2. Tigers take care of business:

Auburn sees Peach Bowl as a “business trip” more than just reward for a 10-3 regular season.

Coach Gus Malzahn made it clear Wednesday afternoon — Auburn is in Atlanta this week at the Peach Bowl to take care of business.

A bowl game is, at its core, an exhibition. It doesn’t make or break a season, and it doesn’t mean too much in the grand scheme. Some teams can take a “happy to be here” approach and try to have some fun on and off the field.

Auburn, though, is looking at the Peach Bowl on New Year’s Day against Central Florida differently.

“Our mindset is probably more of a business trip than it has been in the past with the bowls,” Malzahn said. “That is by design. Our leaders, our seniors, that is what they want and what they expect, so that is a good thing from a coach’s standpoint.”

Auburn’s seniors want to leave as the seventh team in school history with at least 11 wins, which would happen with a victory Monday in Atlanta. Those who will return to the program want to use the game as a launching pad for what could be another strong season in 2018.

“This is an important game, like we said — an 11th win to get momentum for next year,” Malzahn said. “And not that any other bowl is any different, but each team, like I have said before, is different. Each situation is different. Each group of leaders is different.”

Under Malzahn, the Tigers are 1-3 in postseason games, with the only win coming in the Birmingham Bowl against Memphis in 2015. Auburn lost to Florida State in the BCS Championship game following the 2013 season, to Wisconsin in the Outback Bowl after the 2014 season and to Oklahoma in the Sugar Bowl last season.

While some Auburn fans may not put a high value on the Peach Bowl, especially after the loss to Georgia in the SEC title game, the Tigers see things differently.

“Our guys are locked in,” Malzahn said. “We are here with our game face on, and we should be playing the opponent we are. We know we are going to get their best.”

Central Florida (12-0) claimed the American Athletic Conference title in a shootout against Memphis. The Knights have the highest-scoring offense in college football at nearly 50 points per game.

If Auburn takes down the Knights, it will finish one of the most successful seasons in program history in terms of overall record.

“This is a very important game for us,” Malzahn said. “Our guys understand that. Not only is it a chance to win our 11th game, which we have done six times in history, but to really finish this season off the right way.”

Auburn’s players said they wanted to be remembered in November, and they did just that with double-digit wins over Georgia and Alabama — two College Football Playoff teams.

Getting back on track with another win against an undefeated squad would set a good tone for the 2018 calendar year.

“There have been some real special moments, and a victory would cap that off that this team will be remembered for a long time to come,” Malzahn said. “And, more importantly than that, it is just the next step for our program.”