2017 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl Odds, Picks & Predictions: Central Florida Knights vs Auburn Tigers

2017 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl Odds, Picks & Predictions – Central Florida Knights vs Auburn Tigers: Everybody loves a Cinderella story, and the 12th-ranked Central Florida Knights will be trying to complete an undefeated season by upsetting the seventh-ranked Auburn Tigers in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl on New Year’s Day.

Despite a perfect 12-0 record, the Knights were never in the mix for a spot in the College Football Playoff. On the flip side, Auburn had a chance to win the SEC and secure a playoff spot but lost a rematch to Georgia in their conference title game.

The Knights have remained unblemished thanks in large part to a juggernaut offense. UCF is averaging 49.4 points per game while putting up more than 540 yards. Quarterback McKenzie Milton is the headliner of the high-powered attack, and he enters the bowl game with 35 passing touchdowns. However, he has a deep supporting cast, and the Knights can beat opponents through the air and on the ground. Defensively, the Knights have struggled at times, especially against stronger opponents. Overall, UCF is surrendering 428.5 yards of offense per game.

Auburn has been the picture of balance this season. Led by running back Kerryon Johnson and quarterback Jarrett Stidham, the Tigers are averaging 225.8 passing yards per game and 228.2 rushing yards. The Tigers have been downright stingy on defense. Boasting an excellent front seven, Auburn is allowing just 17.3 points per game, and the unit held Georgia, Alabama and Clemson to 17 points or less.

2017 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl Odds, Picks & Predictions: Central Florida Knights vs Auburn Tigers

The Knights Win If:

If the Knights are going to pull off the upset, they need to have their best tackling game of the season on the defensive end, and they have to hold their own up front. When Auburn gets its power running rolling, it opens up so many options for Stidham and the passing attack and makes the Tigers’ offense nearly impossible to stop. When the Knights have the ball, the need to connect on a few of the big plays that have been the calling card of their offense all year, and they have to take care of the ball to try to score as many points as possible. The Knights aren’t going to have a prayer in a low-scoring, smash-mouth contest, but if UCF can keep Johnson in check and turn this into a battle of quarterbacks, they have a real chance.

The Tigers Win If:

It can be easy to get drawn into a fast-pace shootout when you face a team like UCF, but Auburn’s advantage is in the trenches. The Tigers need to establish Johnson and their power rushing attack early in order to wear down an already suspect UCF defense and to keep their own defense fresh. When the Knights have the ball, Auburn’s defense needs to win on first and second down. Part of the reason UCF’s offense is so effective is because it attacks opponents with multiple players in multiple ways. If the Tigers can make the Knights’ offense just a little predictable, it is going to make a big difference. If Auburn can turn this game into a physical battle rather than a battle of big plays, they are going to come out on top.

Bottom Line:

The Knights deserve a lot of credit. They are the only undefeated left standing heading into the bowl season, but this is not an ideal matchup. UCF can score with anyone in the country, but Auburn isn’t an up-tempo team, let-it-fly team. The Tigers are going to pound the Knights up front on both sides of the ball, and as good as the they have been, the Knights are not a great tackling team. UCF allowed more than 40 points to both South Florida and Memphis in their final two games, and Auburn is going to go right at that same leaky defense. I think Milton and company will hit a few plays and put some points on the board, but the Tigers are going to feed Johnson and pound the Knights into submission.

Prediction: Auburn Tigers (-9.5) Cover the Spread

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