UCF vs. Auburn 2017 Peach Bowl Preview & Betting Pick

The Knights of Central Florida, winners of the American Athletic Conference, carry the banner of the Group of Five conferences into the New Year’s Six bowl games, as they prepare to take on the Auburn Tigers on Monday afternoon in the Peach Bowl. The Knights won the AAC title game in overtime, knocking off Memphis, 62-55. Auburn shocked the nation by upsetting Georgia and Alabama in SEC play and seemed headed to a spot in the national semifinals until they lost to Georgia in their rematch in the SEC title game. Their consolation prize is a trip to the Peach Bowl. Take a look at our Peach Bowl odds preview for this New Year’s Day affair.

UCF vs. Auburn 2017 Peach Bowl Preview & Betting Pick

4️⃣ days.#WarEagle | #CFAPeachBowl pic.twitter.com/rFEnbgsRuF

— #CFAPeachBowl (@CFAPeachBowl) December 28, 2017

When: Monday, January 1, 2018, 12:30pm ET Where: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta TV: ESPN Radio: UCF ISP Sports Network / Auburn Tigers Sports Network Live Stream: WatchESPN Peach Bowl Odds: Auburn (-9.5), O/U 67

Why should you bet on the Knights?

UCF is the last undefeated football program in the Football Bowl Subdivision. However, they could not convince the College Football Playoff committee to elevate them into the top four in the final standings. American Athletic Conference play did not feature enough ranked opponents, and the UCF nonconference schedule did not include any Power Five opposition. This is an amazing turnaround for a team that was 0-12 just two seasons ago. We’ll see just how competitive UCF is against one of the top programs in the nation, though. The Knights have a terrific offense as they have shown throughout the season. Quarterback McKenzie Milton led an offense that put up 726 total yards against Memphis, throwing for 494 yards on his own, going 28 for 40 with five touchdowns — but also with three interceptions, giving him nine on the season. On the season he has 36 touchdown passes, so he can find the end zone. But can he do the same thing against an Auburn defense that shut down the likes of Jalen Hurts and delivered a beating to Georgia the first time they met?

Why should you put your money on the Tigers?

In a regular season matchup, picking Auburn to win and cover would be a no-brainer. The question you have to ask, though, is how motivated the Tigers will be in this game. They have had a roller coaster ride this season, losing two early games that seemed to doom them in SEC competition, but those big wins at home over Georgia and Alabama vaulted them to the top of the SEC West standings, into the conference championship and on the cusp of qualification for a spot in the national final four. Quarterback Jarrett Stidham played great ball down the stretch, but he struggled against Georgia, going just 16 for 32 for 145 yards and a touchdown, against a Georgia team that has had a harder time stopping the pass than they have against the run. Tailback Kerryon Johnson, who had such a huge night against Alabama, only gained 44 yards in the SEC title game. The defense permitted 421 yards to the Bulldogs — and one thing you have to say about UCF is that they can move the ball down the field if you give them the opportunity. If you like Auburn, then you see them coming out ready to make a statement about their identity as a team after faltering on the edge of the national playoff.

Expert Pick and Final Prediction

Auburn has failed to cover the spread in their last five games outside the SEC and just once in their last five games at a neutral site. Will they come out with a giant chip on their shoulders, or will they have a hard time getting up for UCF? The fact that head coach Gus Malzahn turned down offers to leave, instead preferring to stay with the Auburn program and keep building, should serve as a motivation for his team. I see Auburn using this game to excise some frustration and rolling to a 34-23 win.