember when the Chargers beat Denver at home?  I certainly do.  Everyone nuts, claiming that the Chargers had figured out the Broncos – limiting time of possession and blitzing like crazy.  And I said the Chargers were a dangerous team coming into the playoffs, and I was right – they are on a five game win streak right now.  Cincy certainly was surprised.  Denver won’t be – I think the Broncos have learned their lesson – score early, score often, and run run run the ball.  The key will be Knowshon Moreno – can he hold up for another 35-40 minutes of getting beat up?  I believe the Broncos win, but the Chargers cover, barely.  I can see 30-21 Broncos.

And that’s it!  Enjoy the games, Junk Food Nation, and tell me YOUR predictions below in the comments.

(And keep entering my MunchPak contest! Go here for the details. I’m getting MORE Twitter entries, but NOT ENOUGH.  Move that finger, click that pic, and start tweeting me!)

Today’s junk food: New Butterfinger Peanut Butter Cups!

New Butterfinger Peanut Butter Cups!!! Great Googly Moogly.  GAMECHANGER? We’ll see.  I first saw these on The Impulsive Buy, and then my buddy Grub Grade reviewed them – now it’s the ol Junk Food Guy’s turn!

I could only find New Butterfinger Peanut Butter Cups in these 4 cup share packs, which is fine with me – I can only fit four peanut butter cups in my mouth at one time anyways, so…

Let me say this.  I LOVE BUTTERFINGERS. Holy eff – do you guys remember when I reviewed Utz Pretzels covered in Butterfinger?  Goodness, I had to punt the bag away to keep me from destroying the entire bag.

Oh, New Butterfinger Peanut Butter Cups …you’re getting me giddy.

I mean, it’s not hard to like Butterfingers.  Crunchy peanut butter confection covered in chocolate? Sign me up.  I also LOVE peanut butter cups.  SOFT peanut butter confection covered in chocolate?? SIGN ME UP.  So, New Butterfinger Peanut Butter Cups are both CRUNCHY AND SOFT?  WTF.  BRILLIANT.

(PS: Why thank you, Butterfinger, for addressing this concern!)

When I opened this package of New Butterfinger Peanut Butter Cups, all I could smell was PURE BUTTERFINGER GOODNESS.  Like, for reals, yo.  If you’ve ever smelled a Butterfinger, you know exactly what i mean – it was that combo of chocolate and a REALLY buttery smell that actually doesn’t REALLY smell like peanut butter.  But the smell was SPOT ON Butterfinger-aroma. It filled my nostrils with familiarity. I started salivating.

New Butterfinger Peanut Butter Cups are not cupped in paper like the Reese’s Cups normally are.  They were also sort of square shaped, which was a nice change – why NOT maximize the amount of surface area and volume in a square wrapped package?  YOU’RE WASTING SPACE, REESE’S!

I bit into one of these New Butterfinger Peanut Butter Cups, and was thoroughly impressed – it was almost EXACTLY what I expected it to be.  It had a nice chocolatey exterior that had great flavor, and complemented the inner peanut butter perfectly.

The peanut butter did not taste like Reese’s peanut butter, it tasted like the buttery inside of a Butterfinger, but in soft form!  It was smooth, creamy, and full over that very-buttery peanut butter candy flavor!  SO. GOOD.  Plus, within the smooth filling were BITS of CRUNCHY Butterfingers pieces.  Holy cow.  THAT was a nice texture addition – you’re getting that Butterfinger taste in two forms.  Jab, Cross, KO.

If I had one criticism, it’d be that I would’ve liked MORE bits of crunchy – mix that stuff in with a 65/35 ratio, rather than an 85/15 ratio.  But I’m quibbling.

VERY tasty peanut butter cup, with good textural elements.  Maintained the Butterfinger flavor I know and love without compromise.  SOLID ADDITION TO THE WORLD.  MUST BUY.

PURCHASED AT: 7-11

COST: 2 for $1.58 (I KNOW!!!!)

Thoughts? Please comment below or hit me up on Twitter @junkfoodguy or LIKE my Facebook Page and message me there. I also have Google+!! Let’s hang out.

Sincerely,

Junk Food Guy