Two weeks into the college football season, we know just enough to be dangerous. Some teams have already shown us exactly what we expected. Others have reminded us that September is a terrible time to assume we know anything for certain.

And then there’s Scott. He’s picked 19 of 20 games correctly straight up. That’s not a typo.

Meanwhile, I keep telling myself that all of the roster research, matchup analysis, trends and numbers eventually have to count for something. Maybe this is the week.

Through Two Weeks

Scott has absolutely owned the winners and the spreads. I’ve struggled against the spread, but I’ve made up for some of that on the totals.

So far, Scott has been better at figuring out who wins and by how much. I’ve been better at figuring out how many points everybody scores while doing it.

Fair enough. Now we get another 10 games to see whether any of that continues.

But first, whiskey.

The Opening Pour

This week, we tried to connect our whiskey selections to the Game of the Week. Scott cracked a fresh bottle of Sazerac 125, giving him an easy Louisiana connection to LSU.

I went with a Blue Note Juke Joint Unfiltered Uncut Store Pick that came from near Perry, Georgia. Admittedly, my connection to Ole Miss is a little more creative. Blue Note comes out of Memphis, which is at least close enough to Oxford for Southern Sports Stillhouse purposes.

We’re counting it.

Scott — Sazerac 125

The whiskey pours a dark copper color. The nose opens with orange peel and mint, maybe a little sweet tobacco. There’s some nice baking spice, but it isn’t nutmeg or cinnamon. Maybe clove.

The palate hits with a blast of spice — orange peel and marmalade — followed by some mint cooling on the finish. There’s also something almost like melon rind. You can taste the proof, and this is definitely a slow sipper. I can’t imagine drinking this too quickly.

The mouthfeel is substantial, and the finish is warming. This brings the Kentucky Hug in a big way.

Score: 87.34

Doug — Blue Note Juke Joint Unfiltered Uncut Store Pick

Mine leads with a mid-copper color. The nose brings honey, cherry, whipped cream and a hint of sweet oak.

The palate starts with thick honey, but the high-rye spice builds quickly and warms the mouth and throat. The sweetness on the nose shows up big-time on the palate as the honey floods the mouth, mixing with hints of cherry, cinnamon and a bit of orange peel.

The mouthfeel is solid — thick and rich — and the finish lasts nicely, as the sweetness hangs around and mixes with cherry cordial to complete the experience. I didn’t like this when I first opened the bottle, but it’s definitely growing on me.

Score: 85.66

On to the games.

Game of the Week

No. 7 LSU at No. 8 Ole Miss

Records: LSU, 2-0; Ole Miss, 2-0
Where: Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, Oxford, Miss.
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET
TV: ABC
Line: LSU -3
Over/Under: 59.5

This feels less like a football game and more like a grudge match that happens to involve helmets.

Scott: We can say LSU was looking forward, but this comes down to a tale of two quarterbacks. Ole Miss has two Heisman candidates at quarterback and running back, but LSU also has a highly touted quarterback.

This is a tough one, but Ole Miss is at home and the Rebels are pissed. The place will be cranked up for an upset. On paper, LSU should win, but there’s always a game every year where LSU doesn’t show up, and I have a feeling this will be the one.

Ole Miss kicks the winning field goal at the end.

Ole Miss 27, LSU 26

Doug: This ends up being like a bare-knuckled street fight between two teams that kind of respect each other but really don’t like each other. LSU has more talent top to bottom, but Ole Miss is still loaded and has the intangibles, plus the intense home crowd.

I think Sam Leavitt makes one mistake too many, and Trinidad Chambliss makes the play he needs to make when Ole Miss needs it.

Ole Miss 31, LSU 30

We agree on the winner, and neither one of us expects this to be comfortable.

No. 22 Houston at No. 13 Texas Tech

Records: Houston, 2-0; Texas Tech, 2-0
Where: Jones AT&T Stadium, Lubbock, Texas
Kickoff: 8 p.m. ET Friday
TV: FOX
Line: Texas Tech -7.5
Over/Under: 52.5

Scott: Both teams have good offenses that score more than 30 points a game, but Texas Tech’s home advantage makes the difference.

Texas Tech 38, Houston 31

Doug: Don’t overlook Houston. They’re talented, dangerous and motivated. But the Red Raiders are still the Red Raiders, and they’re at home.

This game is worth watching Friday night, in part because you’ll have two future pros on the field at quarterback. Will Hammond will make enough plays to get the upper hand.

