Week 11 College Football Picks — November 7, 2026

There are weekends when college football gives us a couple of interesting games and a whole lot of filler. This isn’t one of those weekends.

We’ve got No. 1 Miami traveling to South Bend for a renewal of the old Catholics vs. Convicts rivalry, undefeated Utah hosting BYU in the Holy War, and Georgia visiting Ole Miss in a battle that could have major implications for the SEC championship race. Throw in Alabama at LSU, Texas at Missouri, and a Florida-Oklahoma matchup that might qualify as cruel and unusual punishment for fans of either team, and we’ve got plenty to talk about.

And, naturally, plenty to drink.

Last week, Doug managed a remarkably consistent performance, finishing 6-4 against the spread, 6-4 on the totals and 7-3 straight up. Scott, meanwhile, had a spectacular week picking totals, going 9-1, but stumbled to 3-7 against the spread. He’s still holding on to the straight-up and ATS leads, although Doug has narrowed the gap.

Here’s where things stand:

The Standings

Scott has a two-game advantage in straight-up predictions and a four-win lead against the spread. Doug has a nine-win advantage in the totals.

With those bragging rights temporarily settled, let’s get to the whiskey and football.

Opening Pour

Scott — Wathen’s Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Wathen’s comes from the Medley family’s long bourbon-making tradition. The standard Single Barrel expression is bottled at 94 proof, with barrels generally selected after six to nine years of aging, although the whiskey carries no specific age statement.

The color is amber. There’s a light citrus aroma, like candied orange peel, accompanied by some baking spice. This is a nice, sweet sip that catches you on the side of your tongue and brings a little Kentucky hug. There’s light oak, and it’s easy to like. It’s a nice, mellow sipper.

The finish melds into fennel and black licorice, but it’s still sweet.

Scott’s Score: 79.37/100

Doug — Penelope Project X Armagnac Finished Bourbon

For my opening pour, I’m revisiting a bourbon I reviewed earlier this week: Penelope Project X Armagnac Finished Bourbon.

This 2026 release is part of Penelope’s experimental single-barrel program, which explores unusual finishing techniques. My bottle, barrel 2525-2, is a 110-proof bourbon finished in Armagnac casks. Armagnac is a French grape brandy, and its barrels can introduce rich fruit, spice and oak characteristics to bourbon.

I found this bottle at Costco for $59.99, considerably below its suggested retail price of $69.99.

The color is light copper. The nose is promising, with notes of crème brûlée, light baking spice and modest oak. The palate leads with some of that oak but opens into buttery toffee and custard, with touches of cinnamon and nutmeg along the way.

The mouthfeel isn’t exactly rich and viscous, but it certainly isn’t thin. The finish is interesting, with the tartness fading more quickly than expected as the cinnamon intensifies. It’s lightly sweet, but mostly spicy.

Overall, I enjoyed this bourbon and believe it’s worth buying at $60. At $70 to $80, however, I’d probably look elsewhere.

Doug’s Score: 83.06/100

You can read my complete Penelope Project X review here.

Game of the Week: No. 1 Miami at No. 4 Notre Dame

Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET | Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, Indiana | NBC

Records: Miami 8-0; Notre Dame 7-1
Line: Notre Dame -5.5 | O/U: 57.5

This is the kind of game college football fans circle on the calendar months in advance. The Hurricanes arrive in South Bend undefeated and ranked No. 1, while the Fighting Irish have an opportunity to strengthen their playoff credentials considerably.

The rivalry recalls the famous 1988 Catholics vs. Convicts game, when Notre Dame defeated top-ranked Miami 31-30. This meeting could have similarly significant consequences.

Scott: The Catholics should beat the convicts. Miami’s scare from last week won’t be enough, and Notre Dame already had its hiccup. I picked Notre Dame to win the playoff at the start of the year, and this year will keep the Irish in the hunt. Notre Dame 31-28.

Doug: Miami may be the No. 1 team in the country, but going into South Bend and beating Notre Dame is a tall order. The Hurricanes have the offensive firepower to make this interesting, but the Irish have the defense to limit the big plays and a running game capable of controlling the clock. I expect Miami to hang around until the final whistle, but Notre Dame’s home-field advantage and a crucial fourth-quarter stop will make the difference. Notre Dame 31-27.

No. 10 Texas at No. 19 Missouri

Saturday, Noon ET | Memorial Stadium, Columbia, Missouri | ESPN

Records: Texas 6-2; Missouri 6-2
Line: Texas -2.5 | O/U: 43.5

Two SEC teams with identical records square off in Columbia, where Missouri will try to use its home-field advantage to knock off the favored Longhorns. Texas enters with momentum following a dominant defensive performance against Mississippi State, while Missouri is coming off a convincing victory over Arkansas.

