The UCF Knights are 10-point college football wagering underdogs in the 2017 Peach Bowl versus the Auburn Tigers, in what will be head coach Scott Frost’s last game with the program. Talk about double whammy. Frost literally turned this program, 180 degrees, from 0-12 in 2015 to 12-0 this year, and leaving it ranked No. 12 in the CFP, No. 11 in the Coaches’ poll, and No. 10 in the AP poll. And now he can reap his reward: a head coaching job in Nebraska. Auburn could, however, turn UCF’s Return of the Jedi regular season happy dancing Ewoks ending into a The Empire Strikes Back downbeat denouement.
.@ZooATL's Yang Yang 🐼 is back with another #CFAPeachBowl pick. He hasn't been wrong yet.
Who's he got this year, @UCF_Football or @AuburnFootball? pic.twitter.com/RW2GNvU7QO
— Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl (@CFAPeachBowl) December 13, 2017
The 2017 Peach Bowl
Date: Monday, 1st January
Time: 12:35 PM
Venue: Mercedes–Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA
Sportsbook NCAA football betting odds:
University of Central Florida +10 (-120) 67 (-110) +300
Auburn University -10 (EV) 67 (-110) -360
UCF is 4-1 ATS in the last five games as an underdog
Frost’s greatest achievement during his time in Florida is undoubtedly pint-sized QB McKenzie Milton. Milton completed 69.2% of his passes with 35 touchdowns and nine picks, including 13 TDs and four picks in the past three games, and rushed for close to 500 yards. Milton’s preferred target, Tre’Quan Smith, has averaged 20 yards per catch and logged 120-plus receiving yards in three of the last five games. Frost hasn’t let his new responsibilities as Nebraska head coach get in the way of bowl prep. “Auburn didn’t even practice for this game until Saturday,” Frost said. “We practiced [last] Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday with almost an entire staff. We’re game-planning at the same time and like I said, we’re ahead of our opponent because they started practicing on Saturday.” Give’em hell, Frosty!
Central Florida has covered in four of their last five games as underdogs. The Knights are 4-1-1 ATS in their last six games following a game in which they covered the college football wagering spread but 2-5 ATS in their last seven games against SEC teams.
Auburn is 9-1 SU in its last 10 games following a loss
The Tigers are the little team that could. Except for the ‘little’ part. And the ‘could’ part. Auburn upset both Georgia and Alabama (that is to say, 50% of the College Football Playoff) in the regular season but lost the SEC championship game in a rematch with Georgia. That effectively closed any CFP window of opportunity they had, which brings us to the 2017 Peach Bowl. AU ranks in the top 25 in the nation in scoring offense and defense, 13th in passing yards allowed, and 14th in sacks. The Tigers will practice a few times on campus and a couple of times in Atlanta before their New Year’s Day date with the Knights.
Auburn has won nine of their last 10 games following a loss. AU also is 4-1 ATS in their last five games after failing to cover the college football wagering spread but 0-4-1 ATS in their last five non-conference games.