After playing in their respective conferences championships, No. 7 Auburn and No. 12 Central Florida travel to Mercedes-Benz Stadium to face off in the 2017 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. The bowl, which is conducting its 50th game, kicks off at 12:30 p.m. Jan. 1 and can be viewed on ESPN.
Here are five reasons to watch this year’s game:
1. Top 10 offense vs. top 10 defense.
UCF’s No. 1 scoring offense will face off against Auburn's No. 9 scoring defense. The Tigers’ defense, which gave up 17.3 points per game, didn't allow more than 28 points in a game this season. The Knights’ offense, which put up a gaudy 49.4 points per game, never scored less than 31.
2. Quarterback battle.
Auburn quarterback Jarrett Stidham ranks second in the nation in career passing efficiency, is second in the SEC in passing yards (2,827), and leads the SEC in completion percentage (66.7). Meanwhile, Knights quarterback McKenzie Milton ranks No. 6 in the nation in five categories: No. 5 in passing touchdowns (35), No. 2 in passing efficiency (184.8), No. 2 in completion percentage (69.2), No. 5 in total offense (357.7 yards per game) and No. 6 in passing yards/completion (15.24).
3. Group of Five vs. Power Five.
Since the creation of the College Football Playoff, the Group of Five representative is 2-1 in New Year’s Six games against Power Five competition. No. 21 Boise State defeated No. 12 Arizona 38-30 in the 2014 Fiesta Bowl, and No. 18 Houston defeated No. 9 Florida State 38-24 in the 2015 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.
4. Perfection.
Central Florida is the only undefeated FBS squad in the nation, recording the program’s first perfect regular season. Coach Scott Frost took the program over in 2015 -- one year after the Knights went 0-12. In just two seasons, he made the Knights one of the nation’s better teams. Central Florida looks to remain the country’s only undefeated FBS team with their toughest challenge to date against Auburn.
5. 50th Peach Bowl.
This year's matchup will represent a milestone as the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl's 50th game. To celebrate, the bowl released its "50th Anniversary Team" of players who have appeared in the nation's ninth-oldest bowl game. In its 50-year history, the Bowl has recorded 13 games decided by a field goal or less and five one-point games. Fifty-three percent of the games (26 of 49) have been decided by a touchdown or less.
