There are 2 bowls on the slate today as bowl season really hits the accelerator with a massive amount of games this week culminating Saturday with the No.5 Crimson Tide squaring off with No.9 Kansas State in the Sugar Bowl at 11 AM CT on ESPN, then the playoff games with No.3 TCU facing No.2 Michigan in the Fiesta Bowl at 3 PM CT on ESPN, and the No.1 Georgia Bulldogs vs the No.4 Ohio State Buckeyes at 7 PM CT on ESPN in the Chick-fil-A Bowl. A lot of action prior to those 3 blockbusters though. We’ll start today with Memphis vs. Utah State in the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl, and tonight, Wisconsin faces Oklahoma State in the Guaranteed Bowl.

Here’s a look at today’s slate.

Record so far

Straight up, 5-2, Overall for season, 161-62, 73%

ATS, 3-3, 116-103, 53%.

SERVPRO First Responder Bowl

Memphis (6-6) vs. Utah State (6-6)

Gerald J. Ford Stadium, Dallas, 32,000

2:15 PM CT

ESPN

Mike Monaco, Charles Arbuckle, Nicole Rigoni

Refs, PAC-12, Francisco Villar

Memphis by 7

Memphis is pretty strong on defense against the run, but a little vulnerable through the air. Utah State running back Calvin Tyler Jr. declared for the NFL draft, but will play today. He’s rushed for 1,043 yards and 7 TDs. Aggies quarterback Cooper Legas, who took over midway through the season when starter Logan Bonner went out for the year with injury, completed 128-of-209 passes, 61%, for 1,465 yards, 11 TDs against 9 ints. His leading targets are Brian Cobbs, who’s caught 70 passes for 844 yards and 4 TDs, and Terrell Vaughn, who’s posted 52 receptions for 590 yards and 5 TDs. Justin McGriff added 30 recepts for 438 and 4 TDs. On defense, linebacker AJ Vongphachanh, 6’2”, 230, has posted 92 tackles, 8 TFLs for -18 yards and 2 sacks for -5 yards. Defensive end Daniel Grzesiak, 6’1”, 245, leads the team in TFLs with 10 1/2 for -47 yards and sacks with 6 1/2, for -40. Aggies safety Ike Larsen leads the D in interceptions. He has 4 on the season and has taken one back to the house.

For Memphis, quarterback Seth Henigan has completed 266-of-417 passes, 64% for 3,287 yards, 19 TDs against 8 ints. His favorite targets are Caden Prieskornm, who has hauled in 46 passes for 593 yards and 6 TDs. Javon Ivory added 46 for 586 yards and 2 TDs. And Eddie Lewis pulled in 37 for 532 yards and 5 TDs. Jevyon Ducker led the running game with 461 yards and 5 TDs. Asa Martin chipped in 392 yards and 7 TDs.

On defense, linebacker Xavier “Zay” Collins, 6’1”, 225, led the team in tackles with 104, posted 7 1/ TFLs for -26 yards and added 2 sacks for -15. To go on top of that he posted 3 interceptions for 113 yards and took two of them back for house calls. Defensive end Jaylon Allen, 6’2”, 238, led the team in TFLs with 9 for -38 and added 4 sacks for -30. Defensive lineman Cormontae Hamilton, 6’2”, 265, led the D in sacks with 4 1/2 for -23 yards. yards. DB Quindell Johnson leads the D with 4 interceptions.

Final Decison

Memphis looks better on paper at quarterback and on defense, and that’s crucial. But I like what Blake Anderson does at Utah State. He went 11-3 last season, won the Mountain West Conference Champioship and won the LA Bowl over Oregon State, 24-13. This year has not been nearly as stellar, but I like Tyler Jr. to have a nice game for the Aggies on the ground and Legas to do pretty well through the air. I’m not sure why I’m picking the Aggies, it’s just an instinct.

Utah State 35, Memphis 34

Guaranteed Rate Bowl

Oklahoma State (7-5) vs. Wisconsin (6-6)

Chase Field, Phoenix, 48,519

9:15 PM CT

ESPN

Beth Mowins, Kirk Morrison, Stormy Buonantony (These names?)

Whistles, SEC, Matt Loeffler

Wisconsin by 4 1/2

This is the Opt out/transfer central game. Both starting quarterbacks have transferred, Spencer Sanders for the Cowboys is in the portal, and the Badgers’ Graham Mertz has transferred to Florida. Badgers interim coach Jim Leonard is running the show for the Badgers while new coach Luke Fickell will play a part in the game plan. The Cowboys will also be missing key pieces on defense as star linebacker Mason Cobb is transferring and three or four others are as well. I like Wisconsin running back Braelon Allen to have a good night for the Badgers. The sophomore rushed for 1,126 yards and 10 TDs this season. He and his team take care of business over a quarterback dilemma for OK. State and a defense that is decimated by transfers.

Wisconsin 24, OK State 14

Wednesday’s Games

Military Bowl

UCF (9-4) vs. Duke (8-4)

1 PM CT, ESPN

AutoZone Liberty Bowl

Kansas (6-6) vs. Arkansas (6-6)

4:30 PM CT, ESPN

San Diego Credit Union Holiday Bowl

Oregon (9-3) vs. North Carolina (9-4)

7 PM CT, FOX

TaxAct Texas Bowl

Texas Tech (7-5) vs. Ole Miss (8-4)

8 PM CT, ESPN