The best bowl games you can get in college football are the New Year's Six bowl games: the Rose Bowl, the Sugar Bowl, the Orange bowl, the Cotton Bowl, the Peach Bowl and the Fiesta Bowl. If you get one of those bowls at the end of the season, you know that it was a pretty solid year. This year, the Rose Bowl and the Sugar Bowl are the two College Football Playoff semifinal games, but the other four are still great postseason games. The first New Year's Six bowl game that will be played is the Cotton Bowl between Ohio State football and Missouri football. The Buckeyes are coming in ranked #7 in the country, and the Tigers are coming in ranked #9.

While this is a great bowl game, one of these teams is a lot more excited for the opportunity to play in it than the other. That team would be Missouri football. That is all due to preseason expectations for each team. Ohio State football came into the season ranked in the top five, and their only focus was beating Michigan and getting back to the top of the Big Ten and into the College Football Playoff. Unfortunately for the Buckeyes, that didn't happen.

Ohio State came into this season ranked #3 in the country, and they had the final game of the season circled on their calendar all year long, just like they do every year. Head coach Ryan Day was under some pressure this year after losing two in a row to rival Michigan, so that matchup had some extra importance this season. The Buckeyes had some close calls along the way, but they survived all year long and came into that matchup with Michigan undefeated and ranked #2 in the country. A Big Ten title and CFP berth were on the line, and Ohio State lost. Because of that, they aren't too excited to be missing the playoff and to be playing in the Cotton Bowl instead.

Missouri is in a completely different boat. No one had high expectations for the Tigers this season, and if you told them they would be in a New Year's Six bowl at the end of the season when the year started, they would've been thrilled. Now here they are, and they are thrilled. Missouri went 10-2 this season, which nobody expected, and their only losses came to LSU and Georgia, and they probably should've won the LSU game. It has been a great season for Missouri.

Now, although the feeling around both programs is quite different, these two teams are set to meet up in the Cotton Bowl this Friday night. Here are three predictions for the first New Year's Six bowl.

Devin Brown will throw three touchdown passes

Ohio State football quarterback Kyle McCord entered the transfer portal shortly after Ohio State lost to Michigan on a late McCord interception. He is now committed to Syracuse. Because of that, the Buckeyes need a new QB for the Cotton Bowl, and they will be relying on backup Devin Brown. Brown will be making the start in this one, and unless Ohio State hits the transfer portal, he will likely be the starter for the Buckeyes next season. This could offer Ohio State fans a glimpse at the future, and don't be surprised if Brown has a big game. This is almost like a tryout for him, and the coaching staff is going to want to see what he can do. Expect Brown to sling it around a lot and have a big game.

Devin Brown will throw for 300+ yards

With how much I expect Ohio State to have Brown throw it in this one, he should rack up a good amount of passing yards. We saw Missouri struggle a little bit when going up against explosive offenses (like in the LSU game), and while this offense isn't Ohio State's best that they've had in recent years, it is still good, and they should have an air-raid plan in mind. Brown is going to have a good performance, and he will throw for at least 300 yards.

Ohio State will win by two scores

Missouri has had a great year and they are a great football team, but they aren't quite on the level that Ohio State is. The Buckeyes were a drive away from going to the playoff essentially. They have the talent of a CFP team, and Missouri doesn't. Ohio State should win this one fairly easily.