Business is about to pick up today with the first of the New Years Six Bowl being played tonight when Ohio State battles USC. That is the highlight game but there are several good match ups. 

Here are my picks for today’s games.

Belk Bowl (1 p.m. ET) Wake Forest (-2.5) vs. Texas A&M: Interim coach situations can be tough so it will be interesting to see if Texas A&M comes to play today. 

On paper, A&M is better but I think Wake Forest is better coached and they will have a distinct home field advantage playing in Charlotte. This will be a shootout and I am putting my money on John Wofford and the Demon Deacons in this one. 

Hyundai Sun Bowl (3:30 p.m. ET) No. 24 NC State (-5) vs. Arizona State: Arizona State is also in an awkward situation with Todd Graham coaching in his final game. That means Arizona State may or may not come to play. Either way, they will have their hands full with a loaded N.C State team. 

N.C State is talented. Quarterback Ryan Findlay has a variety of weapons to throw to and the defense is still stout despite defensive end Bradley Chubb not playing in this game. -5 is a good number if you want to take N.C State. The Wolfpack are the better team and they will come to play. Put the money on the Pack. 

Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl (4:30 p.m. ET) No. 21 Northwestern (-6.5) vs. Kentucky: Kentucky quietly had a nice season in a loaded SEC. Despite that, they will have their hands full with Northwestern and running back Justin Jackson. 

Jackson has rushed for over 5,000 yards in his career and is a handful to stop as a three down back. He can affect a game in a variety of ways. Kentucky must account for him on every play or else he will break big runs on them.

I think this will be a back and forth game but it is hard to pick against Northwestern. The Wildcats have been on the cusp of a breakthrough win and I think they get it today. 

Nova Home Loans Arizona Bowl (5:30 p.m. ET) Utah State (-3) vs. New Mexico State: I’m picking Utah State as a short favorite in this battle of the Aggies. That and I know a little more about them than New Mexico State. The only thing I know about New Nexico State is that Doug Martin (former B.C offensive coordinator) is the head coach. Anyway, put your money on the Utah State Aggies in this game. 

Goodyear Cotton Bowl (8:30 p.m. ET) No. 5 Ohio State (-6) vs. No. 8 USC: I love my Buckeyes but that doesn’t mean that I am picking them in this game. O.K, who is kidding who. I am picking them. I think Ohio State is better defensively and that will be the difference in this one. 

Ohio State’s front seven lead by Sam Hubbard and Nick Bosa will get consistent pressure on Sam Darnold and force USC into second and long and third and long situations. That will limit Ronald Jones touches and put the pressure on Darnold.

All of this sounds good of course but J.T Barrett and the Buckeyes offense must play well. I think they will. I’m rolling with my Buckeyes.