Smoking Musket College Pick 'Em Gauntlet Week Twelve Results, Plus Staff Predictions For WVU vs Iowa State

The Smoking Musket Pick Em Gauntlet is an online college pick 'em game where we will try to pick the winners of the weekly Big 12 contests plus Yahoo! editors' selected games (usually the games involving the top 25 teams). We do pick against the spread (when available). There are usually 20-30 games to pick each week and each correct pick is worth one point. The winner (excluding Musket staff) will be the person at the end of the regular season who has the most correct picks/points. Points are cumulative, so don't worry if you happen to miss a week or two. We will award the winner a WVU Nike T-shirt at the conclusion of the games in December.

All participants are subject to the Official Rules (PDF document link) as determined by SB Nation.

In the case of a tie at the end, the winner will be determined by who "won" the most weeks, head to head with the other folks tied. Coin flip will be used in case that method not resolving the issue..

Our game, as in the past, will be hosted by Yahoo! Fantasy. GAME LINK

Group Name: The Smoking Musket

Group ID: 8233

Group password: WestByGod

We have 22 games to pick this week, starting with games at Noon ET FRIDAY. Deadline for each pick is 5 minutes before kickoff.

Here are the top performers (top 11 and ties) from week 12. Congratulations to Perry for winning week 12 (all you win for this is kudos).

Here are the overall standings after twelve weeks:

We will once again also be featuring staff predictions for the weekly WVU game (or game of interest on the off-weeks). Without further adieu (in order of staff ranking, number correct in parentheses):

Mountaineer Chuck (131)

WVU wins handily after an energetic first half contest honoring Paul Rhodes.

ISU 17
WVU 45

John Radcliff (131)

ISU gives up 145 yards/game on the ground at home, but 230 per game on the road. Emotion only lasts the first few minutes of the game, then talent and preparation take over. Expect a spirited effort from the Cyclones, but a determined Mountaineer team looking to send the seniors off on a high note will win the day.

ISU 10
WVU 38

SmithFire13 (129)

WVUIE97 (122)

I'm with Chuck on this one (Did I really just say that!?!?!). ISU keeps it interesting through the first half, but the WVU running game takes over in the second half.

ISU 17
WVU 44

Abpriddy (115)

WVUfanMG (104)

With ISU being in the middle of a coaching upheaval, they will be playing with a major chip on their shoulder. Unfortunately for them, WVU is riding a winning streak and Wendell Smallwood in the month of November. This game will be closer than we'd like it but the good guys take another one on Saturday.

ISU 17
WVU 28

JP Fanshawe (85)

Football is an emotional game to begin with. Add to that emotion a team playing for a fired head coach and things get dicey. I expect Iowa State to honor Paul Rhoads by playing with great emotion as the game begins. However, nothing can quell emotion like a good, fast start from a superior opponent. WVU reprises its first-quarter from Lawrence and goes on to win impressively, while taking advantage of Iowa State's 86th-ranked rush defense.

ISU 17
WVU 38

Michael Miller (76)

Iowa State is going to be looking to send their coach off with a win and take home the prestigious Riot Bowl trophy, so the Mountaineers better be ready to play. This should be another win for the Mountaineers, but don't be surprised if the Cyclones make it a little closer than we want. The Mountaineers pull away late and the Mountaineer Megazord of Rushing Destruction continues to impress.

ISU 24
WVU 38

whirsch_wvu2014 (76)

WVU continues to roll with another solid win over Iowa State. The defense continues to perform and the offense has it's good looking moments and bad looking moments.

ISU 14
WVU 31

WVUNite (58)

West Virginia gets revenge for many years ago in the Big East

ISU 9
WVU 13

DE White (53)

It's a strange situation for the Cyclones, being coached by a guy who's already been fired. There is a little extra motivation for Iowa State that will make this one closer than expected.

ISU 24
WVU 28

Matt Kirchner (34)

sbwvu1 (32)

WVU Senior Day trumps fired coach.

ISU 21
WVU 48

Dremorgan93 (22)

A defeated Iowa state with nothing to play for including their former coach takes another hard loss in Morgantown

ISU 17
WVU 27

Patrick Southern (9)

Here's where you can make your own predictions: