PEACH BOWL
No. 7 AUBURN (10-3) vs.
No. 10 CENTRAL FLORIDA (12-0)
When: Jan. 1, 11:30 a.m. CST Site: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta TV: ESPN
Outlook: Auburn leads series 3-0, though the teams have not met since 1999. It’s the swan song for the second-year coach Scott Frost at Central Florida. The Associated Press coach of the year took the job at his alma mater, Nebraska, but is remaining with the Knights as they look to complete an undefeated seasons and add a bowl triumph over Auburn to the victory over Baylor in the Fiesta Bowl after the 2013 season. Central Florida, just two years removed from a winless season, claimed the American Athletic Conference with a high-scoring title game defeat of Memphis to lock up the automatic spot for the Group of Five in the New Year’s Six structure. QB McKenzie Milton enjoyed a stellar season, but will find himself challenged by an Auburn defense that ranks 10th nationally in points allowed and 14th in total yardage yielded. The Tigers received stabilizing quarterback play from Jarrett Stidham throughout the year, and it allowed them to re-emerge as a serious factor in the SEC race. Nonetheless, their offensive identity is still built around running the ball, and that means TB Kerryon Johnson (1,320 yards) will be a major factor against Central Florida. Despite shoulder and rib injuries, Johnson is expected to play in this New Year’s Day tussle. Auburn came a game shy of emerging from a brutal late-season stretch to bag a playoff berth, but after hammering Georgia and handling Alabama at home in the final three weeks of the regular season, the Tigers fell to Georgia 28-7 in a rematch in the SEC title game. Now, Gus Malzahn’s team returns to Atlanta to cap its best season since playing for the national title in 2013.