Texas Tech 31, Houston 27

No. 2 Georgia at Arkansas

Records: Georgia, 2-0; Arkansas, 1-1
Where: Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium, Fayetteville, Ark.
Kickoff: Noon ET
TV: ABC
Line: Georgia -24.5
Over/Under: 53.5

This may be the closest Scott and I come all week to sharing a brain.

Scott: I don’t think Arkansas is that good. They were creamed last week, and Georgia is loaded at the skill positions and on defense. The Bulldogs should run away with this.

Georgia 38, Arkansas 10

Doug: I almost share a brain with you on this game. Georgia is locked and loaded, even if it’s at Arkansas.

A couple of early touchdowns will take the Hog faithful out of the game. Dawgs, not Hogs.

Georgia 41, Arkansas 13

N.C. State at Vanderbilt

Records: N.C. State, 1-1; Vanderbilt, 2-0
Where: FirstBank Stadium, Nashville, Tenn.
Kickoff: 12:45 p.m. ET
TV: SEC Network
Line: Vanderbilt -3.5
Over/Under: 52.5

Finally, we disagree.

Scott: Vanderbilt isn’t last year’s Commodores, but I still see them winning this game.

Vanderbilt 27, N.C. State 24

Doug: This is where I make up a game on you. Vanderbilt hasn’t played anyone and has looked just OK playing poor competition.

N.C. State lost to its only quality opponent, but shut out Richmond 73-0 last week. The Wolfpack is good enough to win on the road against a just-OK opponent, and they’ll seal the deal late.

N.C. State 24, Vanderbilt 21

Florida State at No. 10 Alabama

Records: Florida State, 1-1; Alabama, 2-0
Where: Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Kickoff: 3:30 p.m. ET
TV: ABC
Line: Alabama -20.5
Over/Under: 48.5

Scott: This is at Alabama, and the Crimson Tide is back. Alabama has a date with destiny with Georgia, and they should be undefeated for that game. FSU is no Georgia.

Alabama 44, Florida State 20

Doug: I really like Mike Norvell, and it confounds me that he hasn’t had more success in Tallahassee. This year is continuing his downward trend, and the imbalance against SMU — regardless of the score — amplifies that.

Add to that Alabama’s incentive to pay the Noles back for last year’s loss, and this could get ugly.

Alabama 41, Florida State 10

Time for a Bourbon Break

Five games down and five to go. Scott moves to a Blue Note Honey Rye Cask, a cask-strength rye, while I’m switching to a Rebel Kyle Busch Single Barrel.

The Rebel name gives me an easy connection to Ole Miss, but that isn’t the only reason I picked it. Kyle Busch was about as close as NASCAR ever came to the ultimate rebel. “Rowdy” could irritate half the grandstand and thrill the other half, and he never seemed particularly concerned about which group was larger.

He raced hard, talked hard and seemed perfectly comfortable being the guy plenty of fans loved to hate. So this pour is also for Kyle.

RIP, Rowdy.

Scott — Blue Note Honey Rye Cask

It’s as dark as the Sazerac. There’s honey and cherry on the nose, along with brown sugar and some vanilla.

Surprisingly, it’s not especially rye-like — no mint or apricot. The palate delivers some rye spice and honey, plus some clover grassiness. The honey lingers, and it’s very sweet — dessert in a glass.

There’s also some licorice spice on the finish. The finish is sweet and lingering and adds a touch of oak.

Doug — Rebel Kyle Busch Single Barrel

This is the lightest-colored pour of the night. The nose isn’t spectacular, but it has classic bourbon notes of red berries, caramel, vanilla and oak.

The palate leads with creamy caramel, brown sugar, butter, light notes of cinnamon and oak. The mouthfeel is modestly creamy but pleasant, and the finish is warm and sweet and drives home the cherry notes.

Nothing revolutionary. Just a solid, classic bourbon profile.

Back to football.

No. 16 SMU at No. 23 Louisville

Records: SMU, 2-0; Louisville, 1-1
Where: L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium, Louisville, Ky.
Kickoff: 3:30 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN2
Line: Louisville -2
Over/Under: 59.5

Another disagreement.

Scott: SMU has a good offense, but Louisville gets the home advantage, and I think the Cardinals are just a little better offensively.

Louisville 27, SMU 24

Doug: The X-factor is Kevin Jennings of SMU. If he’s on, SMU could roll. If he’s off, it’ll be a long ride home for the Mustangs.

