Welcome, By-Godders, to the Shotgun/Throwdown, WVU's nationally recognized best place for sports links, information, sophomoric humor and daily distractions. We're being brought to you today by Blue Moon Pumpkin Ale.

What You May Have Missed:

2012-13 College Basketball Previews - CBSSports.com
#25

Simulated BCS rankings, Week 7: Handful of teams control destinies after Saturday massacre - SBNation.com
#4

Buie, Okafor and Austin Selected Big 12 Football Players of the Week - Big 12 Conference - Official Athletic Site
Andrew Buie (West Virginia), Alex Okafor (Texas) and Tavon Austin (West Virginia) have been named Big 12 Football Players of the Week

NCAA College Football Power Rankings Week 6 - ESPN
#5

Player of the Week: Big 12 - Big 12 Blog - ESPN
When we pass out this award, we sometimes do it to the guy who puts up the eye-popping stats you just can't ignore.

On The Mark: Week 7 - ESPN
It's time to reshuffle the deck on this season's national championship contenders.

Manti Te'o rising in Heisman Watch, Mike Gillislee debuts - Cory McCartney - SI.com
#1

New challenger to Geno Smith emerges in latest Heisman survey - USA Today
West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith is listed first on all 35 ballots after the win Saturday at Texas

Rifle Ranked No. 1 - WVU Athletics
Following a record-setting opening win at Army, the West Virginia University rifle team has earned the No. 1 ranking in the first regular-season Collegiate Rifle Coaches Association (CRCA) Poll.

Schwindel Named Athlete of the Week - WVU Athletics
Varsity Sports Report

WVUPros Basketball Update: 10/8/12 Ebanks, Jones, Flowers, Mitchell - WVU Pros
Basketball season is getting started in the NBA and Europe. Here are a few capsules to get you up to speed about Mountaineers on the hardwood.

News of Note:

One game at a time - Charleston Gazette
Holgorsen keeping high-flying Mountaineers on an even keel

Dana Holgorsen, West Virginia learning to deal with lofty expectations - BGN
Ranked in the nation’s top 5 and playing the clear-cut favorite for the Heisman Trophy at quarterback, West Virginia will have to play the rest of the season while dealing with extraordinarily high expectations.

National title? WVU making its case - Pittsburgh Tribune
Loaded question: Are the Mountaineers good enough to contend for the BCS national championship?

WVU’s Smith draws comparison to Weeden - Times West Virginian
Notebook

West Virginia's Geno Smith shows poise of NFL quarterback - NFL.com
West Virginia QB Geno Smith didn't put up arcade-style numbers against Texas on Saturday, but he did show the grit and poise he'll need to succeed in the NFL

Outdated Stats - Pistols Firing
This Okie St. blog has an interesting and extremely valid point about comparing stats between teams

Numbers don't tell entire story for improving West Virginia defense - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
"I thought we fought our tails off," said an animated DeForest. "I'm excited about all the things we can do from here. That was a hard fought win. A hard fought win.

Coaches Sensed WVU Was Hungry - WVMETRONEWS.COM
West Virginia's coaching staff had more than an inkling the Mountaineers were hungry to give a statement performance at Texas.

Every Game a 'Carnival' with WVU - WVMETRONEWS.COM
“They’re the most fun team in college football right now,” said AP's national college football writer Ralph Russo

Texas Tech is just more of the same - Register-Herald
Holgorsen is familiar with Lubbock

Tuberville is familiar with WVU - Parkersburg News and Sentinel
When unranked Texas Tech plays host to No. 5 West Virginia at 3:30 p.m. Saturday at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, there will be at least one person standing on the Red Raiders' sideline who knows both the Mountaineers and their second year head coach Dana Holgorsen.

Connection with the QB - Charleston Gazette
Holgorsen has common bond with Texas Tech's Doege

Determination drives Doege - Charleston Daily Mail
Doege (DAY-ghee) committed to the Red Raiders before his junior year in 2006.

Tuberville Praises WVU Quarterback Geno Smith - WVillustrated
Texas Tech Head Coach Tommy Tuberville likes what he sees out of WVU Quarterback Geno Smith. Unfortunately for Tuberville and the Red Raiders, Smith and the Mountaineers are coming to town this weekend.

Tuberville thinks West Virginia is Big 12's best team - Lubbock Avalanche Journal
West Virginia’s 48-45 victory Saturday at Texas perhaps just reinforced what Tech coach Tommy Tuberville thought about the Mountaineers all along.

Holgorsen Still High On Run Defense - WVillustrated
Holgorsen praised his run defense on the weekly Big 12 coaches teleconference

Recruiting:

Recruiting impact: West Virginia, South Carolina win on field and off - SBNation.com
Who were the big recruiting winners and losers from the college football weekend that was?

WVU Recruiting Rundown: 10/9 - EersAuthority
In this edition of Recruiting Rundown, we continue with reaction from West Virginia's thrilling 48-45 win over Texas.

Around the League (and Beyond):

West Virginia Helps Boost Big 12’s Rep - Intelligencer / Wheeling News-Register
A conference whose football future was uncertain with the defections of Nebraska, Colorado, Texas A&M and Missouri over the past two years has landed squarely on its feet.

Outsiders Liked Horns 'D' More Than Coaches - WVMETRONEWS.COM
Big 12 Notebook

Big 12 weekend rewind: Week 6 - Big 12 Blog - ESPN

West Virginia Mountaineers vs. Texas Tech Red Raiders | Preview, Television & Big 12 Wrap-Up for Week 6 - Viva The Matadors

TCU-Baylor returns rivalry to Big 12 - Waco Tribune

Patterson to Announce Pachall Decision Tuesday - Frogs O' War

Let's Relive Paul Rhoads' Freakout Together! - Wide Right & Natty Lite

For first time since 1800s, KU football no longer has all-time winning record - KUsports.com

Kansas State's Bill Snyder turned 73 Sunday and watched game film - Sporting News

All of a sudden, the Sooners are back in the national title picture - Oklahoman (autoplay video)

Texas-OU History: Darrell Royal - The Lynchpin at The Core of the Rivalry - Barking Carnival

Cowboys are in good shape as long as they keep winning - Oklahoman

What We Learned and What We Already Knew: Week 6 Review - Barking Carnival
A review the current state of American college football.

Video of Interest:

Senior guard Jeff Braun is a student-athlete who has been nominated for the both the Senior Class award and the Campbell Trophy; aka, the academic Heisman. He participates in many community service activities. He is intelligent. He has a heart of gold, and he is tough.

Video of (Dis)Interest:

Dear Lord....

Miss Throwdown:

Today's Miss Throwdown has just been named Esquire magazine's Sexiest Woman Alive for 2012. CLICK HERE for today's gallery of actress Mila Kunis (includes bonus galleries and video).