Scott: Missouri averages more than 31 points per game, and they’re at home. They lost to Ole Miss and Mississippi State before their quarterback went down. I’m calling the upset here. Arch Manning will struggle on the road, and the Tigers will get the win. Missouri 33-29.

Doug: Texas and Missouri both bring strong defenses into this SEC showdown, and I expect points to be difficult to come by. Missouri’s ground game should keep the Tigers competitive, especially with the home crowd behind them, but Texas has the defensive front to limit big plays and force some difficult passing situations. Arch Manning gives the Longhorns just enough of an edge offensively, and I expect a late field goal to decide a game that could go either way. Texas 24-21.

No. 5 UCLA at Minnesota

Saturday, Noon ET | Huntington Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota | FOX

Records: UCLA 8-0; Minnesota 5-3
Line: UCLA -5.5 | O/U: 39.5

UCLA remains undefeated and has climbed into the nation’s top five, but a trip to Minnesota presents another Big Ten test. The Golden Gophers pushed Indiana into overtime last weekend before falling 23-16, demonstrating that they can make things uncomfortable for highly ranked opponents.

Scott: The Bruins have a decent team, and I don’t expect the Gophers to keep the magic going. UCLA 24-17.

Doug: UCLA brings its undefeated record to Minnesota, but the Golden Gophers have already shown they can make life difficult for highly ranked opponents. Minnesota’s defense should keep the Bruins from finding much offensive rhythm, turning this into a physical, low-scoring Big Ten battle. UCLA’s defense will be the difference, forcing Minnesota into difficult situations and making a narrow lead stand up in the fourth quarter. The Bruins remain unbeaten, but it won’t be easy. UCLA 21-17.

Bourbon Break No. 1: A Little High West for the Holy War

With BYU and Utah meeting in the Holy War, we decided it was appropriate to visit a couple of expressions from Utah’s own High West Distillery.

Scott — High West Bourye

Bourye brings together bourbon and rye whiskey, offering a combination of sweetness and spice.

The color is copper. There’s an orange note on the nose with vanilla, toffee and coffee notes on the sweet side of things. The palate is a creamy espresso. It’s a bit thin, but sweet, with a hint of oak. There’s also a slight oakiness on the finish.

It might not be as good as the Bouryes of the past.

Doug — High West Bourbon Finished in Rum Casks

The color is mid-copper. The nose leads with brown sugar, caramel, vanilla and tropical fruits.

The brown sugar sweetness of the rum breaks through early, and notes of pineapple and banana make themselves known alongside flavors of caramel and creamy vanilla. The modest mouthfeel isn’t as good as I expected, and the finish is a little quick, but still sweet and delicious, led again by brown sugar and caramel.

Two distinctly different expressions from the same distillery. Now, on to the rivalry.

No. 7 BYU at No. 3 Utah

Saturday, Noon ET | Rice-Eccles Stadium, Salt Lake City, Utah | ABC

Records: BYU 7-1; Utah 8-0
Line: Utah -5.5 | O/U: 48.5

The Holy War features two top-seven teams with the Big 12 championship race hanging in the balance. Utah remains unbeaten, while BYU is looking to recover from its earlier conference setback and keep its own championship ambitions alive.

Scott: Utah is undefeated, and BYU is still reeling a bit from the loss two weeks ago to UCF. Utah will ramp up the offense and knock out the Cougars at home. Utah 30-24.

Doug: The Holy War has plenty at stake this year, with both BYU and Utah in the thick of the Big 12 and playoff races. BYU has struggled to establish its running game lately, and that’s a dangerous weakness against Utah’s aggressive defense. The Cougars should keep things close in a rivalry where records and rankings often mean little, but Devon Dampier’s versatility and Utah’s home-field advantage give the Utes the edge. A late touchdown seals another hard-fought rivalry victory. Utah 28-21.

Oregon at No. 11 Ohio State

Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET | Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio | CBS

Records: Oregon 5-3; Ohio State 6-2
Line: Ohio State -7.5 | O/U: 46.5

The Buckeyes are trying to recover from a damaging loss at USC, while Oregon hopes to capitalize on Ohio State’s uncertainty at quarterback. This game could be particularly important for the Buckeyes’ postseason aspirations.

Scott: Oregon is flying across the country to Ohio. Northwestern made the trip to Oregon a week ago, and the Ducks rose to the occasion. This time, they turn the tables on the Buckeyes. I’m calling another upset here. Oregon 27-24.

