Smoking Musket College Pick 'Em Gauntlet Final Results And Russell Athletic Bowl Predictions

With the end of the college football season came the end of The Smoking Musket Pick 'Em Gauntlet. It was a good season overall, and we saw a battle for the No. 1 spot all season long and leading into the final week.

Here is the final leaderboard. Congratulations to AKuhlJr for holding on to his Week 13 lead and securing the 2016 Smoking Musket Pick 'Em Gauntlet crown. Your WVU Nike T-shirt is on the way!

Without further ado, The Smoking Musket staff tries, for one last time, to predict the outcome of this week's West Virginia football game.

sb1wvu

Dana and Gibby use the bowl preparations to cook up something special. WVU races out to a quick lead and never relinquishes it. The hype train goes into full gear for WVU fans for 2017.

Final Score:
West Virginia 49
Miami 24

WVUNite

One thing I really like about this team is that it's a true team concept. If you stop Justin Crawford the team has 2 or 3 other backs to try. If you just completely shut down the run the pass offense can win. With the receivers there is no one single guy who has done most of the damage. Everyone contributes and provides a little bit of balance. I like the good guys in this one thanks in part because of the pass offense.

Final Score:
West Virginia 37
Miami 30

WVUIE97

Dana's teams have done remarkably well given a long layoff and extra time to practice for bowl games (with the Liberty Bowl being an exception). This one should be no different, though Miami will likely put up more of a fight than we would like. The "pick your poison" of the WVU running backs does enough on the ground to keep Miami honest, opening up the passing game for a few deep balls to Gibson. The DAWGS are hungry to tear into some ibis as well.

Final Score:
West Virginia 34
Miami 17

abpriddy

WVU is it's simple, effective self. Run the ball, play good defense, force some turnovers, have drives stall for FGs. But a motivated squad shows up to exact some revenge for 2003. Behold the most anti-climactic 11 win season in WVU history.

Final Score:
West Virginia 33
Miami 20

Robert Hurst

The Mountaineers finish the season strong and Dana doesn't have to listen to months of silly, unnecessary questions. At least one back hits the hundred yard mark and the defense largely keeps the Canes out of the endzone. The Mark Richt era will be good in Miami, but it won't be this bowl season.

Final Score:
West Virginia 34
Miami 17

statsboyandi

Mark Richt has lost control of the RAB, and Dana does what RichRod never did -- beat Miami.

Final Score:
West Virginia 31
Miami 17

Will Hirsch

The Mountaineer defense does just enough to keep WVU ahead in a tight game like has been the common place in a bunch of the WVU wins this season. Things won't change much against Miami. The WVU ground game tires out the Miami defense in the end. Howard throws for 250+ yards and 3 TD's. WVU RB's runs for 200+ yards and two TD's.

Final Score:
West Virginia 37
Miami 27

BartimusPrime

All the numbers are saying Miami will win this game, but what this game comes down to is how good either team is. Both teams have beaten weaker opponents and struggled against stiffer competition. I think WVU has seen stellar QBs all season and Miami hasn't seen a defense or run game like ours.

Final Score:
West Virginia 37
Miami 35

Michael Miller

Things got a little chippy between the Mountaineers and The U at a charity event this week, and I'm looking forward to that carrying over into the Russell Athletic Bowl. Maybe we'll see Rushel Shell do his best Quincy Wilson tribute by trucking a Miami defender. Maybe Skyler Howard has another great bowl game performance. Maybe Tony Gibson's DAWGS shut down Stacy Coley and the rest of the Miami attack. Either way, West Virginia is looking at a fun bowl game and the possibility of an 11-win season.

Final Score:
West Virginia 30
Miami 24