My gut tells me he’s on this Saturday, at least enough to swing one of the year’s best early matchups to SMU. SMU continues its ACC dominance.

SMU 33, Louisville 30

Florida at Auburn

Records: Florida, 2-0; Auburn, 2-0
Where: Jordan-Hare Stadium, Auburn, Ala.
Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
Line: Florida -2.5
Over/Under: 53.5

Scott probably has more objectivity here. I’ll admit that up front.

Scott: Florida just has too much offense for Auburn. Florida will pass Sumrall’s first test.

The big difference between Sumrall and Napier is that Sumrall’s intensity seems to have rubbed off on his team.

Florida 27, Auburn 21

Doug: I’m such a homer for the Gators that I almost wonder if I can objectively pick them. Even so, Florida has too many weapons that Auburn hasn’t seen yet.

I’m riding with the Gators.

Florida 27, Auburn 20

West Virginia vs. No. 25 Virginia

Records: West Virginia, 2-0; Virginia, 2-0
Where: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, N.C.
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET
TV: ACC Network
Line: Virginia -10
Over/Under: 54

Scott: West Virginia has a big off-the-field distraction, and the Cavaliers are too strong anyway. Virginia rolls.

Virginia 28, West Virginia 25

Doug: Michael Hawkins Jr. is the real deal. He will dog Virginia all night and avoid most of the problems that could undermine the Mountaineers.

Even so, I think Virginia has enough to survive. The Mountaineers keep it closer than most people think possible, but the Cavaliers escape Charlotte with the win.

Virginia 33, West Virginia 27

No. 11 BYU at Colorado State

Records: BYU, 2-0; Colorado State, 2-0
Where: Canvas Stadium, Fort Collins, Colo.
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET
TV: CBS
Line: BYU -17.5
Over/Under: 52.5

Scott gets to be the homer this time.

Scott: I’m a homer, but BYU is much better. My heart is with CSU, but my head says the Rams are destined to lose this game.

BYU 31, Colorado State 20

Doug: I care nothing about either team, but I recognize that BYU has more talent and depth than Colorado State. The Cougars will hunt down and punish the Rams.

BYU 34, Colorado State 20

James Madison at San Diego State

Records: James Madison, 2-0; San Diego State, 1-1
Where: Snapdragon Stadium, San Diego, Calif.
Kickoff: 10 p.m. ET
TV: The CW
Line: San Diego State -2
Over/Under: 47

And we finish with one more split.

Scott: The jet lag could be rough on the Dukes. I’d love to pick Sun Belt Billy, but I think the Aztecs just have too much going in their favor this week.

San Diego State 37, James Madison 33

Doug: San Diego State’s defense is still a hodgepodge of last year’s unit, and it showed in the early games. San Diego State has a decent roster, but it hasn’t been truly battle-tested thus far.

The Dukes’ first big test on the road works in their favor, but by a razor-thin margin.

James Madison 24, San Diego State 21

Three Games Decide the Week

Seven times, Scott and I landed on the same winner. We both have Ole Miss over LSU, Texas Tech over Houston, Georgia over Arkansas, Alabama over Florida State, Florida over Auburn, Virginia over West Virginia and BYU over Colorado State.

That leaves three games where somebody gets a win and somebody gets a loss. Scott has Vanderbilt, Louisville and San Diego State. I have N.C. State, SMU and James Madison.

That makes those three games particularly important. Scott has already built himself a four-game lead straight up through two weeks, and his 15-5 record against the spread isn’t exactly helping my cause.

But this experiment has also reinforced something interesting about picking college football. A lot of analysis — especially AI-driven analysis — leans heavily on numbers, trends, efficiencies and probabilities. There’s value in that, and I use plenty of it.

Scott, meanwhile, keeps looking at games and essentially saying, I’ve got a feeling.

And then he keeps winning.

College football has always had an intangible side that is almost impossible to quantify. Who has somebody’s number? Who is due for a breakout? Which team looks good until it finally meets the opponent perfectly equipped to expose its weakness? Which favorite simply walks into the wrong stadium on the wrong Saturday?

Numbers can tell us a lot about a football game. They can’t always tell us what that football game is going to feel like.

This week, Scott’s gut tells him Ole Miss takes down LSU. Mine does, too. Maybe that’s a good sign for the Rebels, or maybe Oxford is where both of us finally get burned.

Either way, we’ve got 10 games, four pours and an entire weekend of college football ahead of us.

That sounds like a pretty good Stillhouse.

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Copyright © 2026 Doug DeBolt.