Doug: Ohio State’s defense should give the Buckeyes an advantage against Oregon, but the biggest question is quarterback Luke Fahey. He looked rough in his first career start against USC, and if those struggles continue against the Ducks, Ohio State could be in serious trouble. Oregon has the offensive weapons to capitalize on mistakes, particularly through the air. Playing at home should help Fahey settle down, and I expect the Buckeyes to lean on their defense and running game while asking their young quarterback to do just enough. It won’t be pretty, but Ohio State survives. Ohio State 27-21.

No. 9 Alabama at No. 15 LSU

Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET | Tiger Stadium, Baton Rouge, Louisiana | ABC

Records: Alabama 6-2; LSU 6-2
Line: LSU -5.5 | O/U: 52.5

Two SEC powers with identical records meet in Death Valley, where a loss could seriously damage either team’s championship ambitions. LSU has been particularly effective rushing the passer, while Alabama will look to its young quarterback, Keelon Russell, to keep the Crimson Tide competitive.

Scott: This is where Alabama’s dreams are going to die. LSU has been lying in wait for the Tide for more than a year. LSU is going to treat the Tide rudely on both sides of the ball. LSU 37-27.

Doug: Alabama and LSU both have the offensive firepower to turn this into a shootout, but the difference may come down to which quarterback handles the pressure better. LSU’s pass rush has been particularly effective, and Keelon Russell could find himself scrambling to keep plays alive. Alabama has enough talent to overcome that pressure and keep things close, but Sam Leavitt and the Tigers should find success attacking the Crimson Tide secondary. With Death Valley rocking, I expect LSU to make one more play when it matters most, perhaps setting up a late field goal to decide it. LSU 30-27.

Bourbon Break No. 2: Chattanooga, Jack Daniel’s and Lux Row

We’re taking a break from the football for three interesting whiskeys, including a collaborative release from Chattanooga and New Riff.

Scott — Chattanooga Whiskey Experimental V1A

This experimental release is a collaboration between Chattanooga Whiskey and New Riff Distilling. Doug also has a bottle, so he’s sipping along.

The color is dark, like brewed iced tea, but short of molasses. I’m picking up wheatgrass and sweet pickle brine. There’s vanilla and light cherry Sweet Tarts.

The flavor is complex — by far my best whiskey of the night. I’m getting the cherry and the sweet wheat. It’s lingering and syrupy. There’s not a hint of bitterness from the oak.

For the high proof that it is, it doesn’t drink that high. It’s smooth and balanced.

Doug — Jack Daniel’s Experimental Sweet Mash

I’m splitting my tasting time between two whiskeys. First up is Jack Daniel’s Experimental Sweet Mash.

The Jack has a great nose of bananas, caramel, vanilla and light oak. It must be great, because even with my compromised nose, I can still smell how wonderful it is.

The palate is delicious — brown sugar, bananas, vanilla, cinnamon and tart oak. The mouthfeel is thick and creamy, and the finish stays around, delivering sweetness and spice for minutes.

Doug — Lux Row Four Grain Double-Single Barrel

The finishing touch is the Lux Row Four Grain Double-Single Barrel.

The color is solid copper, and the nose leads with cinnamon, brown sugar, vanilla and citrus. It’s dessert-like, with fruit notes and sweetness complemented by rye-driven cinnamon, maple and baking spice.

The mouthfeel instantly wows me with its thick, rich viscosity. The palate delivers cinnamon, brown sugar, toffee and tree fruit.

It’s a terrific way to wrap up the whiskey portion of the evening.

No. 8 Kentucky at No. 16 Tennessee

Saturday, 6:15 p.m. ET | Neyland Stadium, Knoxville, Tennessee | ESPN

Records: Kentucky 7-1; Tennessee 6-2
Line: Tennessee -6.5 | O/U: 50.5

Kentucky has emerged as one of the SEC’s surprises, while Tennessee is looking to rebound from a narrow loss at South Carolina. The Volunteers have the home-field advantage, but the Wildcats have demonstrated an ability to compete with some of the conference’s better teams.

Scott: Tennessee will use the checkerboards to its advantage to completely intimidate a good but not great Kentucky team. Tennessee 28-25.

Doug: Kentucky has put together an impressive season, but winning in Knoxville against a Tennessee team coming off a frustrating loss won’t be easy. The Wildcats have shown plenty of resilience, but the Volunteers should be able to establish their running game behind DeSean Bishop and control the tempo. Kentucky will keep it competitive early, but Tennessee’s offensive balance and home-field advantage should begin to take their toll in the second half. I expect the Volunteers to pull away late and hand Kentucky its second loss of the season. Tennessee 30-21.

