Smoking Musket College Pick ‘Em Gauntlet: Week Three Results & Kansas 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: 10859

Group password: letsgo

We have 27 games to pick this week, starting TONIGHT AT 7PM EST. Deadline for each pick is 5 minutes before kickoff.

Here are the leaders after week 3. Congratulations to Hank’s Heroes for winning week 3 with 17 correct picks (all you win for this is kudos).

---

I didn’t get THE PREGAMER out this week because life happens, but we’re still placing our bets.

Every week, the Smoking Musket staff will test out our sure to be less-than-stellar gambling skills, as we make picks in four categories: straight-up, against the spread, over/under, and a special prop bet to be determined each week.

We will each start with $500 in Musket Money™, and each bet will be worth $100. Statsboyandi is our current chips leader after being the only staff member to believe Gary Jennings would catch more than one touchdown against Youngstown State.

AND NOW, THE PREDICTIONS

Jordan Pinto

Mississippi State ran for 384 yards on these guys on just 39 carries, and they’ve actually sustained a couple injuries to key defenders since then, which leads me to believe we should be able to do pretty much whatever we want offensively. Isaiah Zuber could give us some problems on the other side of the ball, but outside of him they just seem to lack playmakers. I could see them hanging around for a quarter or two (it’s the Bill Snyder way), but ultimately we’re just too explosive for them this year.

West Virginia 45 - Kansas State 21

Statsboyandi

We win and this game is boring.

West Virginia 35 - Kansas State 10

WVUNite

Everyone in Mountaineer nation is eager to get back on the field after an impromptu bye week. That eagerness leads to some missed opportunities early before the team settles down. Being in Morgantown helps take the Wildcats out of it and secure a win.

West Virginia 38 - Kansas State 21

Nick Shoemaker

I predict that West Virginia will hold a double digit lead going into the half, and a big third quarter will turn this game into a blowout in WVU’s favor. I also think that having extra time to prepare will help Grier have a big day.

West Virginia 48 - Kansas State 19

Robert Hurst

It’s as ugly as you might expect from a K State game. The games never feels as close as the score indicates, but you always have the nagging feeling Snyder’s could claw back into it with one weird fluke turnover or big special teams play.

West Virginia 38 - Kansas State 23

BartimusPrime

The past four games between these teams have ended in margins of a touchdown or less. That changes this Saturday in Morgantown. Kansas State’s inability to pressure Will Grier and WVU’s ability to cause disruption in the backfield lead to a “hang you hat on” win for the Mountaineers to start conference play.

West Virginia 35 - Kansas State 21

John Radcliff

I expect Kansas State to do Kansas State things like slowing the game down as much as possible to keep the score low. The only time things got out of hand score-wise with KSU and WVU, it didn’t go well for us. It’s certainly a game we should win, and I fully expect that. I just don’t expect the kind of domination we’ve seen out of WVU in the first two games.

West Virginia 27 - Kansas State 10

WVUIE97

Weather outlook this week is currently better than we had for the YSU game, so I expect a few more downfield shots taken by the WVU offense. BUT, I also expect to see the Wizard try to emulate what Pelini did and only play 5 or 6 in the box, daring us to run. We might get two 100 yard rushers from this game. Will still pads his Heisman hopes with 300+ and 3 TDs, though. Defense does enough with a struggling KSU offense.

West Virginia 42 - Kansas State 17

Matt Kirchner

I think this is a huge opportunity for Dana and Crew to get a “take care of business” win against a not great K-State team. I think he’ll have them ready.

West Virginia 35 - Kansas State 17

Michael Miller

As Pinto said, Mississippi State gave Dana Holgorsen the blueprint to beat the Snydercats. West Virginia is going to lean on the run to set up the passing game, giving Leddie Brown a career day and Will Grier another 4 touchdown performance. The Mountaineers jump into the Top 10 on Sunday, Grier goes back to the top of ESPN’s Heisman watch and life is good for another week.

West Virginia 45 - Kansas State 17