Smoking Musket College Pick 'Em Gauntlet Week Eight Results, Plus Oklahoma State 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 24 games to pick this week, starting at 8:00 PM ET on Friday. Deadline for each pick is 5 minutes before kickoff.

Here are the leaders (top 7 plus ties) after week 8. Congratulations to 79’er for winning week 8 (all you win for this is kudos).

Now, it’s time for us to take a crack at predicting West Virginia’s road showdown with the Oklahoma State Cowboys in Stillwater.

WVUNite

After the last two weeks it's hard not to be over confident. The team needs to focus because this OSU team nearly beat Baylor despite 4 turnovers. The Mountaineers and Cowboys trade blows but WVUs ability to run the ball plus Okie States inability to stop the run is the ultimate difference.

Final Score:
West Virginia 34
Oklahoma State 28

SmithFire13

It feels like we say this every week, but this trip to Stillwater might be WVU's toughest test yet. Mason Rudolph has been playing well this year with a healthy stat line of 14TDs/2INTs/2200+ yards and 66.2% completion rate. However, he's been sacked 22 times already with five lost fumbles. The Cowboys are probably going to need to put up at least 30 against their toughest defensive opponent this year and I'm not sure that happens.

Side note: Pokes are #9 in Special Teams S&P+. Appears to be because they have a stellar punter, but keep an eye on it.

Final Score:
West Virginia 28
Oklahoma State 24

JohnRadcliff

Quite a few teams have had success running the ball against the Cowboys. We need to be one of those teams and pass when necessary. It's about keeping our defense fresh. We're going to need to lean on those guys as the season goes along. So this would be a good week to control the clock and keep their offense off the field.

Final Score:
West Virginia 38
Oklahoma State 17

Will Hirsch

Skyler Howard continues to make his haters look silly. He's been good for a big throw to Gibson and Durante about once a game and I don't think that changes. He throws for 3 TD's and 237 yards while Crawford and Shell team up for close to 200 yards on the ground.

Final Score:
West Virginia 41
Oklahoma State 27

sb1wvu

OSU takes advantage of some inconsistent play on all three sides of the ball, and while the Pokes normally have turnover problems, it is the Mountaineers that turn the ball over at critical times this game. 6-0 turns to 6-1 and Joey Galloway and Jason Sehorn scream I told you so for the rest of the season.

Final Score:
West Virginia 24
Oklahoma State 28

Robert Hurst

This matchup plays into WVU's new found strengths. WVU will have the best defense that OSU will face all year. WVU holds the Cowboys to 13 points while racking up 250 yards on the ground, making win number seven look as easy as number six.

Final Score:
West Virginia 34
Oklahoma State 13

abpriddy

On paper WVU should own this game, but in practice it's hard not to feel like Okie State doesn't owe them one for 2013. Having said that a good run game and stout defense travel better than rolling luggage, so I'll stick my neck out there and predict WVU extends to 7-0. It just won't be as easy as we'd like.

Final Score:
West Virginia 29
Oklahoma State 26

Dustin White

If this game were in Morgantown, I think West Virginia wins easily. But on the road, with the target on the back of the Mountaineers growing, this one comes down to the final possession.

Final Score:
West Virginia 31
Oklahoma State 28

WVUIE97

It seems like the knot growing in my stomach over these games is getting bigger every week, for both the stakes getting higher and the quality of competition. Like Priddy said, on paper, we should own this, but these are 18-23 year olds and you just never know. I do think that this group has the mentality and make up that my fears should be tempered, but I'm still uneasy. I am sure it will take a better game offensively (efficiency-wise, not necessarily points-wise) than we played against TCU to come out on top and I think we do pull it off at the end. It's not exactly pretty, but effective nonetheless.

Final Score:
West Virginia 31
Oklahoma State 21

Michael Miller

Oklahoma State’s defense is susceptible to big passing plays. If West Virginia can set up the run, look for Skyler Howard and the Mountaineer receivers to have a big day. Tony Gibson’s defense has already proved they can shut down a potent passing attack, and Oklahoma State gave up 5 sacks to Kansas last week. THE DAWGS ARE GONNA EAT.

Final Score:

West Virginia 42
Oklahoma State 17

BartimusPrime

Running and defense is how you win games on the road. However, OK State has a good running back and we haven't had great luck stopping those this season. The key will be WVU's pressure and confusion of Mason Rudolph, forcing a couple turnovers.

Final Score:
West Virginia 34
Oklahoma State 28

John Lowe

West Virginia can run the ball, Okie Lite can't defend the rush. BOOM! 7-0

Final Score:
West Virginia 38
Oklahoma State 27