No. 2 Georgia at No. 12 Ole Miss

Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET | Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, Oxford, Mississippi | ABC

Records: Georgia 7-1; Ole Miss 6-2
Line: Georgia -3.5 | O/U: 56.5

Georgia comes to Oxford riding the momentum of its victory over Florida, while Ole Miss has the offensive firepower to challenge the Bulldogs. The Rebels will try to use Trinidad Chambliss’ ability to extend plays against a Georgia defense that has been particularly effective creating turnovers.

Scott: It’s Georgia. And Ole Miss hasn’t shown it can be consistent from week to week, whereas, aside from the Auburn game, Georgia has. Georgia 38-24.

Doug: Ole Miss has the offensive firepower to give Georgia plenty of problems, especially with Trinidad Chambliss extending plays and creating opportunities downfield. But the Bulldogs have a defense capable of forcing mistakes, and that’s where I expect this game to turn. The Rebels should feed off the home crowd and keep Georgia uncomfortable throughout the night, but the Bulldogs have the experience and discipline to capitalize on a costly turnover or two. Ole Miss makes a late push, but Georgia holds on in another SEC thriller. Georgia 33-27.

No. 21 Iowa at Northwestern

Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET | Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium, Evanston, Illinois | FOX

Records: Iowa 6-2; Northwestern 6-2
Line: Northwestern -2.5 | O/U: 45.5

Both teams enter with identical overall records, although Iowa is coming off an impressive shutout of Wisconsin. Northwestern has enough offensive weapons to make things interesting, but the Hawkeyes’ defense could provide the difference.

Scott: I’m going with Iowa on this one. The last time I went against them, I was screwed. Lesson learned. Iowa 24-21.

Doug: Iowa and Northwestern come into this Big Ten matchup with identical records, but the Hawkeyes appear to have found a little more offensive consistency to complement their typically stingy defense. Northwestern has the weapons to create problems through the air, but Iowa should be able to limit the big plays and force the Wildcats to earn every yard. Expect a physical, defensive struggle where field position and turnovers matter more than offensive fireworks. Northwestern makes things interesting late, but the Hawkeyes get the crucial stop and escape Evanston with a hard-fought road victory. Iowa 21-17.

Oklahoma at No. 25 Florida

Saturday, 7:45 p.m. ET | Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville, Florida | SEC Network

Records: Oklahoma 4-4; Florida 5-3
Line: Florida -6.5 | O/U: 46.5

The Gators return to the Swamp after another frustrating loss to Georgia, while Oklahoma arrives with problems of its own. Neither team has lived up to expectations, but somebody has to win this game.

Scott: I don’t even want to pick this one. Which loser is going to show up between the two? My guess is that our losers are better than their losers. Florida 24-20.

Doug: Florida desperately needs to bounce back from its loss to Georgia, and a struggling Oklahoma team provides an opportunity to get back on track. The Gators need to establish Jadan Baugh and the running game while avoiding the turnovers that doomed them against the Bulldogs. Oklahoma has enough offensive talent to make this uncomfortable, especially if John Mateer finds success through the air, but the Sooners have struggled defensively. I expect a close, sometimes frustrating game in the Swamp, with Florida doing just enough to protect its home field. It won’t be pretty, but a win is a win. Florida 24-21.

The Picks at a Glance

We’re in agreement on eight of the ten winners, with Texas-Missouri and Oregon-Ohio State providing the disagreements this week. Scott is counting on Missouri’s home-field advantage and an Oregon upset, while Doug is sticking with Texas and Ohio State.

The five artificial intelligence models we consulted were unanimous in picking Notre Dame, Utah, Ohio State, Tennessee and Georgia. The tightest divisions came on Texas-Missouri and UCLA-Minnesota, with both games producing 3-2 splits.

For those keeping track of the totals, Scott’s remarkable 9-1 showing last weekend has added a little intrigue to that competition. Doug still holds a comfortable season advantage, but if Scott can repeat anything close to that performance, things could get interesting in a hurry.

That’s our ten games for the weekend. Grab a glass, settle into your favorite chair, and enjoy what should be one of the better Saturdays of the college football season.

And if you’re watching Florida-Oklahoma, you might want to pour a little extra. Something tells us we’re going to need it.

Until next time, raise a glass. Take a side.

All times Eastern. Rankings reflect the November 1 AP Top 25. Betting lines are from our November 3 selections and may have changed.

The Southern Sports Stillhouse is brought to you by two longtime college football fans who enjoy good whiskey, spirited disagreements and occasionally getting a prediction right. Drink responsibly, and don’t confuse our football picks with sound financial advice.

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Copyright © 2026 Doug DeBolt.