Smoking Musket College Pick 'Em Gauntlet Week Seven Results, Plus TCU Predictions

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 as determined by SB Nation.

We actually filled the first group, so we had to open a second league to fit everyone in. The second league will serve solely as an extension of the first league, and is not a standalone league. If you are in the second league, you are still competing with those in the first league.

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

Group Name: The Smoking Musket II

Group ID: 10963

Group password: LetsGo

We have 21 games to pick this week, starting at 10:30 PM ET on Friday. Deadline for each pick is 5 minutes before kickoff.

Here are the leaders (top 9) after week 7. Congratulations to mtnman for winning week 7 (all you win for this is kudos).

Let’s try our hand at predicting the Mountaineers’ always entertaining matchup with the TCU Horned Frogs.

BartimusPrime

WVU has the ability to exploit TCU cornerbacks and rack up yards on the ground. Meanwhile, Mr. September Heisman shows why he's just that, with a couple of turnovers. Plus, the weather should bode well for a team who would rather ground and pound.

Final Score:
West Virginia 37
TCU 30

John Radcliff

The good news for WVU is that they've given TCU a lot to do film study on. There isn't one guy they can lock down and stop the WVU offense. The bad news is that TCU has had two weeks to study film on WVU. I think this game will be closer than we want, but maybe that'll be a wake-up call to bring 100% intensity the rest of the year.

Final Score:
West Virginia 35
TCU 20

SmithFire13

While the national perception of TCU is down, the Horned Frogs aren't all that bad. Their two losses are against OU and Arkansas, two teams that are respectable. Kenny Hill can be really good and really bad.Their defense can be really good and really bad. I think it's a close one, but the benefit of a sold out crowd puts the Mountaineers over the edge.

Final Score:
West Virginia 38
TCU 31

sb1wvu

I can't tell if TCU is good or bad. Their losses are respectable in retrospect, but their wins don't look great, particulalry the fact they gave up 41 points to South Dakota State and beat Kansas by a point. TCU may be a team that plays up or down to their level of competition. Ordinarily I would say that renders this game a toss up, but I think the home crowd and revenge from last year motivates the good guys to win by a couple TDs.

Final Score:
West Virginia 38
TCU 24

Robert Hurst

This is a big game for the Mountaineers and Dana Holgorsen. With all the attention the Mounties are getting and the 3:30 ABC slot, they have to show out. Milan Puskar Stadium will be packed and rowdy. I think that the defense will be flying around the field. I hope that Skyler is calm and focused. If both these things happen. I believe that West Virginia will keep the hype train steaming.

Final Score:
West Virginia 49
TCU 31

WVUNite

The one thing TCU does well is pressure the quarterback. If the offensive line can protect Skyler Howard the Mountaineers should be able to take advantage of a less than normal Gary Patterson defense. Also keep an eye for how penalized the Horned Frogs are. They average nearly 8 penalties a game.

Final Score:
West Virginia 35
TCU 30

John Lowe

This game will be close just like all WVU-TCU games are. I think the Mountaineers finally get a home win against these guys and the Mountaineer D handles Kenny Hill pretty easily. The Horned Frogs score a couple of TDs late to make the score respectable.

Final Score:
West Virginia 35
TCU 31

abpriddy

Last week WVU beat down Texas Tech, completing a circle that began in 2012. This week they complete another circle, returning to and surpassing the high water mark of the Big 12 era at WVU by exacting revenge on a TCU team that used a dirty hit on Clint Trickett to beat the Mountaineers and completely derail a promising 2014 campaign. Gary Patterson has had Dana Holgorsen's number, escaping with a pair of close calls in Morgantown. The scales will be evened on Saturday as WVU prevails.

Final Score:
West Virginia 33
TCU 29

Matt Kirchner

This one is close throughout, as most WVU-TCU bouts tend to be. I wouldn't be surprised with a slow start but eventually we will click. An insurance TD late brings the final score margin to double digits.

Final Score:
West Virginia 38
TCU 24

WVUIE97

This game scares the bejeezus out of me, but then again, at this point, they all do. TCU may not be as good as they were a year ago, but they’ll still be a tough test. Thankfully this one will be in front of a sold out MPS.

Final Score:
West Virginia 35
TCU 20

Michael Miller

I have no idea how this one is going to go, but I know the outcome. The Mountaineers continue their winning ways and climb into the Top 10.

Final Score:
West Virginia 28
TCU 24

Will Hirsch

Mountaineers continue to impress. The defense remains strong when needed most and the offense keeps making big plays. Howard silences the haters even more with another 300 yards through the air. The ground game keeps steady with 150.

Final Score:
West Virginia 28
TCU 21