Smoking Musket College Pick 'Em Gauntlet Week Nine Results, Plus Staff Predictions For WVU vs Texas Tech

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 24 games to pick this week, starting with games at 5 pm ET Friday. Deadline for each pick is 5 minutes before kickoff.

Here are the top performers (top 11 and ties) from week 9. Congratulations to Dawgeered for winning week 9 (all you win for this is kudos). That's two weeks in a row, enough to jump into the top spot overall.

Here are the overall standings after nine 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 (99)

My heart wants a win. My head says there's nothing left in the tank.

WVU 30
TT 45

John Radcliff (98)

At least we're catching Texas Tech at home...They are averaging just over 56 ppg in Lubbock. In contrast, they are averaging 31 ppg on the road. I see this trend continuing after an exhausting shootout with Oklahoma State last week, it'll take more than a week to reload for the Red Raiders.

WVU 42
TT 27

Abpriddy (96)

SmithFire13 (94)

The WVU defense has faced four tough offenses in a row and this will make it their fifth. Pat Mahomes throws it all around the yard as per usual getting 400 yards and 4TDs on the day. WVU is able to get the running game going with Smallwood racking up 150yds and 2TDs, but the explosiveness via the Red Raiders passing attack proves to trump a good day on the ground for the Mountaineers.

WVU 31
TT 34

WVUIE97 (93)

I think WVU wins but doesn't cover the 8.5 point spread (at the time this was written). And there was great rejoicing.

WVU 41
TT 35

JP Fanshawe (85)

whirsch_wvu2014 (76)

Mountaineers offense gets going a little bit after the last two weeks and the defense proves it is in fact good and Baylor and TCU will destroy any defense.

WVU 38
TT 31

WVUfanMG (75)

We've seen good Howard and bad Howard throughout the season. Last week, we saw some of the worst attempts at catching a ball in recent memory. If Howard and the receivers can get on the same page, WVU could put up some points in bunches. If not, it's going to be a long day for the Mountaineers and Holgs may need to lose some layers of clothing to alleviate his hot seat. I want to believe.

WVU 42
TT 38

WVUNite (58)

Great offense. Horrible Defense. If I had a DeLorean I'd be talking about WVU 2012 but this is TTU 2015. Mahomes is a worse QB on the road. The Morgantown crowd plays a factor and the season gets back to .500

WVU 45
TT 42

DE White (53)

Morale in Morgantown could not be any lower. A noon kick and a four game losing streak will equal a very subdued crowd. Not a recipe for victory.

WVU 27
TT 41

Michael Miller (54)

Texas Tech is going to score a lot, as they have all season. But the Mountaineers are going to finally get it together and Texas Tech's defense won't be able to stop them. Look for a shootout on Saturday.

WVU 59
TT 49

Matt Kirchner (34)

I really don't know where to go with this one. I think we come out hungry, but I just don't know.

Sooooooo, here goes nothing.

WVU 42
TT 38

sbwvu1 (32)

After a month of misery WVU fans rejoice as TTU is held under 30 and WVU goes over 40. Woohoo for being .500!

WVU 42
TT 28

Dremorgan93 (22)

These teams have something to play for and that's not finishing last in the Big 12. Unfortunately for WVU they get another red hot offensive guru in the gunslingers from Tech. This one gets ugly early.

WVU 17
TT 66

Patrick Southern (9)

As bad as West Virginia has been lately, Texas Tech hasn't been any better. The Red Raiders haven't won a Big 12 game against an opponent not named Kansas or Iowa State since two years ago at -- you guessed it -- WVU. The Red Raiders are likely to score against the Mountaineers' depleted defense. Can the offense match the pace? Recent evidence suggests not.

WVU 35
TT 48

Here's where you can make your predictions: